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Posted: 10/10/2013 6:10:27 PM EDT
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50 cal pulled bullets are readily available. I have a crap load. Question is.... do I need to "size" them?
I am shooting an M82A1. I'd like to be able to hit a softbal at 100 yards... so plinking crap. IF sizing is recommended/ required... where do I get the die, and what "size"? I think I have seen them in .509, .510, custom, etc. Thanks Wags Oh, a buddy traded me a bunch of 50 reloaded stuff... he has a few hundred loaded that weren't sized... hence the question. |
| I feel better sizing pulled 50 cal bullets. I've sized a few thousand in my homemade bullet sizing die. Some say let the barrel size them? A lot of 50 BMG loaders simply use the inexpensive Lee .510 bullet sizing die and that's about the size of my die. Actually all the .510 die will do is iron down the raised pull marks but occasionally I'll find one that is tight in the die. The bullets will still mike a tiny bit over .510 if you measure exactly on the raised pull marks that have been ironed down. They say it does take a 509.5" die to make them iron down to .510" as the bullets do expand a little after going thru the die. I feel safer running all of them thru my size die just to make sure one is not out of round a lot. I would say that for just ironing down the pull marks that they will shoot safely but I don't want to miss one badly squeezed out of round. I use Diillon spray lube on a pad and roll the bullets on the pad. You do need lube to push them thru the sizing die or they will stick in the die. If you've got a sturdy single stage press equivalent to a RockChucker the Lee .510 bullet sizing die which is 7/8-14 and will fit the threads of your press and size ok. Put firm pressure on the press arm and don't let up or you'll hang a bullet in the die. The Lee .510 bullet sizing die is meant for sizing lead bullets but works ok for 50 BMG bullet sizing. I know that some shooters size pulled surplus and a lot shoot them unsized. Just up to you. |
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I resize. I have a CH4D .5095 die that fits on my ammo master press. If lubed properly most bullets go through with a stout push, but some take considerable leverage. Visually I cant tell the ones that will size easy from the hard ones. My concern with not sizing would be a pressure spike.
My die was expensive but the Lee ones are priced right. I would recommend sizing. |
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