Heating the Dies
 

What is your preferred method of heating the Bullet making Dies?
I.e. Hairdryer or running some bullets through them?
Or some other way to warm up the Dies, Please share

If you utilize the hairdryer, how long do you heat the core seater & point up Dies?
If you utilize the bullet running method, how many bullets do you run through before you call it good?

Thanks,
Ed

Ed,

I cull the first 100 for forming or shop general use. The problem with using an external heat source is that you will most likely heat the dies hotter than they would normally run at. So the effect is the same as not heating them at all just in the reverse direction (i.e. the dies will contract over time rather than expand over time while coming to operating temp).

Really you are going to be the judge of what you run through as cull or shoot. It really depends on both the ambient temp of your working environment as well as how detailed you are and your measurement tools and skills are. Lots of variables in making bullets and it is your job to figure out what does or does not affect your shooting. No need to spend excess time on prep or cull if you can see no real world difference in your shots. Cull any that have visible errors, then I would focus on making them as best you can with the focus on the jacket, core, seat pressure, PF pressure, and meplat. Once you have all that down pat, then focus on the smaller variables.

Thanks Ron, your point on external heating is very valid. I have been culling 30-40 jackets per operation but was curious what others were doing. I make my Bullets in a climate controlled environment so the Dies are not very cold when I begin.

Ed

Hello Ed for the small lots you are making I would use the hair drier warm till warm to touch die and press frame. I have checked with a infra red thermometer and die gets to around 90* fahr. and stays there, any more heat is absorbed into frame....

Thanks George

Ed

I heated my point dies with a small hair dryer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/tenxal/2-7.jpg

Press
 

Al what kind of press is that you have pictured there?

Blackmon press

Thanks George. Say is that lay down press of yours ever going back into production. My friend John Parrish has one of those.

George, do you heat the Core seat die? Or just the Point up die needs to be heated?

Thanks,
Ed