Hankins Smooth Bullet Sizing Die, Complete Kit

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Idaholewis

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I decided to get an adjustable Sizer Die in .50 Cal (First) to test the waters with these things, This is for my Lead (Cast) I decided to go with a Hankins Complete Kit in .50 Cal, I like the idea of these being Made of Stainless. I have had Lee Push through sizer Dies start to Rust if not Cleaned Good, and oiled after use.

My first test run with this new Die was my Big 610 Grain Grease Groove Bullet, My bullets were Right on .500, They are Cast of 1-20 Alloy, the fit was to TIGHT for my liking in my New 1-24 Twist Rice Barrel. I needed my Bullets .4995, With the Die SNUGGED up good in my Press with the Supplied Wrench, I ran a Bullet up in the Die and Stopped as the nose started out the Top, i started adjusting the Die til it ”Just” Grabbed the Bullet, I then sized in tiny increments until i got what i needed. I was EASILY able to obtain EXACTLY .4995, You can REALLY Dial a Bullet in to a Bore with these Things :lewis:

I couldn’t be happier with this Adjustable sizer Die, VERY HIGH QUALITY Built. I will be ordering the .45 Cal Soon. This is the Long Push Stem/Rod, it measures .492 in Diameter. The Expander Plug measures .505
qW8Mnys.jpg
 
So you can go .505 down to .492?

I haven’t tested the Full Range yet? But I would assume so by the Push Rod & Expander Plug measurements

I had to buy the Product to find these measurements out, as i sent Hankins an Email asking him the Measurements? And explaining to him what i wanted it for (Grease Groove & Paper Patch) He never did Respond to my Email? Maybe he doesn’t like me? 🤷‍♂️
 
Quality workmanship.
My Paramount needs .4525 to .4530.
The brass expander that came with mine is .452.
I made a .454 expander from a 300 grain .458 jacket hollow point.
You make the collet size smaller with the wrench and larger with the expander brass.

BugIn
 
I have used one for some Gonic's. Very nice is does not smear the bullets. Or maybe a better way to explain it does not leave leave marks or frosting lines on lead bullets. The Fury bullets bullets I have not got to group yet , I think it's a me thing and not the bullets. Heading to range tomorrow taking my press and sizing die with me.
 
Check your spam / junk mail if you haven’t done so. For some reason Jeff’s reply emails will go there.
I myself am fond of his sizers.

I just did out of Curiosity? I Received 6 Emails in total from Hankins, starting at- Order had been Paid, Order Receipt confirmation, Order has been viewed, Order being Processed, Order has been dispatched, and lastly that my Order had been Shipped with the usps Tracking Number. But nothing in Response to my Simple Question? I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he just missed it Somehow?
 
One thing to be aware of is that the sizing part of the die is steel and as such one has to be careful not to push it to far down in diameter ( into the .495 range ) and then expand it back up to .505 too often. The steel will end up cracking and your new sizing die will not give you the same result. These are top notch sizing does but there is a limit to how much stretching that material can do before it fails.
 
One thing to be aware of is that the sizing part of the die is steel and as such one has to be careful not to push it to far down in diameter ( into the .495 range ) and then expand it back up to .505 too often. The steel will end up cracking and your new sizing die will not give you the same result. These are top notch sizing does but there is a limit to how much stretching that material can do before it fails.

Agree 100%, A close friend of mine (Machinest) looked at it and said the Same thing, If you forced it all the way through that Range over n over it would Work Harden and Crack. After talking to him i decided against going under what i need for Grease Groove (.499 at Smallest) I will be staying in the upper Range of the Die (.499 to .504) In short, i will never know how far it will go down

The only reason to go under .499 is for my Paper Patch Stuff, .491 through .493 Would be AWESOME to have. I have a Few Lee Push through sizers that get me by here. My New Rice 1-24 Twist .50 has a REALLY tight Bore, I need to Size my Paper Patch Bullets to about .491, And of course I don’t have one of those, I have a .492 :)
 
Lewis, I purchased one of the Hankins complete kits in .45 to use for my .451 Alex Henry rifle as well as my Shilo Sharps 45-70. Haven't shot anything I sized with it yet but I am very impressed with it's quality and the results it has produced. Looking forward to seeing your results when you shoot some groups!

Curtis
 
Curtis are you using this for your PP or GG. I was considering getting one of these dies for henry and a underhammer I am building now. I have several lee sizing dies but I thing my henry needs 4505. Not sure on the under hammer barrel it is a 451 tapper octagon of 4140 steel from Oregon barrel. Whant to shoot both gg and pp out of both of these. New to pp. So what size of mould do I whant lewis. Plan on going with a 550 gr.pp flat base from barco.
 
Curtis are you using this for your PP or GG. I was considering getting one of these dies for henry and a underhammer I am building now. I have several lee sizing dies but I thing my henry needs 4505. Not sure on the under hammer barrel it is a 451 tapper octagon of 4140 steel from Oregon barrel. Whant to shoot both gg and pp out of both of these. New to pp. So what size of mould do I whant lewis. Plan on going with a 550 gr.pp flat base from barco.

For .45 Cal Muzzleloaders i find .442-.443 to be perfect. I have my Molds made to Drop at .443, I have a Push through 442 Sizer Die, This allows me to Adjust PP Bullet Fit to my Various .45 Bores. I also have a Few different thicknesses of Paper

A Good flat Base Bullet is TOUGH to beat :lewis: I like my Cupped Base, But it is REALLY tricky to Cast, and it shoots NO better than my Flat Base Bullets.
 
Curtis are you using this for your PP or GG. I was considering getting one of these dies for henry and a underhammer I am building now. I have several lee sizing dies but I thing my henry needs 4505. Not sure on the under hammer barrel it is a 451 tapper octagon of 4140 steel from Oregon barrel. Whant to shoot both gg and pp out of both of these. New to pp. So what size of mould do I whant lewis. Plan on going with a 550 gr.pp flat base from barco.

Paper Patch For Cartridge Guns is something i have done VERY little of, Only for my .308 Centerfire (I do understand it, and have had GOOD Luck with it) But The vast majority of my Knowledge, experience in Paper Patch is in my Muzzleloaders
 
Yes I just got some of that tracing paper you had on a post last week or so. I believe the two sizes available from BACO in the 530gr and 550gr. We're 443 and 444, so I should stay with the 443.
 
That's all I shot is muzzleloaders ,sold all my inlines. Now I just whent and measured the tracing paper and got 001. And have some of the original good stuff from one of the fellows at Oakridge and it is 002. Got some paper from BACO.
 
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Yes I just got some of that tracing paper you had on a post last week or so. I believe the two sizes available from BACO in the 530gr and 550gr. We're 443 and 444, so I should stay with the 443.

Go with the .443, That is precisely my Mold :lewis: And with your different papers you will find the Fit
 
With PP in ML you want them to go down with Minimal effort, You don’t want them to Fall down, and you also don’t want to Push on them. My new Rice 1-24 Twist .50 Cal is an excellent example, I sized my .493 Bullets to .492, And when patched with Strathmore 300 Series Tracing paper they finish measured at .499 Which was TO TIGHT for my Comfort. I shot an AWESOME Group with them, But i was CONSTANTLY Worrying that i was gonna Push one through the Paper Jacket. I need to be able to Size my Bullets to .491 for this Particular Bore, Then Patch them. You will get a Feel for them :lewis:

At most, you might end up needing a .442 Sizer
 
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