Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Bullet sizing

I'm going to start casting bullets for my Winchester Trapper .45 Colt. They will be 300 grain GC bullets from a Lee mold. I'm going to order a Lee sizer/lubricator soon. What I'm not sure is which size I should order it in. I can get it in .451, .452 or .454. Is one of them a more likely way to start making good bullets than the others?

You could slug your bore to be sure....but would just go with the .452 that should do just fine.

Slug the throat/leade.

Use the size that is closest and still chambers.

Also be aware the throat might be too short for that bullet and may not allow crimping in the groove.

.452 is most universal for groove.

+1 Could not have been put better.

The only thing I can add is that in my 45 Colt rifles the 45 Colt requires a heavy crimp for good powder burn, and good accuracy. I have talked to several reliable reloaders about the 45 Colts, and they all agree about a good heavy crimp. Tom.

For me, the idea of crimp is more for the lever gun and its tubular magazine/recoil set-back possibilities. Especially so with cast an its slick lubes.

Generally, for single shot or bolt rifles, I seat cast to snug in the lands, no crimp. Seating with a repeatable depth, snug jam is favored for myself than any crimped ammo for accuracy and powder burn.

If have a lever, IMO you need to crimp. I have seen ones that aren't change depth and any free bore effects powder burn (a crimp helps).

Lee doesn't make a sizer/lubricator. Are you talking about the push through sizer die & tumble lube? That bullet may be too long for an 1894 unless you alter the cartridge stop ledge.

The 300 grain bullet should work fine in the Winchester, I've been shooting 300 commercial made cast bullets and they have worked well. Accuracy has been satisfying and it certainly clobbers a black bear.

Thanks for the clarification on the Lee Sizer. It's the push through one that I'm looking at.