Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading ????...Sizing BULLETS with OUT a PRESS..????

Is their a system offered for sizing bullets "Without" a press....?

OK......soooo everyone reloads "Indoors". Does no one reload deep in the wilderness, using a rock or stump for a flat spot table.......?

I have made a few sizers,using mild steel 7/8ths-14 bolt and reaming a hole, that I drilled thru it, out to the diameter I wanted using an adjustable reamer. Then making a top punch to fit the bullet I am using.This was usually for older guns that had oversized bores and I wanted bullets to match.I used these in a std press,but I have one for a 45 that is just a block of steel with the appropriate hole in it that a bullet can be pushed thru and sized. I have seen hand sizers that went along with the old Lyman 310 tong tool and bullet mold.

I guess you could roll them between a couple of heavy steel plates. Other than that there really isn’t a way to size a bullet without pushing it through some sort of die with some sort of press.

Thanks.......I am setting up backpack reloading systems, for remote caches. I think that I will order the LEE Sizing die kit, and just set the die on a stump and push the bullet through by hand. I can't imagine anything simpler or easier, but thought I would see what is available.

You could try one of the Lee hand presses. Or you could borrow mine to try to see if you can push a bullet through a sizing die with it.

Depends entirely on what the as-cast diameter of the bullet is, and what alloy it's made from (hardness) that will determine how simple and easy it is. You obviously never tried pushing bullets through a simple die by hand. Then there's the added "bonus" of lubing bullets while out in the bush.

The goal is admirable, but it also begs the question "why"? If you're going to lug all the components to load ammunition would it not be easier to just load all the stuff back at home and take nothing but cartridges with you? After all, it'll amount to the same weight and space, not to mention save the weight and space taken up by the tools too.

The goal would be to cache everything, for future use. Not knowing what that future need could be, there might be wisdom in having the option to resize bullets for whatever is needed. For example you might cache .456 Diameter cast bullets, and several sizing dies in steps down to .450 Diameter.

Just curious: how many .45's do you own with throats ranging that much in diameter? In a survival/evasion scenario when one would rely on gear cached ahead of time, it would behoove one to narrow one's needs and plan on taking to the bush with the weapon for which loading components were stashed, not a polyglot of stuff requiring a lot of different size bullets. Just wondering/wandering.

What if the cache was for someone other them me. What if there were dozens of caches. What if the caches were intended for future generations. With .456 diameter bullets they could be used as-is in a .458 caliber firearm rifle or handgun. They could be sized easily to .454 or .452 or .450 (Giving flexibility)

I don't think you would be able to size .456 to the lesser sizes without some type of mechanical advantage (press). Your experience may be different.

Lot of what if’s. Just size some bullets at home of the sizes you may need. .459 or .460 for the .458 rifles and .452 for the .45 handguns. Stash the sized and labeled bullets in your cache and don’t over complicate this.

Could you do it in steps of two thousands.

Be "LESS" complicated to have one size bullets and only three sizing dies. Plus if you had six caches, it would be easier to just move the "ONE" needed die to where it was needed, rather then move many heavy bullets to where the die is cached and then move the bullets again back to where they started.

this reminds me of the old saw of "you can lead a horse", etc.

Ergo, my tag line.

AGL,
If you have sized bulltes before, you will know what force is required. If you have not yet, I suggest you try so you will know what you are up against. Then you will know exactly what you are up against.
regards,
David

Valid point.......I was hoping to avoid purchasing needlessly a set of sizing dies, but I will do that. I have never sized any bullets. Was simply hoping for insight if in a flat'ass emergency someone could maybe use a Lee .452 dia. sizing die, by setting it on a stump and inserting a .454 diameter cast bullet and using the provided "plug" to hammer with a rock or rubber mallet or ten pound sledge hammer to propel said .454 dia. bullet down to .452 dia.

This is "Not" precision reloading........this is "your ass-is grass" if you can't make bullets "close" to what is workable. Imagine you have enemy closing fast, your out of ammo, you just found .456 dia. cast bullets and one set of .454 sizing dies and a second set of .452 sizing dies. Your all going to be dead if you don't quickly make some .452 dia. bullets.

Son, settle in your mind what weapon/weapons you will bug out with.
next find the bullet size each likes best. Cast and stash those.
you can shoot 451-452 in a 454 or even in a 458.
better yet get a muzzle loader. cast appropriate balls and make your own powder. that can be done in any bug out camp or even in a cave full of neanderthals.

never read it before Gary! can i steal it?

I have enough .452 bullets.
Thanks

Could you not grasp that this could be for future generations......?

All nice in one location......or cached if three or seven locations.

"Wow, Max, wasn't it great that guy cached all this .45 stuff for us way back when. Too bad we all have .223's and .357's. Oh well, lets scrounge up some more moss to boil for our supper."

Don’t know if they still do but Lee used to make hand lube kits with a little pan, a sizing die and punch. You put the bullets base down in the pan and melted your Alox lube. You then used the supplied cutter to remove the bullets from the lube and punched them through the sizing die with the punch and a hammer. It was slow but it worked just fine. You could even seat gas checks.

Interesting concept. Since none of this is going to be a fast process have you considered a few different molds in various sizes? Aluminum molds for a few common calibers, eliminate the sizing issue. Toss in a few handfulls of assorted lead bullets that could be used as is or recast for your needs.

Interesting concept. Since none of this is going to be a fast process have you considered a few different molds in various sizes? Aluminum molds for a few common calibers, eliminate the sizing issue. Toss in a few handfulls of assorted lead bullets that could be used as is or recast for your needs.

Yeah, pour them to the size you need.

Haven't split them up for now. Will do so when they are ready to launch (loaded).