Hard to fill out moulds

[Ian]

Lee used to have a deal where you sent in your worn-out whatever and they refurbished or replaced it for a very reduced rate, you pay shipping both ways.

I took my spout out years ago and peened the hole smaller then cleaned it up with a small drill, 1/16" I think but really don't remember. The spout material is HARD even though it's been annealed at 700⁰ or more many times.

 

[fiver]

probably why it's so hard.
like an old engine block that's had 10 thousand heat cycles and a few hundred long highway temp 'soaks'.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I am convinced that bullet casting is arcane. There's always an exception. I use an antique Ideal single cavity mold #308334. This old mold drops excellent bullets. This unaltered mold has zero as in no vent lines. Bullet does extremely in my old beat up Savage 110 FP. 308.

 

[GRMPS]

I also have several molds with NO vent lines.
I preheat all my molds on a hotplate set to 400°
I cast around 700-720°
Make sure the sprue plate is loose and swings easily BUT, you can't see light between the mold and sprue plate.
Last resort I stone or use a diamond hone and put a slight bevel on the top edges of the mold to help with venting.
Occasionally you will need to lightly polish the cavities to get clean edges