Ladle question

[minmax]

Happy Belated Birthday Dale.

I have not ladle poured yet, l just got an RCBS ladle. So I hope to give it a try soon. I started with a Lee 10#. I picked up the Lyman bottom pour (pictured at left) at an estate sale. The previous owner converted it to work with you left hand and pulling down. Instead of your right hand pushing up. I kinda like it that way. However I ordered the parts from Lyman to convert it back to original. I also ordered the mold shelf, so I don't have to use blocks underneath.

 

[Dale53]

minmax;
Thank you for the "Happy Birthday"...
I have done more than my share of ladle casting but am a confirmed bottom pour man, for lo these many years.

The important thing is not how you do it but the results you get. After all, THAT is the bottom line.

Keep on casting...
Dale53

 

[Brad]

That is the truth Dale. Results are all that matters. Learning how to get the results is the key.

 

[John]

I ended up with my first new style lee 2 cavity as I wanted to try the 125 gr in my Rossi 92 357. I soaped it, heated it for 45 minutes on the hot plate @ 350 and could not get it to run as a bottom pour. Pulled out the ladle and filled it while emptying the ladle over it each pour to finally get good base fillout. BP is faster for me but ladle is my answer for stubborn molds, and I keep notes on what a mold wants.

 

[freebullet]

For me, so far, ladle pouring gives better results for 250gr+ boolits. I have a mp 454 300gr 2 cav it won't give good bases in the rear cav unless ladle poured.
It may be the venting on those big ones, I dunno.

 

[williamwaco]

Ladle or bottom pour, same thing. I get best results with a little drop. One half to one inch.

If I want pretty rifle bullets, I ladle. For all other uses I bottom pour.

 

[williamwaco]

Contact or drop. Same result.

Three seconds.

Only the little "button" that forms in the depression on the sprue plate.

I only use the ladle with ill-behaved molds that refuse to fill. Overall I get just as good bullets and a lot faster with bottom pour.

 

[quicksylver]

I believe that larger bullets need more venting.
Why do I say this?
Because I noticed that while pouring some larger bullets using
my bottom fed pot that I was getting "gurgling" as air was trying to escape while
I filled the mold.
Speed of the pour may also have an affect on the molds ability to vent properly.
On larger bullets I open the spigot more so the alloy does not cool as fast.
I have noticed that holding the mold at an angle like you were going to ladle pour
seems to help.

 

[KHornet]

Believing that all molds are female and sensitive, I have found that some molds do better with bottom pour, and others with ladle. Life is strange that way.

 

[James W. Miner]

Hello fellas, I am new here but not to casting or loading. About 62 years of it and casting sinkers well before that.
Nothing at all wrong with the way you pour. need a good sprue.
However I am a ladle caster and learned something long ago. I use the tip method with the ladle tight to the plate with no leaks. I could see the lead in the ladle go down and as the bullet shrunk, lead would go in again. That is normally what is taken from the sprue. Since then I keep the ladle tight long enough for the bullet to take all the molten lead from the ladle it needs. I have no problems dumping a 20# pot with zero rejects. Most of my bullets are big, heavy ones but it also has worked with smaller calibers.
I still make a good sprue when I tip off but the dimple in the sprue is very tiny, sometimes none. I made most of my own molds and like 2 cavity and have even used 3 at the same time. 2 at a time is easy but getting 3 up to heat needs the hot plate heating one as you keep pouring with the first, then cycle each in.
I have never made the bottom pour work right so I plug the hole and remove the stuff on the pots.
I find no difference between molds, steel, brass or aluminum but brass needs more heat.
If you get good bullets, no need to change.