Sizing with RCBS Partner

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Jackalope

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Anyone have experience sizing bullets with a RCBS Partner? I ended up picking one up for half off NIB. I’ll be sizing for my .45 LHR as well as some .50 cal conical.
 
I sized some RCBS 11 mm bullets through it and they went through pretty easy. Went from .446 to .442.
 
I don’t have experience with that exact Loading Press, I just looked it up, It doesn’t appear to have the leverage/Power of the RCBS Rock Chucker, (i use a Redding Big Boss) I am sure the RCBS Partner press will Work just Fine.

Bullet Sizing Tips- If you follow these simple steps you will have no problems, ignore them and you will be back with problems. I have sized Several hundered pounds of Lead bullets over the last 3-4 years, I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, Those mistakes taught me how to Make this Easy. I have sized bullets down as far as .010-.012 Thou, There is a Point where you will Start to “Fin” The Lube Grooves, Lube will help a BUNCH to keep this from happening, But at a Certain Point it’s gonna do it no matter what. I don’t advise Sizing over about .010, And when going this Far 2 Steps is better than 1, Here is a Good Example, I size a PILE of Different .457-.459 Diameter .45 Cal bullets down to .449-.451, Sizing down this far Can be done in 1 Step, But i prefer 2 Steps, Run them through a .454 Sizer first, Re Lube them, Then send them through .449-.451

No. 1, Lube is your BEST buddy when Sizing!! Before i get started, I even Pre lube the inside of the Sizer die With a Qtip so the Very first bullet goes through like Butter, otherwise it can size Hard, deforming the Base with the Push Rod. You are better to have to Much Lube than not enough!!

No. 2 Speed, The Worst thing you can do is to Start and Stop!! Once you start pushing through the Sizer, Push all the way Through, The Quicker you push them through, the Easier they will Size. If you start and Stop in the Die, when you start to Push again you will be Stuck, Even with Lube, You will get it, But you will Deform the Bullet Base with the Push Rod, and since the Base of the Bullet is what steers it, you DON’T wanna do that! (Without Lube you are in DEEP trouble!)
 
If you get a Bullet stuck in a Sizer, Remove the Sizer die, Heat the Sizer with a Hair Dryer on high heat til it’s to hot to hold on to, Use a welder Glove, Oven mitt, etc. So you can hold the Die, Use a Wooden dowel that Fits, Tap the Bullet out the way you tried pushing it in. A stuck bullet will come out REALLY easy like this

Hard lead (Wheel Weight) is more difficult to Size, and Prone to Getting stuck. But it can be done EASY by following the Steps above (Lube/Speed) I have Sized Lyman No. 2 which is 15 BHN, From .508 down to .500-.501, LOTS of Lube on The bullet, and Pre Lube the Die, And i sent them through FAST! They went through Effortlessly! Try this without Lube and See what happens? You will have the Hair Dryer out :D
 
One might Question why i would Start and Stop Through the Sizing process? The reason is the Length of my Press Stroke, and how i sit at my press. Due to the long length of my press Stroke it’s easier/habit for me to Start by pulling the Handle and about Halfway through i stop and reposition to Push the rest of the way through. I only did this 2 times Sizing bullets, The 1st time was simply not knowing better, the 2nd time was Forgetting about the 1st time :D I quickly learned to start the same way i finish, This way i can Continue through the Complete press Stroke without stopping.

You will learn a Method that works for you :lewis:
 
My lee sizing die sizes to .440.5 even though it’s a .442. Wrapped with tracing paper i’m getting a .447.5 bullet. I’ll shoot it a couple times before I think about opening it up to the true .442.

I rolled the bullet across a case lube pad and they slid through very very easy.

I would of liked to get a bigger press, maybe in the future.
 
My lee sizing die sizes to .440.5 even though it’s a .442. Wrapped with tracing paper i’m getting a .447.5 bullet. I’ll shoot it a couple times before I think about opening it up to the true .442.

I rolled the bullet across a case lube pad and they slid through very very easy.

I would of liked to get a bigger press, maybe in the future.

I have never heard of a Lee Bullet Sizer being that far off? That being a Custom i would send it back!! It’s easy enough to open a Sizer as I’ve said/shown in the past, But you shouldn’t have to do that! You payed, and waited for a Custom Sizer, I would send it back and let them make it right :lewis:

.447.5 Should shoot well for ya, Have you loaded 1 to See how it holds the bore? I’m gonna bet your .45 LRH Bore is .450-.451, Like Everyone i have seen, and Guy’s i have worked with. For Target work i am ok with a bullet that Slides down with virtually no effort, in Fact i prefer it, But there aint NO WAY I would trust something like that to Walk Hunt with, at least my Style of Elk hunting, On a Whitetail Stand where i was Sitting and watching it would fine. Each of us will have a difference of opinion here and I respect that, If you are comfortable with it, That’s all that Matters! :lewis: If you Bulge your Barrel over something like this, Come back here and ask and I’ll set you up with a Fella that can Build ya a Brand New Barrel :D
 
I emailed Lee this morning asking them about it. Will see what they say.
 
Here is something i came up with to tighten a loose fitting PP bullet, i tested this several days in a Row and it did NOT effect accuracy in the least! This worked REALLY well to Tighten up a Cold Clean Bore PP Load :lewis:

Just Cut a Strip of your Onion Skin Paper like this, Lay it over the Muzzle and Push your Bullet down
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If your onion Skin paper is like mine .002 single, The above method will make your 447.5, .451.5, It will Push right Down no problem, But will Hold the Bore SOLID! This i would FULLY trust to Hunt with, i Did, and Killed my Deer :lewis:

Of course you need to test Accuracy, Etc. With your own rifle and not just take for granted that it will work identical for you as it did for me, my bet is it will, But make sure and Test it :lewis:
 
You only need to do the Above Strip of paper method on a Cold clean Bore, A Follow up Shot on a Fouled Bore will Hang on to your Bullet Good :lewis:
 
Thanks

I just sized a couple to see what they measured with paper. Now on to sorting by weight before sizing.
 
Thanks

I just sized a couple to see what they measured with paper. Now on to sorting by weight before sizing.

Good Job!! Make every shot as close as you possibly can to the Shot before it!! Take out all the Variables you can! You are on the Right track :lewis:
 
408 gr is most likely my reference weight with the lead I have. Out of 100 36 are +\- .5gr. I’m sure that number will improve with practice. I was getting some big swings from 399 gr to 410 gr.
 
408 gr is most likely my reference weight with the lead I have. Out of 100 36 are +\- .5gr. I’m sure that number will improve with practice. I was getting some big swings from 399 gr to 410 gr.

405-408 is right for that Mold, That’s what I remember it pouring :lewis:

Get your Mold HOT, Really Hot! Cast Hot, Try and Run your Lead 750-800 Degrees. Dip the corner of your Mold in the Molten Lead for 1 Full minute (I actually count to 60) When you pour your First bullet the Sprue Puddle should Take Quite awhile to Solidify, I have seen it take as long as a Full minute, This means the Mold is to Hot, When the Sprue Solidifies wait for another good 20-30 Seconds before dumping the Bullet, Any sooner and the Bullet will pour out instead of Drop out, Then you have to deal with Lead between the Blocks, Better to prevent doing it! Now quickly Fill the Mold again, Watch for the Sprue to Solidify, wait 15 Seconds or So and Dump the Bulet, Repeat the procedure for at least 10 Bullets, Dont bother keeping them, Just dump them out as “Rejects” After 10-15 Bullets the Mold will be “Settled in” and should be Casting perfect bullets.

Are you Ladle Casting, or Bottom pour Pot? I use a Bottom pour with modified Spout, I can’t get the Hang of Ladle Casting, I have 2 Nice Ladles, But i HATE the darn things with a Passion!
 
I have a bottom pour lee 10lbs. I was getting it pretty hot I started getting rainbow bullets. I turned it down and seemed to do better. I keep getting fins on the top of the bullet and a little down the side. Did you have that problem when you had the mold?
 
I have a bottom pour lee 10lbs. I was getting it pretty hot I started getting rainbow bullets. I turned it down and seemed to do better. I keep getting fins on the top of the bullet and a little down the side. Did you have that problem when you had the mold?

Sounds like you got the Heat part down, To Hot is not good, I run 750 Degrees, on my Lee 4-20 that is about No. 6 on the Dial. I never get above 6 on this particular Pot.

As for the “Whiskers” you speak of, That Mold never did that with me, I only used it 2 times and it poured Perfect Bullets. Check the Mold halves CLOSELY for any sign of Lead smear, you have Something interfering and not allowing the Mold Haves to Fully Close, it will be something teeny tiny. 1 mistake i have seen made is Dunking the Mold in the Lead with the Mold Open, That is a NO NO! Have you done this? I did this 1 time when i first Started Casting, But only 1 time :D It was a PITA to get Cleaned back out! Lead can Stick, Especially if it gets REALLY HOT. Don’t use anything Metal to scratch at it! Use wood, like a Popsicle Stick, Pointed Wood Tooth Pick between the Vent lines of the Mold, Paint Stirring Stick etc. etc. If you can’t get it, Heat the Mold HOT and use the Wood i just described, It will come Clean
 
I’ll have to take a closer look for any lead getting in the way.
 

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