Cast Bullet Reloading Dies

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  • Last Post 22 February 2021
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Elmer posted this 27 January 2021

Howdy,

  1. I'm wanting dies for reloading my son's. 270 Win with jacketed and cast bullets.

I've used Lee and RCBS dies in other calibers. I've no experience with Lyman.

I'm considering Lyman Deluxe Rifle dies and the rifle neck expanding M die. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

  1. For cast bullets in 7mm-08, I've used the RCBS .30-06 decaping die adjusted to get a slight bell at the case mouth, which works. Similarly I suppose I could use the 7mm-08 die to bell the .270.

I'm only talking 300 - 500 rounds each. Are there better solutions?

Thanks, Jack

JSM

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John Alexander posted this 27 January 2021

Consider the Lee Collet die.  It will neck size for both JB and cast without an M die and will be much faster and the brass will last longer before neck splitting. .  If you are using brass that has been shot in another rifle or loading hot JB loads you will need a full length die but I never find that needed if I stick fo CB loads in bolt actions.

John

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Elmer posted this 27 January 2021

Copy, John.

What about belling the case mouth prior to bullet seating, or should the CB enter the mouth without belling in a fired case?

I'm more used to reloading CB in revolvers.

Thank you, Jack

JSM

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John Alexander posted this 28 January 2021

Use a low angle reamer to ream a couple of thousandths off the inside of the neck and never bell again. Belling requires additional strain on the brass causing work hardening and earlier mouth splits. 

John

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ten-mile posted this 28 January 2021

I think John's low angle reamer is like a "VLD" reamer.  Once you get one you will never go back.  Visually, my 223 case necks are reamed with an RCBS reamer about half the neck thickness.  If you have the collet die properly adjusted or use bushing dies your days of bell mouthing are over.

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fa38 posted this 28 January 2021

Having a slightly belled case mouth after seating your bullet is not always a bad thing.  It helps seal the chamber against gas blowback.  This is not always possible with most seating dies.

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Larry Gibson posted this 28 January 2021

Elmer

 

Using the 7-08 expander should work as well with the 270 case to expand (flair, bell, etc.) the case mouth for seating cast bullets. 

If using larger than .278 sized cast bullets you might find them not fitting in the 270 seating dies as the crimp part may be too small as the oversized cast bullet would catch on it.    Easiest solution to that is to use the 7-08 seater with the die backed out of the press to accommodate the longer 270 case.

LMG 

Concealment is not cover.........

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Elmer posted this 28 January 2021

Guys,

Great and timely advice.

I like to "make do" w what's on hand. However, the reamer and Lee collet will be good additions.

Do you have a part number for the LVD?

Any ideas why I keep bending RCBS decaping pin inserts in my .30-06 dies? I must be doing something wrong.

Jack

JSM

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JimmyDee posted this 28 January 2021

Here's what I use:

It's from "K&M SERVICES."  A six flute reamer slides in and out of the blue carrier.  Three prongs serve as depth stops.  The small hole on the side of the carrier used to hold a thumb screw that held the reamer in place but didn't stand up to my clumsy use -- so I drilled and tapped the end and added the cap screw and wing nut.

I just spent a minute looking for this tool online and found my way to KMShooting.com.  They offer similar tools on their website (Under "NECK TOOLS") for $80.  Wowsers! 

I assure you: I didn't spend that kind of money on mine.

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4and1 posted this 28 January 2021

I do similar  as Larry. Dies are usually made for nominal bullet size, not cast size. Same with  bullet length, cast are often longer. Neck turning tools have mandrels that are close to nominal bullet size, but when you try to stuff a .310" bullet in a sized case that is .307"+-, it doesn't end well. Chamfering the brass helps, but not always cures.

Lot of little things to overcome sometimes.

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ray h posted this 28 January 2021

J-D, that's a nice solution to the K&M. Mind if I steal it.   After Ken Markle sold to the present owners, they sure jumped the prices.

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Wheel Weights posted this 30 January 2021

NOE makes excellent belling dies that come in sizes to match what you need. Better and cheaper than M dies and work in a standard Lee neck expanding die.

The objective is the minimum expansion that avoids bullet shaving. You can do that w/NOEs where as M dies are "one size fits all"

For example there are 4 choices in 7mm. @ $6.50 each.

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Elmer posted this 22 February 2021

Thanks, WW.

The Lee die us out of stock. I'll get one when available.

JSM

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mashburn posted this 22 February 2021

A few years ago I inherited a .30 cal. M die, The first time I used it, the shrinkage of my groups in that particular .308 rifle shrunk tremendously. I'm not a beginning loader, my reloading technique is well advanced, so I know the M die made a difference. That was with jacketed bullets. I don't use it with cast bullets.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 22 February 2021

elmer .. i think i have an extra lee expander .. one for my shop, one for my house bench... pm me if .  the little insert buttons are really easy to make on a small lathe ... untreated cold rolled is fine ... lasts forever ...

ken

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