Works great… if you understand what you’re ordering - Lee 90046 Lube & Sizing Kit One Kit .356 Standard 7/8" X 14" Threads

The specified diameter of a Lee Lube and Size Kit is the actual diameter of the die and not the intended finished diameter of the bullet. Lee produces these dies by forcing a carbide ball through a slightly undersized die until the stated die diameter is achieved. The actual finished diameter of a bullet is dependent upon the ‘springback’ of that specific bullet.

(Note: As accurately as I can measure and from what I consider to be credible sources, for all practical purposes, 100% pure lead does not spring back. However, bullets made with the typical lead alloys used to cast lead bullets do indeed spring back... and different alloys and different processes result in different springback.)

The die of the 356 Diameter Kit that I received actually measured 0.3561” (close enough for my purposes). The typical finished diameter of about 2500 slightly oversized (commercially cast) 9 mm Luger 147 gr LFP bullets that I resized averaged about 0.3564”. The springback for these particular (cast lead alloy) bullets averaged about 0.0002” to 0.0004”.

Lee offers ‘custom’ kits (which, in my opinion, are really ‘not stocked’ standard kits) in increments of 0.001”. So, if I want a slightly smaller finished bullet diameter, I’ll have to special order a slightly more costly Lee Custom Lube and Size Kit 355 Diameter to get their next smaller 0.355” die and expect the finished bullet diameter to be about 0.3554” (or, if desired, increase the die diameter slightly with a dowel rod and some 1000 grit emery cloth).

Also, as an FYI, these dies (with case resizing lubricant) can be used to ‘draw down’ jacketed bullets. But, expect the springback to be approximately 0.0007” to 0.0013” (depending on the caliber and bullet construction) and order accordingly. (For more on drawing down jacketed bullets, the following article may be useful and can be easily found with an Internet search: “Drawing Down Jacketed Bullets for Obsolete Cartridges” by Layne Simpson, American Rifleman, September 4th, 2013.)

Happy loading!