Swaging Oversize Gas Check Shanks Down

Lee Bullet Sizing Kits
Locked
User avatar
Macd
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 1009
Joined: 16 Oct 2017 16:12
My Press Choice: Single Stage
Location: Far East
Has thanked: 362 times
Been thanked: 403 times

Swaging Oversize Gas Check Shanks Down

Post by Macd »

First the problem.
I have Beagled my Lee .323 mold to drop .325-326 bullets that match the groove diameter of my DOT 44 Mauser. Unfortunately my Hornady .32 GC's won't start easily on the now enlarged shanks of the oversize bullets. I can get them to seat in the Lee sizer that I have lapped out to .325 but they are only half on and cupped. Sometimes they are ringed on the bottom as the stem of the sizer is now several thousands undersized to the lapped out sizing die. The checks seem tight but I was not happy with the deformation or the chance of a separated check slamming into my chronograph.
IMAG0399.jpg
Now the Solution
Google to the rescue. It seems that the Lee factory crimp die (FCD) can be used to swage down the check shank of a bullet. The trick is getting the right size FCD and the technique was not well explained. The correct size turns out to be a 6.5x55 FCD and the technique simple. Place the die in the press per usual but backed out a bit. Put a sized empty 6.5 case in the shell holder and raise the ram up. Screw in the FCD till the fingers in the die just start to close. Lower the ram a bit and place the oversized bullet into the top of the die so that the shank sits inside of the fingers of the die. The first driving band holds the rest of the bullet out of the die as it nicely sits on top of the rim of the crimping fingers. Raise the ram and the case will cause the fingers to close around the check shank. Lower the ram and check the fit of the shank in the gas check. Make tiny adjustments to the amount of the swaging by screwing the die i further in small increments. The final result is a check that fully seats and crimps tight in the sizer without bottom deformation.
IMAG0400.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
RBHarter
Founding Member
Founding Member
Posts: 2040
Joined: 13 Mar 2014 19:45
My Press Choice: Single Stage
Location: The green hell 90 miles north of Texarka
Has thanked: 76 times
Been thanked: 670 times

Re: Swaging Oversize Gas Check Shanks Down

Post by RBHarter »

Having been an aircraft mechanic I have a rivet squeezing tool . I haven't squeezed many rivets in the last 15 yr but it makes a fine check seater . I run several designs base first . That the anvil doesn't fit tight enough to the sizer bore also .
Just a Red neck,White boy, Blue blood American.....
Locked

Return to “Bullet Sizing”