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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26,524
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26,524 |
1. Got a groove diameter of 0.543 in my ML. Pure lead maxi balls are being cast right at 0.543, making it a little hard to load. Any techniques, other than getting a custom sizer, that I can use to get those to shrink down a wee bit. I like the tight fit, but if I can do anything procedurally to come down a few thousandths, it would help.
2. Using beeswax in the grooves, reduced with mineral spirits. I pile it on, then push the bullet through a hole drilled in soft pine to clean it up, leaving the wax at the groove diameter, but after a day, it hardens up some and has shrunk. I suppose I can pack it down again, or wait till it hardens before running it through the hole, but is there anything I can do to the wax to reduce the shrinkage?
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,159 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,159 Likes: 6 |
A friend who is a machinist would be your best friend at this point. Find someone who can make you a steel sizing die that will squeeze your bullets down a couple of thousandths. Nothing fancy is needed- just something you can push/tap the bullet through. A simple (but accurate) hole in a piece of steel will suffice. (I did that once to size down mini� balls for a particular Parker-Hale Enfield.) I don't see an alternative, unless you get a mold that casts the diameter you want.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz
"Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
There are no easy ways to make a mold cast a smaller dia, so your best option is to size the bullets. I'd suggest getting a lee push through sizer in .510" and have a machinist bore it and lap it to whatever dia you choose.
Not sure what to do about the wax shrinkage, perhaps try a different lube?
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,353
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,353 |
get two steel flat plates and roll your bullet between them applying pressure you should be able to reduce it by a .001 or so easy enough.
as far as the beeswax, add some vasoline to the melted beeswax and it will make it softer and less shrinkage
Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
When your ship comes in. ... make sure you are willing to unload it.
PAYPAL, sucks and I will never use them again. I recommend you do the same.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,256 Likes: 34
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,256 Likes: 34 |
RWE, pure lead has the highest percentage of shrinkage as compared to other alloys. It might hurt not hurt to run your balls thru a sizer, but when all is said and done it might be more difficult to keep them aligned in the same axis they were sized in....dunno.
Thinking Hornady makes some swagged balls that are .540, not sure about that.
Oh...you said "Maxi" balls....sorry.
Last edited by DigitalDan; 09/27/13.
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,159 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,159 Likes: 6 |
Shrinkage.... That was the excuse I gave my girlfriend the other day after a pool party.
Oh, that's not what we're talking about...
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz
"Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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