Author Topic: Resizing With Plumbers Tape  (Read 937 times)

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Offline sawfish

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Resizing With Plumbers Tape
« on: May 24, 2006, 11:13:36 AM »
A few years back, I ordered a Lyman 457193 mould to cast some 405 gr bullets for my Ruger #3 in 45/70.  The rifling that Ruger was using in that gun at that time was similar to Marlin's Micro-Groove rifling, and dictated that the bullets be oversized just like the 1895 Marlins in that caliber.  The problem was that my bullets fell from the mould at .457-.458, depending on alloy.  

I returned it to Lyman, but they sent it back as "within spec.".   I had read in an old issue of the Fouling Shot that you could enlarge undersized bullets with teflon tape.  I first tumble lubed the bullets with Lee Alox, and then wrapped the bullets with plumbers teflon tape that you can buy most anywhere.  It took a little experimentation to get the right thickness, but surprisingly I found that I could achieve virtually the same accuracy and velocities as I could with Jacketed bullets.

Later I tried skipping the Alox step, and sized and lubed the wrapped bullet in a .459 sizing die.  These were cleaner without the tumble lube on the nose, and shot just as well.  This process is slower than molasses, but if you need a few rounds for hunting, etc., it will solve the undersized bullet problem.
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Offline Nobade

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Resizing With Plumbers Tape
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2006, 03:25:52 AM »
Yep, you're right - it works well. Plus you can shoot pretty much pure lead bullets at full speeds with good accuracy and tremendous effect on game. You might also try paper patching, it is way easier than the teflon tape and can be made more consistant. I've never tried it with smokeless powder, but with black you need to have a grease wad under the bullet since the paper doesn't offer any lubrication.
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Offline sawfish

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Resizing With Plumbers Tape
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2006, 04:38:54 AM »
Hmmm.  I have never tried paper patches on bullets because I thought you needed a bullet designed especially for that purpose.  Maybe not.  I have used an inverted gas check under the #457193, and it worked fine, but would not provide the lubrication factor you mentioned for paper patched bullets.  I recently read an article in the Fouling Shot that described using Avery Labels for patching material.  Sounded interesting.  Thanks for the input.
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Offline dakotashooter2

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Resizing With Plumbers Tape
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2006, 07:35:22 PM »
Another method that is supposed to work is to shim your mold with the aluminum duct  sealing tape (not regular duct tape) I have a mold ready to go but have not tried it yet. It supposedly can get you an additional .003 of an inch.
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Offline Sir Charles deMoutonBlack

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teflon gasfitters tape
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2006, 05:35:54 AM »
It's wider 3/4", thicker, .003, and you get it from a natural gas installer, or supply house.  Don't size.  Don't lube.  Just wrap a bit more than a turn, and twist the bottom flat.  Great for small game loads in your deer rifle, with about 10 grs. of Unique or something like it..