Sizing PP

[Sarge]

Looking for opinions and/or recommendations on a sizer for PP bullets. Also, generally, what is the maximum a bullet can be reduced in sized?

Sarge

[Mike]

Sarge, I don't size my paper patched bullets. Now I'll be watching this tread to see comments by shooters who do, or who have sized them. Sizing paper patched bullets is mentioned in The Paper Jacket. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Hiwall55]

I had Buckshot on cast bullet forum make me a Lee push thru sizer to size my P-P bullets. Mine wrapped at .451 and worked great in my 45-110 but when I sold it and went to my 45-90 I needed .450 so he made the sizer to my specs and when I size them they come out at .4497 and work great.

[Sarge]

I've got a mold that drops a PP bullet that is about .002 too big, and wanted to size it down. Never have sized before.

[Stephen Borud]

Sarge have you tried thinner paper?

Stephen

[Sarge]

Stephen, yes that .002 is with the thinnest paper I dare use.

[bruce moulds]

8 lb seth cole 55w adds about 0.005 to a bullet when patched wet.
could just do the trick.
keep safe,
bruce.

[Gunlaker]

For a couple of my tighter barrels I size .446" bullets down to .445" before patching. I use a Fred Cornell .445" die and put a little RCBS sizing lube on the bullets before running them through. You have to be very careful to wash all of the lube off of the bullets afterward.

Chris.

[Nuclearcricket]

I would think that if you need to size your PP bullets, the best way to do it would be with a push through die in the loading press. That way you get a nice straight bullet. In the past I have had some alignment problems with luber sizers and have ended up with crooked bullets. I solved the problem by making an adapter that I can use in my Co-Ax press. It will hold a standard luber/sizer die upside down in the press and you just need a push rod to push it through the die. Same principal as the Lee push through dies but a little more versatile as you need one adapter and just change out the dies. If you need a custom sized die there are any number of places that make them at a reasonable cost. You also have the added advantage of extra leverage if you need it.
I wasn't sure if using a die this way would work for seating gas checks but I tried it out on some .30 cal bullets and it worked just fine and gave me a very nice very flat base for the bullet.
Sam

[MikeT]

I normally shoot 20:1 alloy PP bullets. The most reduction in diameter I have successfully done in one pass is 0.002. More than 0.002 reduction causes a crooked bullet. I have to lube my PP bullets to get the 0.002 smaller size to not damage the bullet base.
If the pressure is too great, the base of the bullet will extrude down along the push rod, causing a fin all the way around the base of the bullet. This Spring I used some 0.404 diameter PP bullets sized down to 0.3995, in my 40-70Ss. They worked very well, but I needed two dies to do it.

Keep oon hav'n fun!
MikeT