Does this make sense? SLugging and sizing

Boolit Mold Join DateMar 2013Posts12

So I bought a M&P9 in order to shoot cast boolits. Slugged the bore and wouldn't you know it, it doesn't have a groove on the opposite side so I can't measure with my micrometer. I have a 356 sizing die that the slug fits into by pushing it in with my finger. Easy to do.

Now does this make sense? Since it fits in "easy" it must mean that my bore is smaller than what the boolits will get sized to in my 356 sizing die. Which would give me the 1 thou or so over bore diameter.

The mould is a lee 6 banger 356-120TC and lead is range pickup so a mix of jword and cast. The mould casts at .3565 avg.

Thanks

Boolit Master Join DateJan 2010LocationSpace Coast, FLPosts597

Find a piece of thin shim stock, .002" to .004" works well, tweek it around a pencil or dowel before measure helps. Measure shim for confirmation with a good micrometer. Wrap bullet 180 degrees with shim, measure outside, subtract shim x2 and that is how big your boolit is. Gtek

Size Dies aren't always the dimension stated for a couple reasons. Some manufacturers make the die smaller to allow for lead spring back and some manufacturers can't hold tolerances.

OK,

Back to basics.

Slugging the barrel is usually a waste of time.
Don't worry about it.

If you have a .357 sizing die, size a couple .357, make a couple of dummy rounds and see if they will chamber. If they do, use that die. If they don't, use the .356.

If you have only the .356 die, size a couple .356, load up 10 or 12 rounds and try them at the range. If they shoot well and don't lead, use them.
If you have poor accuracy, tumbling, or leading, get a .357 die.

Yes, you can re-size your sizing die from .356 to .357. There are several threads here on how to do it.

First reload: .22 Hornet. 1956.

Where is John Galt?

(If you don't know, you owe it to yourself to find out. )
.

OK,

Back to basics.

Slugging the barrel is usually a waste of time.
Don't worry about it.

If you have a .357 sizing die, size a couple .357, make a couple of dummy rounds and see if they will chamber. If they do, use that die. If they don't, use the .356.

If you have only the .356 die, size a couple .356, load up 10 or 12 rounds and try them at the range. If they shoot well and don't lead, use them.
If you have poor accuracy, tumbling, or leading, get a .357 die.

Yes, you can re-size your sizing die from .356 to .357. There are several threads here on how to do it.

William,
Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes we get caught up in the minutia and forget that often the easiest thing is to just try it and see if it works.

Size Dies aren't always the dimension stated for a couple reasons. Some manufacturers make the die smaller to allow for lead spring back and some manufacturers can't hold tolerances.Off topic but . . . the biggest reason dies size differently than as marked is alloy variation. Differing percentages of Sb result in different as sized diameters. Most of the die makers do a pretty decent job but with everybody out there using different alloys it must be turning their hair grey.

Rick

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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