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Posted: 8/22/2015 2:38:56 PM EDT
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So I just recently bought a bunch of lead bullets for my 25ACP Beretta 21A to load and shoot as plinking ammo. They are 50 grain bullets with small, shallow, tumble lube grooves.
So I was thinking about buying one of the Lee Size Die kits to get the Liquid Alox, and to size the bullets appropriately for my pistol. I slugged the bore, and I measured it to be about .2522 over the grooves. Judging by what I've read, the "sized" diameter should be about .001 over my groove diamter, making my size die about .253 diameter. Is my thinking correct? Or should I size them to .252 since they are plinking rounds? Thanks |
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FWIW jacketed bullets for sale at Midway and Brownells are .251.
There is a vendor selling cast lead here where they'll size their .258 casts to .253 on special order, http://www.carolinacastbullets.com/25_ACP_32_ACP_380_ACP.html. I lack the experience to make a suggestion, but I hope it helps to compare with other options on the market. |
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It sounds like you got bullets from a RanchDog Mold.
That is a good mold, that makes nice bullets. If I recall correctly, they should drop at .256. The reasoning behind it was that the bore diameter of european guns varied a lot, and he wanted the mold to be able to work appropriately for all 25s. It's a good mold, but I personally prefer the Lyman or Mihec mold with the traditional lube groove. You will want to size .001 above bore diameter, so as Dryflash mentioned, .253 is the way to go. For this bullet you will not need much lube at all, I would suggest thinning it a little bit with Mineral Spirits, or set the bottle in some HOT water. (If you are using the Lee Liquid Alox) |
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Quoted:
It sounds like you got bullets from a RanchDog Mold. That is a good mold, that makes nice bullets. If I recall correctly, they should drop at .256. The reasoning behind it was that the bore diameter of european guns varied a lot, and he wanted the mold to be able to work appropriately for all 25s. It's a good mold, but I personally prefer the Lyman or Mihec mold with the traditional lube groove. You will want to size .001 above bore diameter, so as Dryflash mentioned, .253 is the way to go. For this bullet you will not need much lube at all, I would suggest thinning it a little bit with Mineral Spirits, or set the bottle in some HOT water. (If you are using the Lee Liquid Alox) Yes, they look like Ranch Dog bullets, with big flat noses and shallow lube grooves. They were purchased from Carolina Cast Bullets. I measured a few, and they seem to be a little out of round, and run about .258 to .260 depending on where you measure them. I shouldn't have an issue sizing them to .253 for my 21A. |
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If it were me I would size to .253. When you get your push through die, size 1 bullet and measure diameter. I have ordered 8 of these dies recently and every one was .001 to .002 smaller than marked. <a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/Powder%20Coat/P1010913_zpsgw5cbnys.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Powder%20Coat/P1010913_zpsgw5cbnys.jpg</a> It's how I size my powder coated cast bullets. Like in pic. To increase diameter of die, I wrap 400 grit sandpaper around a slightly smaller metal dowel and turn with a drill. After 30 seconds, I size another bullet to check the diameter of the die. Repeat as needed, remember you can't put metal back after removing it. I have thought about casting for my 25 ACP pistol. But not paying $100 for an RCBS mold. <a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/25%20ACP/P1010863_zpsubugdoda.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/25%20ACP/P1010863_zpsubugdoda.jpg</a> So for now I'm loading jacketed bullets. Good luck. Out of curiosity, what do you set your OAL to on the 25ACP? SAAMI says they should be between .860 and .910 for OAL. Thanks! |
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Quoted: Out of curiosity, what do you set your OAL to on the 25ACP? SAAMI says they should be between .860 and .910 for OAL. Thanks! Quoted: Quoted: If it were me I would size to .253. Out of curiosity, what do you set your OAL to on the 25ACP? SAAMI says they should be between .860 and .910 for OAL. Thanks! As is my practice, I never load to max OAL. .900 has worked 100% in my FIE Titan. |
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As is my practice, I never load to max OAL. .900 has worked 100% in my FIE Titan. Quoted:
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If it were me I would size to .253. Out of curiosity, what do you set your OAL to on the 25ACP? SAAMI says they should be between .860 and .910 for OAL. Thanks! As is my practice, I never load to max OAL. .900 has worked 100% in my FIE Titan. Thanks! I do have a few hundred FMJ bullets that have a crimp cannelure. I plan on putting a slight crimp on he case to remove any flare from the expander die. Maybe I'll seat one of those and set up my crimp & seat depth for those bullets, and just carry it over to the cast ones. |
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Quoted:
Thanks! I do have a few hundred FMJ bullets that have a crimp cannelure. I plan on putting a slight crimp on he case to remove any flare from the expander die. Maybe I'll seat one of those and set up my crimp & seat depth for those bullets, and just carry it over to the cast ones. Quoted:
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Quoted:
If it were me I would size to .253. Out of curiosity, what do you set your OAL to on the 25ACP? SAAMI says they should be between .860 and .910 for OAL. Thanks! As is my practice, I never load to max OAL. .900 has worked 100% in my FIE Titan. Thanks! I do have a few hundred FMJ bullets that have a crimp cannelure. I plan on putting a slight crimp on he case to remove any flare from the expander die. Maybe I'll seat one of those and set up my crimp & seat depth for those bullets, and just carry it over to the cast ones. Be aware, the Ranchdog bullet is shorter than a typical FMJ, so it'll be seated shorted. I don't have my data in front of me, but I'll give you the OAL I use for Ranchdogs mold when I get home. As for the FMJ with cannelure, it is possible to roll crimp with the 25 ACP. It is a semi-rimmed cartridge, and headspaces off the rim, not the case mouth. |
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