Tumble Lube Lee bullets-resize or not?

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gehlsurf

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Hi guys,

I have the Lee TL358-158 LSWC mold, does anybody resize them? I'm not asking for what people have read, but for people that have used them. When I load them in the casings, they bulge like crazy unless I resize them. Is this normal? They still chamber ok in my 357's, once I put them through my Lee Factory Crimp die

Thank you in advance for any help
 
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I have the same mold. I DO resize them, not because of any issues, but when I resize I can see there is some sizing all around the bullet.

This is an excellent bullet and for me gives VG accuracy.

OTOH, I have a 41 mag TL die that shows no change after resizing (they basically drop thru the die), so for them I don't bother.

Another "for whatever its worth", I don't like the FCD. I get superior results and faster reloading by using the bullet seating die's built-in crimp.
 
When I tumble lube, which is most of the time, I do not normally resize. If it chambers, it shoots. Don't worry too much about the bulge in the case. On the rare occasion that I do size tumble-lubed projectiles, I re-tumble (lightly) after sizing.

The only reason I do size, is when I'm lubing with NRA or BAC in my old Lyman 45. Then I size as large as possible, still allowing the round to chamber.

As an aside, if your tumble-lubing, and the projectile is messy and/or sticky when you load - then you are doing it incorrectly. It is very common to use FAR too much Lee Liquid Lube (LLA).
I normally use a 45-45-10 (Recluse Lube variant - you can search for it easily), and have no problems up to Magnum revolver velocities - 1400 FPS - if the projectile fits.
 
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I have the same mold and use tumble lube or powder coat I always resize after both. My alloy is about 15 on the hardness scale and water cooled.
 
Sometimes the stars align and a particular bullet will drop from a particular mould the exact sized needed. No sizing required.
Other times , sizing them will be required. Alloy mix and mould temperature will change the diameter. You would think every bullet would be the same size but it doesn't work that way.
I find sizing easier than trying to adjust alloy and temperature to get the desired size bullet.
Gary
 
If it turns out you need to size the bullets, why not size them BEFORE you tumble lube them?

Disclaimer; I have never used TL bullets, so may be way out in left field..... :o
 
Well, today I shot 50 of the sized bullets, EXCELLENT accuracy, but not excellent in the leading department.

I'll cast some more and not size them. Unsized bulges my casings, but according to Lee that's a normal thing? Well see, I suppose
 
gehlsurf said:
Hi guys,

I have the Lee TL358-158 LSWC mold, does anybody resize them? I'm not asking for what people have read, but for people that have used them. When I load them in the casings, they bulge like crazy unless I resize them. Is this normal? They still chamber ok in my 357's, once I put them through my Lee Factory Crimp die

Thank you in advance for any help
Click to expand...

I have the very same mold and the very same problem with case bulging. So I run them through a 357 sizer die.
 
gehlsurf said:
Well, today I shot 50 of the sized bullets, EXCELLENT accuracy, but not excellent in the leading department.

I'll cast some more and not size them. Unsized bulges my casings, but according to Lee that's a normal thing? Well see, I suppose
Click to expand...


R/E the leading, I got a feeling the Lee Factory Crimp Die is resizing the bullet, in the case, contributing to the leading. That's why that "bulge" is disappearing upon its use. Take a freshly cast bullet or two, and see how they fit thru your chamber throats. If they are snug, maybe require a little force to push thru, then they are good to go as is.

Undersized bullets that are a loose fit in you throats may shoot well, but will most likely lead. Proper fit is more important than alloy or particular lube being used.

Try as cast, lubed, using a slight roll crimp with a regular seating die, and see what happens.

Larry
 
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If you want to shoot lead bullets, even Lee's T/L design, you should know what diameter they are. Should you size them? Measure and you'll know. Best starting point for shooting cast bullets in a revolver is size/purchase bullets the same diameter as the cylinder throats. Or just continue with a WAG...

I've been using a Lee 158 SWC T/L mold for several years and size the bullets, regardless of what lube I use, to the same diameter as the cylinder throats of my revolvers (.358" and .359")...
 
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mikld said:
...

I've been using a Lee 158 SWC T/L mold for several years and size the bullets, regardless of what lube I use, to the same diameter as the cylinder throats of my revolvers (.358" and .359")...
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, I also have one of the Lee 158 TL SWC molds. I have never sized the bullets from that mold. Just tumble-lube, load and shoot.

I've used it in several different 38 & 357 revolvers without problem. From 750fps to over 1300fps.

So, to the OP, try different ways to get there. No telling what may work for you.
 
gehlsurf said:
Hi guys,

I have the Lee TL358-158 LSWC mold, does anybody resize them? I'm not asking for what people have read, but for people that have used them. When I load them in the casings, they bulge like crazy unless I resize them. Is this normal? They still chamber ok in my 357's, once I put them through my Lee Factory Crimp die

Thank you in advance for any help
Click to expand...
They are designed to NOT be sized & depending on the QC of the mold, alloy & casting temp, shooting w/o sizing may be fine. There isn't much to size with those tiny bands & that can cause accuracy issues. Don't get me started on the LFCD, especially with lead or plated bullets.
 
DumpStick said:
As an aside, if your tumble-lubing, and the projectile is messy and/or sticky when you load - then you are doing it incorrectly. It is very common to use FAR too much Lee Liquid Lube (LLA).
I normally use a 45-45-10 (Recluse Lube variant - you can search for it easily), and have no problems up to Magnum revolver velocities - 1400 FPS - if the projectile fits.
Click to expand...

The store bought bullets I use only have lube in the lube groove. As such, they are not sticky or messy.

I DO use the LLA sparingly on my home made bullets, but nevertheless, it gets ALL over the bullet, not just in the groove. They are not "sticky", but as i said, there is lube all over, which makes them messy in that I have to clean the bullet seating die when I'm done. Also, for ACP loads I have to clean the tip or they will stick to the loading ramp.

So, what am I doing wrong?
 
You are using too much.

LLA is tricky to get used to using. Generally speaking, if you can easily see it in the bullet, you are using too much.

Try cutting that LLA 50/50 with some solvent. Naptha works well, and evaporates fairly quickly. Odorless mineral spirits works well also, and is the '10' in 45-45-10 lube.

With the LLA cut with solvent, use the same amount you used of straight LLA. When the carrier evaporates you will have a more even, thinner coat.
 
The only way around the problem of messy bullets is to " dip " them into the lube up to the top grooves . Then set them aside to dry on wax paper then size .
 
I tested a sized bullet through the cylinder throat of my 357, and it was snug, but would still go through, wouldn't just drop in and out though. Unsized was crazy tight, I pussed out and backed it out. In thinking this all the way, I think I may be good with them sized, and will try some of the 45/45/10 lube. Maybe this can cut down what little bit of leading I have.

I question the unsized approach, only because even with the Factory crimp die, they don't drop in the cylinder like a normal bullet, and must be pushed in, on 2 off my 357's. Also, common sense..... and my debate/lawyer mind kicked in....got me wondering..... Even though Lee states they can be used without sizing, yet get smaller when sized.... that would lead us to know, it is not an optimal size for the finished bullet. If unsized it is an optimal size for a bullet, then why is the sizer not that size? Basically, if the optimum size for any bullet is "X", then the bullet and sizer should both create "X".....? The TL molded bullet should go right into the sizer, with almost nothing, if anything at all sized off. So the mold, mixture of lead/tin, etc. may be creating a different size bullet from the mole, but one thing that is constant and seems to match my gun is the sizer. So sizing is the way I think this Newb will go.

Again, thank you guys for all the advice, and maybe one of you can explain why the sizer (which sizes bullets to a "ready to shoot" size) does not match the mold's "ready to shoot" bullets? I'm just curious at this point. I'm not looking to be sarcastic or start something, honestly just curious... maybe for different guns? Maybe options of sizes, can always go smaller with a sizer, but not bigger?
 
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