Question on sizing Minie balls.

[Jim468]

Question for all of you N-SSA shooters who shoot a high volume of .58 caliber Minie balls. When I played years ago I used a Lyman 450 luber/sizer with a custom die. What is the most effective way now to lube & size a high volume of this style bullet?

 

[Brickman301]

I use a hand push through sizer. I made a jig out of angle iron to hold the sizing die, and a steel rod to push them through. Hard to explain, but easy to make. I’ll put up some pictures of it tomorrow.

 

[Melnic]

I was into it, then stopped a couple years ago. Spent a bunch of time working on accuracy for the 3 muskets I had. I would not say its high volume like using a lubrisizer but I hot dipped my minies (melted the lube, dipped then set onto a wax shee) then use a sizer from these guys. I went so far as to order a bunch of pin gauges to measure the muzzle/bore. Purchased some sizers that worked on my lee single stage press.

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www.northeasttradeco.com

My Maynard Carbine came with a hand push thru sizer that you use a rubber hammer.

 

[The Saint]

I have an old Ideal LubeSizer for some things...but the old North East Trade Co push-throughs are so much easier and simply work.

 

[John from MD]

Watch tv and hand lube from a can of Crisco. They don't really have to be filled with lube btw.

 

[tjiann]

I use the Northeast push- through sizer as well. Then just quick dip in my beeswax/crisco lube.

 

[Threeband]

I would dip them in lube first, then push them through the sizing die with a wooden dowel.

 

[The Saint]

Lube before or lube after, or use a steel push or wooden dowel....it's all the same end result.

 

[Jim468]

Thanks for the info. I know there are two other veteran N-SSA shooters, both National and International class competitors, that have not chimed in. Would love to hear from you guys too.

 

[Mike OTDP]

To be honest, my mold for the Parker-Hale drops Minies that fit the musket without sizing. I pan-lube everything.