Author Topic: to size or not to size  (Read 553 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline hiram

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 145
to size or not to size
« on: November 15, 2003, 05:54:23 AM »
I've read that some guys use bullets lubed but not sized.  Their size is as they drop from the mold.  Has anyone shot sized and not sized to compare accuracy?  Thanks. :-)

Offline 340wby

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 63
to size or not to size
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2003, 06:37:35 AM »
on REVOLVERs and to a lesser extent auto loaders,each guns bore / throat size in relation to the bullet dia. the lube used, and the mold size, as cast versus sized, plus the alloy used effect the results, youll find that accuracy tends to be best when the bullets are .001-.002 over bore size and correctly lubed and loaded for minimal jump distance from case to bore lead distance.sizeing the bullets can detract or add accuracy depending on the relation between the guns prefered size of bullet to match the way the bullets enter the bore
if your mold cast undersize bullets sizeing them smaller tends to hurt accuracy, if your mold cast oversize bullets minimal sizeing tends to help accuracy

Offline Tom W.

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1294
  • Gender: Male
  • Warning... Does not play well with others!
to size or not to size
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2003, 03:31:01 PM »
I don't size the .45 cal. 230 gr. bullets that I cast. I just tumble lube them and load as cast. I shoot them out of both a Colt .45 acp and a Ruger BlackHawk in .45 Colt. They do well, too.
Tom
Alabama Hunter and firearms safety instructor

I really like my handguns!

Offline rob_helms

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 24
to size or not to size
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2003, 06:37:08 AM »
It  depends on your molds and alloy, most of the Lee molds I use cast about .002 over groove diameter with WW metal. I can use these as cast with Lee tumble lube to about 1400 fps. My older Lyman and Ideal molds can be as much as .006 over groove diameter and I have to size these to shoot them.
Rob Helms