Top punch?

[Ken O]

Is there a chart anywhere online that matches the top punch for the bullet? There used to be one on the Midway site, but cant seem to find it now. The punch in question is for a Lee 2-Cavity Bullet Mold 429-200-RF 429 Diameter 200 Grain Round Nose Flat Point, the lube-sizer is a Lyman 45.
I think it is in the master catalog also, but I lent mine to a friend who is getting started. I checked both the Lee and Lymman sites also with no results. Thanks, Ken

[Herb in Pa]

I've got a Midway Master Catalog in front of me, unfortunately there are no top punch listings for the Lee Molds. Lee bullet sizing dies push the bullet through nose first, so no top punches are required. If you find a Lyman or Rcbs top punch that is close, you can make a "custom" punch by using either JB Weld or AcuraGlas to form fit the Lee bullet nose contour.

[Shuz]

Ken O--I've never worried about getting the "exact" top punch for many of my cast bullets. As long as the top punch allows the boolit in question to fit snugly inside it, I'll use it. For example, in my experience, Lyman TP #303, designed for their 429303 pointed .44 cal boolit, works well for the following moulds: NEI 158, Lee 200RNFP,Lee 240TL,Lee 240HP,Lee 310WNFP,Saeco 446-A,433,439,449;Lyman 427098,429303,429215,429360,429667,429421,429244,4 29640,429650, and probably some others I've forgotten!--Shuz

[beagle]

Ken O....On flat nose bullets, I've stopped worrying about top punches. I took some aluminum round stock, a file and my electric drill and made up a bunch of flat TPs and use them for anything with a flat nose. Think I have one in .22,.30,.358 and .44. These take care of all of my needs with flat nosed bullets.

Lyman's #348 will work fine for that one as it's a flat TP for the .44 and is still available through Lyman. It's made for 429348 which is a flat nosed wadcutter.

As long as you have a flat nose on the bullet, use a flat TP and you'll not have to worry about the ring where the TP don't exactly fit./beagle

[azrednek]

Is there a chart anywhere online that matches the top punch for the bullet?

Not exactly a chart and far from perfect, click on the mold and Midway will list other items buyers bought along with the mold. Chances are good you will see a top punch listed. Also check under buyer's ratings occasionally a kind soul will say what top punch he uses. A few years ago I ordered a Lee Mold from Lock, Stock & Barrel. When I placed the order I asked them to match-up a top punch and include it.

[Ken O]

Thanks Guys, I have a TP for a SWC that will probably work then.

[floodgate]

Ken O, etc.: I have just run up a fairly extensive listing of Lyman (only) top punches by mould number, from Annual Product Catalogs and Handbooks in my files. If OK with Sundog, I will forward it to him on a floppy (or CD) to post on Castpics. But, as Shuz and Beagle have said, any TP that more or less fits the bullet tip, and will enter the sizing die, will work - and Lyman has listed different TP's for the same bullet over the years (and, we find, the tip profiles change from time to time anyhow). I don't know of any cross-listing covering other makers' moulds. OK, Corky? floodgate