Loading cast in rifle case

[Lost Okie]

New to cast bullet loading.  Here's my question (probably been asked before but I did not see a reference); When loading cast, no gas check in a rifle case (35 Whelen) do you need to flare the neck before loading...if so, how does one do this?  do you have to buy a special die ?

[jhalcott]

  If you don't flare the mouth, you will shave lead from the bullet. This is NOT good for accuracy! You can you a larger bullet and a hammer to flare the mouth. Just set the bullet (preferably a jacketed round nose) oonose down on the mouth and tap it JUST enough to flare the mouth. You can BUY an "M" die to do this chore a lot better.
 http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=174363

[caverun]

Lee Precision also makes a flaring die that has adapters for use with most all sizes of cases. With the one die you can flare cases from .22 cal. to .45 cal. Very handy to have.

[VTDW]

I use the Lee Universal Case Expanding Die  http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1185805619.4374=/html/catalog/lubesize.html#CaseExpandingDie

All you need is the tiniest bit of flare on the neck opening and you will be good to go.

Dave

[Graybeard]

Look in your tool box for a round tapered punch. They work fine and most folks already have one. Long years ago we had a sponsor who is no longer in business that sold a tool which was more or less just a punch on both ends with a section in the middle to hold onto. I have one of those and each end has a bit of a different taper to it so you can use it from .22s to .50s I guess. It works beautifully for putting just enough flare to a case mouth to load cast or for rounding the mouths of new cases or any other that has dents in it. Really handy tool and now my punches are back in the tool box.

[Lost Okie]

Thank you to all.  Will try the punch until my Lee tool arrives.  At least I will be able to reload some of the lead pistol bullets in my Whelen to try out at the range this weekend.  Its 1 1/2 hours to the range and I hate to not take at least 4 rifles and reloads to try.

[Lost Okie]

Found a 1/4" drive socket with a flare to it, used it to help me reload 20 for the Whelen.  Snail Mail brought my Lee flare tool today, now If I can get my primers in from Graf & Son I will be ready to go.  Thanks again for all the help (normal for GB forum)