I am new to the art of reloading and bullet casting and love to shoot. My question being: How do you know what top punch to use for a particular die? I have a .356 die for 9mm and don't have top punch and the punch numbers don't match die size. I have a used RCBS Luber 2. Any help at all on this subject would be appreciated. THANKS

Top punches match the bullet nose shape. An RCBS catalog shows the bullets that come out of their moulds and list the proper top punch number,as well as the matching Lyman number. If you tell us what bullets you plan on sizing we can look up the top punch.

Won't be back for several hours.

Bye
Jack

Top punches match the bullet nose shape. An RCBS catalog shows the bullets that come out of their moulds and list the proper top punch number,as well as the matching Lyman number. If you tell us what bullets you plan on sizing we can look up the top punch.

Won't be back for several hours.

Bye
Jack


I'm using Lee moulds,so I guess I'll have to find my RCBS catalog and try to match up with them. I've got the Lee sizer die for these,but the only lube you can use with these is the liquid Alox that comes with them and I'm a little skeptical about just using this for lube. Afraid the gun will lead up. Thanks for the help,Jack. If I run into any problems I'll get back to you,or do you know anything about this liquid Alox method of lubing.


From one Jack to another Jack,
THANKS ALOT!!

ERW' don't worry about the alox, it is a good lube, it goes on wet then dries to a fairly hard wax. it is easy to clean. I only have revolvers and a couple of rifles I shoot it in. I know several others who shoot alot of semi-autos with it though.
The Lee system is a good set up. Many experienced shooters prefer it to a luber/sizer.
I shoot it in my 44mag, but use home made 50/50 NRA for my 458 win mag,at near 2250fps.
You may want to try shooting a few rounds without sizing them, just to see how it does. Many just lube them, and shoot them. Just depends on your particular firearm.
Halfbreed

What Halfbreed said!!! Marty

Casting lead bullets is a little like developing your own witches brew.

Mine -- wheel weight metal, gas checked, allox lube (I melt it and pour it into the sizer), four cavity if I can find one. Furnace is set as hot as it can go (This is a setting for my furnace, not yours). Bullet is ususlly sized .002 over bore diameter (manuals say .001 is best).

I usually make 1500 or more at one sitting or session so I don't have to go back and make more for at least a year.

PS I just loaded two cases of 45 ACP for the same reason.

When I start to shoot I frequently put 200 rounds down range in one hour.

Casting lead bullets is a little like developing your own witches brew.

Mine -- wheel weight metal, gas checked, allox lube (I melt it and pour it into the sizer), four cavity if I can find one. Furnace is set as hot as it can go (This is a setting for my furnace, not yours). Bullet is ususlly sized .002 over bore diameter (manuals say .001 is best).

I usually make 1500 or more at one sitting or session so I don't have to go back and make more for at least a year.

PS I just loaded two cases of 45 ACP for the same reason.

When I start to shoot I frequently put 200 rounds down range in one hour.



Thanks to everyone for your help. I can see if I stick around here I might learn a thing or two. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I find bullet casting and reloading very enjoyable. I just wish I would have started sooner. Thanks again to everyone who replied.

JACK

ERW' don't worry about the alox, it is a good lube, it goes on wet then dries to a fairly hard wax. it is easy to clean. I only have revolvers and a couple of rifles I shoot it in. I know several others who shoot alot of semi-autos with it though.
The Lee system is a good set up. Many experienced shooters prefer it to a luber/sizer.
I shoot it in my 44mag, but use home made 50/50 NRA for my 458 win mag,at near 2250fps.
You may want to try shooting a few rounds without sizing them, just to see how it does. Many just lube them, and shoot them. Just depends on your particular firearm.
Halfbreed

Thanks,Halfbreed. Some of my shooting is from a Walther P-38 my dad brought back from WWII. It's alot of fun to shoot and it's also interesting just to think about where the gun has been and what its been thru. I usually shoot a Ruger semi auto in 9mm as my main gun. Thanks again.

JACK

I load 44 Mag. and 30 Cal. in 30-30 and 30-06 (all molds are LEE molds), I just cast them, lube them (liquid Alox), load them and shoot them.
They all shoot pretty nice, I only got some leading in the 44 Mag. when I pushed them to the MAX.

Michael Grace

I echo what the others have said about the liquid alox. Leading has a little more to it than just the lube. My 444 is pushing a lead bullet down a 24" barrell at near 2400 FPS and there is still a wax "star" at the muzzle. The bullets are Lee and lubed with their liquid alox.

I'm using Lee moulds,so I guess I'll have to find my RCBS catalog and try to match up with them. I've got the Lee sizer die for these,but the only lube you can use with these is the liquid Alox that comes with them and I'm a little skeptical about just using this for lube. Afraid the gun will lead up. Thanks for the help,Jack. If I run into any problems I'll get back to you,or do you know anything about this liquid Alox method of lubing.


From one Jack to another Jack,
THANKS ALOT!!

I've been using the Lee molds and sizer dies and liquid alox for a lot of years now. It's the best system I have ever used for casting and sizing.

Shoot 357 mag, 44 mag, and 41 mag. have never had any problems and no leading. Most of Lee's bullets can be shot without sizing and because the sizer pushes the bullets from the bottom you don't have to worry about a nose punch.

Most of the bullets I shoot get a coat of the liquid alox and shot as is. Anything that needs a gas check goes thru the sizer. I got rid of my old lubrisizer years ago.

My Dad started me on casting bullets when I was about 7 years old. He used Lyman molds and a # 45 Lyman sizer/lubricator all of which I still have. I still cast bullets for my 44 mag and 357 mag. I still use Lyman's bullet lube with excellent results. I haven't tried Lee's alox lube but I have a Lee 240 grain gas checked mold for the 44 and it seems to work very well. Happy casting!!

I guess I am guilty of overkill.... I usually size/lube my bullits then give them a coat of Lee Liquid Alox.. they shoot great, accuratly and never the slightest sign of leading. Lee's Alox is great stuff and I know several shooters that just Alox their bullets and shoot them with just as good results as I get.