slug a bore for cast bullets

[floydrturbo]

How do you slug or measure a bore for the correct size cast bullet?

[Will Bison]

Fairly simple operation. I use a pure lead round ball over greater than bore size. For a .30 bore I use a .36 ball, for a .45 bore I use a .50 ball, you get the idea.

I use a leather or plastic mallet and tap it in at the muzzle. Then once started tap it all the way to the breech with a brass or hardwood rod. The excess lead will simply trim off at the muzzle. A bit of case lube in the bore will assist the process.

Be careful when it comes out the breech that you don't damage the slug.

Others will no doubt have other suggestions.

[calvon]

Another way is to drill a hole through the base of an empty case that is big enough to take a brass rod only a bit smaller in diameter than the bore. Seat a soft lead unsized bullet in this case. Chamber the case and then drive the brass rod through the case. This pushes the slug through the bore from the chamber end. The empty case protects the chamber from any damage from the rod.

A thin film of lube in the barrel and on the bullet makes this job easier.

[Dusty Miller]

You also need to "slug" the cylinder bores.  Your cylinder bores need to be .001" over barrel bore size for optimum accuracy.  Its a package deal.  This according to Veral Smith, the master of cast bullet shooting.

[Robert357]

I will often use a soft lead cast bullet, salvaged from some mistake in reloading.  The exact size isn't really required, it can be a little bigger.  A 38 Special bullet will fit into a 7.62x54 R rifle bore (i.e. .357 will pound down to .310 to .311).  I could have also squashed a .309 cast bullet in a vise to make it a bit thicker and used it in the 7.62x54R.  

Alternatively, you could use fishing weights, see attached on slugging a bore

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reloading/slug/index.asp

Good luck and let us know what you find.