Thread: 22lr Resizing/Hollow Pointing Tool

Originally Posted by oraki

So it's not too left field then. As I said, I don't reload, and don't have any real ambition to do so, therefore don't have any idea of the tools involved, but thought as a simple method to "hollow point" and resize, could be an option.
It's just figuring out the tooling required to achieve what's in my mind. I don't even know if it's possible without machining something up. Some of you skilled people out there would have a better idea if it's feasible.
If so, I'd be keen to purchase....

@oraki - Google search for Lee Hand Press in New Zealand. It's a pretty good option and for $150 or so will allow you to all the hollow pointing of .22 ammo with this type of die you need. Basically the Hand Press is a really good option for pistol type rounds and smaller cases as I understand it but it needs a bit more horsepower than you can do with your hands for anything bigger. Quick easy and simple - if you think of the hand primer setup but upsize it a bit... From the sounds of the forces for hollow pointing, you could knock out a good few packets of .22LR in an hour or so watching TV.

Originally Posted by oraki

So it's not too left field then. As I said, I don't reload, and don't have any real ambition to do so, therefore don't have any idea of the tools involved, but thought as a simple method to "hollow point" and resize, could be an option.
It's just figuring out the tooling required to achieve what's in my mind. I don't even know if it's possible without machining something up. Some of you skilled people out there would have a better idea if it's feasible.
If so, I'd be keen to purchase....

Designing and machining a one off hand press for this would cost several times what a lee hand press would. $150 for the lee is pretty good.
My general rule with this type of thing is if there is a commercial solution available to your problem, don't bother trying to make a better (or cheaper) mousetrap.

Use my lee hand press heaps, glued some timber inserts into the alumium frame & grip it in a vice, behaves like an single stage press, often goes to the range with me so as to adjust seating depths, also use in the hollow pointing die, & decapping primers catches the primer internally, tip it upside down & they fall out. Great tool.

Good Aye to you as just joined as I'm a Aussie from across the Ditch but saying that my son and his family now resides in the South Island. I competitively shoot .22 Lr Long Distance 200 meters as been trying to get hold of a Neal Waltz Resizing Die from the States as to no avail then came across this site as it seems you have made one that is just as good if not better so could I order and purchase your .22 Sizing tool from you. Cheers

Originally Posted by Ol Bushie

Good Aye to you as just joined as I'm a Aussie from across the Ditch but saying that my son and his family now resides in the South Island. I competitively shoot .22 Lr Long Distance 200 meters as been trying to get hold of a Neal Waltz Resizing Die from the States as to no avail then came across this site as it seems you have made one that is just as good if not better so could I order and purchase your .22 Sizing tool from you. Cheers

I have a few sets in stock currently.

Send an email to BlackstrandNZ@gmail.com and we can work out the details.

Originally Posted by No.3

@oraki - Google search for Lee Hand Press in New Zealand. It's a pretty good option and for $150 or so will allow you to all the hollow pointing of .22 ammo with this type of die you need. Basically the Hand Press is a really good option for pistol type rounds and smaller cases as I understand it but it needs a bit more horsepower than you can do with your hands for anything bigger. Quick easy and simple - if you think of the hand primer setup but upsize it a bit... From the sounds of the forces for hollow pointing, you could knock out a good few packets of .22LR in an hour or so watching TV.

I use a Lee Handpress at the range for all my rifle calibres up to 30 cal. FL sizing of 30cals requires a bit of effort and I'd not like to have to do 100 of quickly. Technique helps. Seated, put one press arm against your thigh and use two hands on other arm to close the press and drive the brass into the die. Properly lubed brass is essential. Mirror polished neck sizing button, if you use it, really helps when drawing the button out of the neck. Of course, if you're neck sizing it's a doddle. If I'm planning on needing a lot of reloads at the range I'll pre- prepare brass to take. So it will be sized, length gauged and primed on bench press ready to load powder and projectile. Not often I do it this way these days as, for me, doing long incremental load tests is A. too costly, B. of dubious value. And I no longer travel an hour each way to a covered range suitable for doing range side reloading.

I personally would not bother too much with say 9mm or 45ACP, on the Lee - the brass is very short and unless you have very nimble, dexterous fingers. Bit easier with longer cases like 44-40 and 357mag. My preference tho would be for an older Lyman 310 Tong Tool - if you can find the right die set. Much more nimble.

Anyway, highly recommend the Lee Hand Press although I see current retail asking price for a new one at DM is $219.95 and more elsewhere.

Received Jordans .22 re-sizing tool delivered to us here in Crow Land South Australia. Definitely Jordan's Workmanship of the Re-Sizer Tool is from a Tool Maker Craftsman as have used it to form up .22 projectiles as with this tool one can Flat Nose, Hollow Point them and even put the Eley Tennex profile on cheaper Rimfire ammunition like the CCI Standard lead projectile. The detail is as close as to the Eley and being able to adjust length to .960 with the little re-sizer in my Lee-Loader Press is a quick job once you set it up. Only found that the Wax has to bee cleaned from profile pin and top of projectile every so often as that procedure I just use air pressure. I will get around eventually to do some target 50 meter comparisons at the Range evaluating the different profile types. Until then thanks Sixty Ten..

Yes, I have yet to plonk a round through mine but it definitely looks the part!

Ok, finally tried this thing out. Was using CCI Standard Velocity solid round nose .22 ammo - mediocre for some reason in this rifle (Norinco JW15 synthetic stock). Groups around 1.5" at 50m, OK as a pest tool really but as I said, not exceptional accuracy.

Back to the die, I did five rounds with the die contacting the shellholder - massive hollow point and really flat face. Massive change in appearance of the ammo... So next ones, I backed the die off one full turn and tried again. Massive hollow point, but still the rounded edges of the original bullet profile. Much more 'factory' looking finish to the bullet.

Trying them out, unmodified as per about 1.5" group on the zero at 50m. The 5 flat faced ones - one on paper buggered if I know where the rest went. Fairly impressive thwack on the target backer though - they hit with some authority but a very short range proposition only. Not worth persevering with... Weather went to the pack at this point and the target fell off and needed to be rescued...

Intermission over for weather and the last 5 - round nose hollow pointed. This was really interesting, the impact point was 2-1/2 inches higher than the unmodified bullets, and four were within 3/4 of an inch with one well out to the right but on level - maybe 2" right? I suspect that this is a good modification for this ammo in this rifle, and good ammo for subsonic hunting purposes after the mod. Seems to be fairly readily available and cheaper than most of the other subsonic hunting spec ammo - once I have a drier day I'll try and set up a better test. Feeding and operation was fine, no difference noted between modified and unmodified ammo. Target fell apart today so no pictures of that unfortunately.

The hollow point stem is designed to be run down until you get just a tiny flat, maybe 0.5mm wide. It sounds like you might be sizing them too much.

This photo shows an unsized round and a hollow pointed round.

Yep, backing the die back up one turn produces a hollow point very similar to that on the CCI Standard.

Originally Posted by No.3

Yep, backing the die back up one turn produces a hollow point very similar to that on the CCI Standard.

Are you backing the whole die off, or just the hollow point stem adjuster? They are designed to bottom out on the shell holder and hollow point depth adjustment is made from the top threaded part. If you back the die body off, you may end up with the projectile not being fully supported in the sizing collar and being squeezed out too much.