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gschwertley
saddle soap
Posts: 1039
(7/30/05 2:23 am)
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Re-sizing Jacketed Bullets
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I am always looking for a way to keep feeding my rifles at the lowest possible cost. One way I do this is to keep my eye open for odd-lots of bullets, or unpopular sizes. I don't necessarily always plan to use them "as made." Sometimes, I re-size them with an appropriate Lee push-through sizing rig. These were designed to size cast bullets with, but if you use a case-sizing lube, you can press through jacketed bullets if the original size isn't too great.
One size I look for is .338 to re-size to .330 or .329 to shoot in my 8x56R M95's. .338 seems to be a caliber bullet that is often found (at least by me) in the junk bin or on the bargain table, often in a ratty, faded, nicotine-stained box. Could be more .338's are around in this area because people haul them to Alaska to hunt with. Anyway, when you think about it, most people with a .338 Win Mag don't usually go out and bang away scores of rounds, shooting at targets. The .338 is usually a hunting rifle and not used for much else. Consequently, the Joe Hunter who buys a box to reload may only get part way into the box of bullets before he sells the gun or gets tired of it.
.338's also seem to hang around on seller's shelves the longest, and become subject to "close out' sales. Maybe for the same reasons as above.
Not long ago I was given some stuff and included was a box of .321 bullets for use in the .32 Winchester Special. I re-sized them down to .311 for use in the Russian rifles. These were older bullets and for some reason, harder than the .338's I have re-sized recently. I can take the .338 down to .330 in one operation quite easily. The .321's I had to go down first to .314, then another pass through the .311 sizer.
I have also squeezed milsurp Turkish .323's down to .311 for use in the Russians. This was rather a waste of time, considering how much milsurp 7,62x54R I have on hand.
I usually use RCBS water-soluble sizing lube; I like this stuff because it washes off easily. I have some Imperial sizing lube but haven't tried it yet for this purpose.
"Sehr schwer, mein Herr"
yockey5
Coffee Pot
Posts: 7394
(7/30/05 6:01 pm)
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Re: Re-sizing Jacketed Bullets
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I also resize all the .330 bullets, cast and jacketed, and yes I use the .338s for .330s. The .329 resizer brings them to the .330.
Don
Yesterdays Weapons forums
http:pub151.ezboard.com/bsteyrmannlicher
Buy American Made
Looking for a demilled M95 long rifle, or complete stock, or metal parts as I can get them.
gschwertley
saddle soap
Posts: 1041
(7/30/05 7:34 pm)
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Re: Re-sizing Jacketed Bullets
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Yes, the cast bullets come through at .329, but the jacketed have a little springback and come out at .330. That's okay; a little extra neck tension in the 8x56R can't hurt, as the bearing surface is so short to begin with.
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