Green Boolits? How long to wait

L

Lost Dog

Guest
Well then. I guess I've nothing to be concerned about after all. Most of my loaded ammo will sit for months often enough. Only when I run out completely and have the notion that I have to go shoot do I cast in the morning and shoot after lunch. Ain't often that happens anyway as my neighbor once said he seldom ever sees an empty case in my loading area. True enough as I usually have every case loaded as he suspected.


So I guess I'm safe by default! And I got a bundle of pure lead round ball cast up all the time as my charcoal burners outnumber my cartridge weapons 2:1!

Thanks for the answers. My old brain got it absorbed now.
:confused:
 

yodogsandman

Well-Known Member
I think I found out that it's better to wait before sizing new bullets. For air cooled bullets, I'd normally wait a few weeks before sizing. Just anxious to try out a "new to me" 4 cavity mold. So, I sized a batch of .45's on Friday night that were cast on Thursday night using a Lee .452" sizer and they came out closer to .451". Normally I'd wait before sizing and they'd come out at .452". The alloy mix used was 4 lb of COWW and 14 lbs of range scrap. Probably should have waited for a few weeks. I'd bet the Sb content wasn't over 2%. The "as cast" size was .453"-.454".

Since I might have to melt this batch back down, I cast another pot full yesterday that I will wait a few weeks before sizing. Just in case, I want to shoot some at .451" first just to try them out.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Your sized bullets will still grow some if you sized them right away because the dendrites are still forming, though not much if Sb is below 2%. I've had sized and loaded straight COWW bullets swell in the brass weeks after loading and not chamber at the range, loads I know dang good and well chambered when loaded a few days after casting and sizing. I measured the pulled bullets to discover near a thousandth growth. If you're shooting a .45 ACP you may find it likes .451" just fine, maybe better than .452". Depends on the size of the throat.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
All's I know ( & That ain't much) If I water drop or oven treat....I size right then & there.... and wait 2 weeks! If I need to gas check I can always do that with a push thru after the fact to get the GC on.

If I air cool I wait usually 2 weeks to 4 weeks minimum
Keep in mind this is for rifle shooting. For pistol it is all air cooled & I really don't care how long ( I'm not that good of a pistol shooter to tell any difference)