Page 1 of 1
Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 20 Aug 2020 09:49
by Blind Hawg
Would it be safe to fire 429 200 gr bullets cast from Lee aluminum molds as cast & unsized in a .44 92? They miked .429 to .430?
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 20 Aug 2020 10:32
by Ohio3Wheels
Unless you have an unusually tight barrel they should be fine. Have you slugged your barrel?
Stay well, be safe, make smoke,
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 20 Aug 2020 10:54
by Blind Hawg
Will slug it today
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 20 Aug 2020 14:16
by Ohio3Wheels
Blind Hawg wrote:Will slug it today
The standard advise is to go 1 to 2 thousand over grove diameter. I've seldom found any need to deviate from that advise. If it looks like they will work make up a few dummies and make sure they cycle through the gun.I found with my Marlin 38/55 that if I got much beyond .002 over the case mouths got to big to chamber all the way. Probably rare but this one was rebored and chambered for 38/55 and has a tight chamber.
Stay well, be safe, make smoke,
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 20 Aug 2020 18:40
by Blind Hawg
Got a good slug but I don't believe my 50 yr old Craftsmen micrometer. It indicated .433.
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 21 Aug 2020 06:02
by Ranch Dog
The best slugging material, hands down, are pure lead egg fishing sinkers, these have a hole longitudinally through them. Lead is pliable; it springs back after compression, such as when you slug a barrel. If the lead you use as a slug doesn't have a hole, drill one through it just like a fishing sinker would have.
I've seen some large diameters posted on the forum, I've never seen anybody comment on the material they used. Make sure your slug doesn't "spring" back.
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 21 Aug 2020 13:03
by Blind Hawg
I would have never thought about about the lead springing back! I did use a fishing weight but not the egg shape.
I went to Harbor Freight with the slug and miked it with one of their finest digital micrometers, at least I know my old Craftsman is still accurate.
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 21 Aug 2020 15:26
by Blind Hawg
Lead sinkers is gettin scarce! WalMart & Bass Pro was out. Academy Sports had a few. Used a swivel weight with brass swivel wire removed. That lead slug with the hole mic'd .432 or a little less.Guess I'll have to live with it.
Re: Unsized as cast safe?
Posted: 29 Aug 2020 11:45
by Missionary
NOE molds sells "extra fat" molds. I have numerous ones.
You can "lap" your mold to a larger diameter.
Or you can install high temp furnace foil tape in strips on the mold so it does not close completely getting a fatter slug. Run it through a fat sizer die and it will come out round.