Sizing cast bullets for 9x18

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 3rd, 2009, 12:23 pm

I found an inexpensive way to size my cast bullets for the 9x18. Like most hand loaders I have an assortment of brands of equipment, but my bullet casting is all Lee. The only problem is that Lee does not offer any sizers for the 9x18. I am WAY too cheap to buy another type of press and dies just to size one caliber. That is why I have not hand loaded 9x18 in the past. Then I had an epiphany. I took a Lyman .363 bullet sizing die and turned about 2/3 the length of it about 10/1000 of an inch in the lathe. I replaced the O-ring with a thinner diameter....a green automotive air conditioning O-ring works perfect...Then I slipped the guts out of a Lee 30/30 factory crimp die....any caliber will work...and slipped the Lyman die in. Now for $17.00 I can size bullets for my P-64. A Lee bullet catch tub is a tight fit but it goes on with a little convincing. I use either a .356 or .357 bullet holder from one of my other sizers and all is well.

I took a picture but I am too stupid to figure out how to add it to this post. If someone could explain it I would be grateful.

Post by **normsutton** » January 3rd, 2009, 1:12 pm

breeze

very interesting

to post pix

http://p64.proboards67.com/index.cgi?bo ... hread=1542

NORM

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 3rd, 2009, 1:32 pm

OK here goes, If there is no picture then I will go back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the info

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 3rd, 2009, 1:39 pm

Last try

Post by **normsutton** » January 3rd, 2009, 1:44 pm

breeze

send the to me and i'll post them for you

NORMSUTTON@AOL.COM

NORM

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 3rd, 2009, 1:51 pm

I never give up

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 3rd, 2009, 2:17 pm

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 3rd, 2009, 2:59 pm

I have got to be the slowest learner on this entire Forum!!!!!

Post by **normsutton** » January 3rd, 2009, 5:27 pm

breeze

nice pix. and they are the right size too

you did good

NORM

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 4th, 2009, 11:10 am

I am going to do some trials at the range. If I end up with too much leading, I might special order a Seaco die in .364. Or if I feel brave, I might try polishing 1/1000 out of a Lyman .363 in order to get a better fit.

After reading some other posts, I checked my magazine dimensions, and they are very tight. Keeping the bullets on the small side should help with reliability. I would hate to get a perfect combination and find out the hard way that in the real world it might not be smart. For example, what if you got a bullet diameter that was awesome for accuracy and reliable in a clean gun, but after a day or two in a crisis situation where it might actually get dirty, you end up with a failure to feed a split second before you get blown away. I know I sound paranoid but it is good to be ready...all the time.

Post by **normsutton** » January 5th, 2009, 7:47 am

breeze

I hard cast my bullets, and I don't get any leading at all even in a CZ-82 , and the lube I using is for a rifle and not suppose to used for a hand gun

NORM

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 6th, 2009, 9:37 am

Norm,

I have been using the tumble lube from Lee. It works well but I have to clean the lube off the exposed portion of the bullet. They say it dries hard but it will pick up debris because it is a little tacky. I am experimenting with applying it differently. The best lube I have ever used used to be called 'Wonderlube' now they call it '1000 shots' The only trouble is it is messy. It is designed for blackpowder. I used it on some .357 handloads and it changed my groups from 1.5 inches at ten paces....from a bench....to cloverleafs.

I just saw the new string for posting personal info and pics. That is a good idea. I hope a bunch of us use it.

Post by **normsutton** » January 6th, 2009, 11:35 am

breeze

when I started casting my own I used a LEE cookie cutter and made my own lube out of bee's wax and axle grease tell I could afford a lyman 450 lube & seizer , bought a used one been using it ever since

NORM

breeze · Post by **breeze** » January 6th, 2009, 5:40 pm

Norm,

What is a 'cookie cutter'? Is it a way to get around tumble lubing?

Post by **normsutton** » January 6th, 2009, 6:39 pm

breeze
I don't think LEE even makes the cookie cutter any more, ever since they came up with their tumble lubeing method

NORM

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