I was browsing the net the other night and here’s someone offering top punches for sizing hollow points.
My word, somebody is marketing a “nose picker”. Been using those for 20 years.
Had problems with HP cavities not being completely round, a sliver of lead in the cavity and damage to the cavity walls. Decided I’d fix that one day.
Took some 5/16” aluminum rod (steel bolt shank works but is hard to work with hand tools), cut off about a 1” section and chucked it in my drill press. Using a flat file, I trued and flattened both ends. Then, I turned about a 1/2” shank on one end to .260” which fits my Lyman sizer.
Reverse work and after measuring the hp in diameter, turn about a .125” “tit” the diameter of the cavity pin using the file. Then, turn the middle or body so that it will enter the die. Try the “tit” in a bullet hp cavity. It should go in with a little effort.
Ready to go.
This accomplishes several things. The first is that it irons out the cavity mouth making it smooth and round. The second benefit is that it centers the point of the bullet during the sizing, lining and GCing process.
Works for me.
Required tools: drill press or electric drill, flat file and cleaning brush and a micrometer or set of calipers.
At last count, I had 8 home made “nose pickers” in my to punch box. They work./beagle
My word, somebody is marketing a “nose picker”. Been using those for 20 years.
Had problems with HP cavities not being completely round, a sliver of lead in the cavity and damage to the cavity walls. Decided I’d fix that one day.
Took some 5/16” aluminum rod (steel bolt shank works but is hard to work with hand tools), cut off about a 1” section and chucked it in my drill press. Using a flat file, I trued and flattened both ends. Then, I turned about a 1/2” shank on one end to .260” which fits my Lyman sizer.
Reverse work and after measuring the hp in diameter, turn about a .125” “tit” the diameter of the cavity pin using the file. Then, turn the middle or body so that it will enter the die. Try the “tit” in a bullet hp cavity. It should go in with a little effort.
Ready to go.
This accomplishes several things. The first is that it irons out the cavity mouth making it smooth and round. The second benefit is that it centers the point of the bullet during the sizing, lining and GCing process.
Works for me.
Required tools: drill press or electric drill, flat file and cleaning brush and a micrometer or set of calipers.
At last count, I had 8 home made “nose pickers” in my to punch box. They work./beagle