Achieving Unparalleled Precision: The Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit for Cast Bullets

For dedicated handloaders, the pursuit of perfection in every round is a never-ending journey. Whether you're a competitive shooter, a passionate hunter, or simply enjoy the art of crafting your own ammunition, consistency is king. This quest for consistency often leads reloaders to explore the benefits of casting their own bullets, offering significant cost savings and unparalleled control over bullet characteristics. However, casting bullets is only half the equation. To truly unlock their potential, cast bullets require meticulous sizing and lubrication – a critical step that ensures proper fit, enhances accuracy, and prevents leading in your firearm's barrel.

This is where the Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit emerges as an indispensable tool for the discerning reloader. Designed specifically to streamline the process of sizing and lubricating cast bullets, this robust steel kit provides everything you need (aside from the press and lubricant) to transform raw cast projectiles into perfectly formed, ready-to-load components. It's not just a tool; it's an investment in the accuracy and longevity of your firearms, empowering you to produce ammunition that consistently performs to your exacting standards.

Why Bullet Sizing is Non-Negotiable for Cast Bullets

Before delving into the specifics of the Lee Precision 90686 kit, it's essential to understand the fundamental role of bullet sizing in handloading, particularly with cast bullets. When bullets are cast, their diameter can vary slightly due to factors like mold temperature, alloy composition, and casting technique. These minor variations, often just thousandths of an inch, can have a profound impact on performance.

• Ensuring Proper Bore Fit: For optimal accuracy and to prevent gas cutting (hot propellant gases escaping past the bullet), a cast bullet must be sized to slightly larger than the groove diameter of your firearm's barrel. This allows the bullet to fully engage the rifling, ensuring a tight seal and consistent rotation down the bore.
• Preventing Leading: Oversized bullets can be difficult to chamber and may cause excessive pressure. Undersized bullets, on the other hand, allow gas to blow past them, melting and depositing lead onto the barrel's rifling, a phenomenon known as leading. This degrades accuracy, is difficult to clean, and can even increase pressure over time. Proper sizing, combined with effective lubrication, is the primary defense against leading.
• Uniformity for Precision: Sizing ensures that every bullet in your batch has a consistent diameter. This uniformity is paramount for achieving tight groups and repeatable accuracy, as it eliminates one variable that could otherwise compromise your load development.
• Facilitating Gas Check Application: Many high-velocity cast bullet loads utilize gas checks – small copper or aluminum cups applied to the base of the bullet. Sizing is often a prerequisite for securely seating these checks, preventing gas cutting and stabilizing the bullet at higher velocities.

By performing the sizing operation with a high-quality tool like the Lee Precision Lube & Size Kit, you take a critical step towards producing superior ammunition that rivals, or even surpasses, factory loads in terms of accuracy and consistency.

The Ingenuity Behind the Lee Precision 90686 Kit: A Deeper Dive

The Lee Precision 90686 Kit, often referred to as a "Classic Bullet Sizing Kit," simplifies a complex process, making it accessible even for those new to cast bullet reloading. Its design is based on efficiency and precision, hallmarks of Lee Precision products.

The kit comprises three essential components:

1. Sizer Die: This is the core of the system. Crafted from durable steel, the sizer die features standard 7/8 x 14 threads, making it compatible with virtually any single-stage reloading press on the market. Its internal diameter is precisely machined to size your cast bullets to the desired dimension. Lee Precision offers these dies in various calibers, and it's crucial to select one that is typically .001" larger than the groove diameter of your firearm's barrel for optimal performance with cast bullets.
2. Sizer Punch: Unlike traditional sizing systems that often require specific nose punches for different bullet profiles, the Lee Precision 90686 kit employs a universal push-through punch. This ingenious design eliminates the need for multiple punches, saving you money and simplifying your setup. The punch is used in place of a shell holder in your press's ram, pushing the cast bullet nose-first through the sizer die.
3. Sizer Box (or Container): As bullets are pushed through the die, they emerge perfectly sized and are captured in this specialized container. This keeps your newly sized bullets organized and prevents them from rolling off your workbench, streamlining your workflow.

Beyond these components, the kit includes clear, concise instructions that guide you through the setup and operation, ensuring a smooth and effective sizing process from your very first use.

The Lee Precision Push-Through System: Simplicity Meets Effectiveness

One of the defining features of the Lee Precision 90686 kit is its innovative push-through sizing method. Instead of pulling the bullet into a die or using a more complex, multi-stage process, this system leverages the power of your single-stage press to push the bullet through the sizing die from top to bottom.

Here's why this approach is highly beneficial:

• No Special Nose Punches Required: Since bullets are pushed nose first, the universal sizer punch contacts the base of the bullet. This eliminates the need for a collection of specific nose punches for different bullet shapes (e.g., round nose, semi-wadcutter, conical). This significantly reduces complexity and cost.
• Consistent Sizing: Pushing the bullet through ensures a uniform sizing operation along the entire bearing surface of the bullet, leading to more consistent diameters and roundness.
• Easy Lubrication: As the bullet is pushed through, it can be simultaneously lubricated. While the kit itself doesn't include lubricant (Lee Liquid Alox is sold separately), the design facilitates easy application prior to sizing, ensuring the lubricant is evenly distributed across the bullet's surface as it passes through the die. This uniform lubrication is vital for preventing leading and reducing friction during firing.
• Effortless Gas Check Seating: For cast bullets requiring gas checks, the push-through sizing operation is ideal for firmly seating these checks onto the bullet's base. As the bullet is pushed through the die, the die’s internal design helps to crimp the gas check securely, ensuring it remains in place during handling and firing. This integrated functionality saves a separate step in the reloading process.

The simplicity of the push-through design not only makes the Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit incredibly user-friendly but also contributes to the consistency and quality of your sized bullets.

The Critical Role of Lubrication and the ".001 inch Rule"

While the Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit handles the mechanical aspect of sizing, lubrication is its indispensable partner. The kit is designed to work seamlessly with Lee Liquid Alox, a highly regarded bullet lubricant specifically formulated for cast bullets (note: Lee Liquid Alox and the press are sold separately). Applying a thin, even coat of Lee Liquid Alox to your cast bullets before running them through the sizer die offers several advantages:

• Reduced Friction: Lubricant minimizes the friction between the bullet and the sizer die, making the sizing process smoother and requiring less effort.
• Prevention of Leading: Most importantly, the lubricant forms a protective barrier between the hot propellant gases and the bullet's surface, preventing lead particles from adhering to the barrel rifling. This keeps your barrel cleaner, extends its life, and maintains accuracy.
• Improved Accuracy: A properly lubricated bullet experiences less drag and deformation as it travels down the bore, contributing to greater accuracy and consistent velocities.

When selecting your sizing die, Lee Precision recommends choosing a kit that sizes your cast bullets to be approximately .001" larger than the groove diameter of your barrel. This "oversize" approach is key to achieving an effective gas seal and preventing leading. For instance, if your barrel has a .357" groove diameter, you would ideally choose a .358" sizing die. This slight interference fit ensures the bullet fully engages the rifling, imparting maximum spin and sealing off the bore from propellant gases. It's a nuance that experienced reloaders understand and utilize to optimize their cast bullet performance.

Optimizing Your Reloading Bench: Compatibility and Workflow

The Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit is designed for maximum compatibility and ease of integration into an existing reloading setup.

• Single-Stage Press Compatibility: The kit is specifically intended for use on single-stage presses. This is a common and versatile type of press, popular among both novice and experienced reloaders for its simplicity, precise control, and robust nature. Examples include the Lee Challenger, Lee Classic Cast, or any other standard single-stage press with 7/8 x 14 TPI (threads per inch).
• Streamlined Process: The push-through system simplifies the sizing and lubrication process. You simply apply lubricant, place a bullet on the press ram (where the shell holder normally goes), and push it through the die. The sized bullet then drops into the catch container. This efficient workflow allows you to process a significant number of cast bullets in a relatively short amount of time.
• Durability and Longevity: Constructed from high-quality steel, the components of the Lee Precision 90686 kit are built to withstand the rigors of consistent use. Lee Precision is renowned for producing durable, reliable reloading equipment that stands the test of time, ensuring this kit will be a dependable part of your reloading arsenal for years to come.

The Advantages of Choosing Lee Precision for Your Reloading Needs

Lee Precision has been a trusted name in the reloading community for decades, consistently delivering innovative, user-friendly, and cost-effective solutions. The Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit is a testament to this commitment.

• Precision Engineering: Each component of the kit is manufactured to exacting tolerances, ensuring that your bullets are sized consistently and accurately, every time. This precision translates directly into improved accuracy on the range or in the field.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Investing in a Lee Precision kit is a smart economic decision for any reloader, especially those who cast their own bullets. By precisely sizing and lubricating your cast projectiles, you extend the life of your firearms by preventing leading and reduce the overall cost of producing high-quality ammunition.
• User-Friendly Design: Lee Precision products are known for their intuitive design. The 90686 kit is no exception, making the often-intimidating process of bullet sizing approachable for reloaders of all experience levels. The clear instructions provided ensure a hassle-free setup and operation.
• Enhanced Performance: Users consistently report significant improvements in accuracy and a marked reduction in barrel leading after incorporating the Lee Precision Lube & Size Kit into their reloading regimen. This tangible improvement in shooting performance is the ultimate goal for any handloader.

Who Can Benefit from the Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit?

This kit is an ideal solution for:

• Dedicated Cast Bullet Shooters: Those who frequently cast their own bullets for pistols, rifles, or shotguns and seek to optimize their performance.
• Accuracy Enthusiasts: Reloaders who demand the highest level of precision and consistency from their ammunition.
• Cost-Conscious Reloaders: Individuals looking to maximize the efficiency and economic benefits of casting their own bullets.
• Beginner to Intermediate Reloaders: Its straightforward design makes it an excellent tool for those new to bullet sizing, while its performance satisfies experienced handloaders.

By integrating the Lee Precision 90686 Lube & Size Kit into your reloading process, you are not just buying a tool; you are investing in a proven system that empowers you to produce consistently accurate, high-quality cast ammunition. This commitment to precision and performance is what sets the serious handloader apart, allowing you to tailor your loads to perfection and achieve superior results every time you pull the trigger.

For the most comprehensive selection of Lee Precision reloading equipment, including the 90686 Lube & Size Kit and essential accessories like Lee Liquid Alox, look no further than DEGuns. They are your trusted source for all your reloading needs, offering competitive pricing and reliable availability.

Attribute	Detail
Brand	Lee Precision
Series	Kit
Model	Classic Bullet Sizing
Function	Size Bullet
Material	Steel
Compatible With	Single Stage Presses
Includes	Sizer Die, Sizer Punch, Sizer Box, Instructions
Media Type	Cast Bullets
Weight	0.99 lbs
SKU	40753
MPN	90686
UPC	734307906863