New mold arrived today, lead is heating up now.

Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Not being critical, but the sprue plate is being opened a bit early.
Look at the bases of your bullets. Won't stop them from shooting.
Is the underside of your sprue plate smeared with antimony ?

Ben
 
Brother_Love

Brother_Love

Well-Known Member
Thanks Ben.You know I did not notice that until I took the photo. I plan to slow down a little and give that lead a few more seconds to solidify. I guess I was more worried about speed. I’m going back this afternoon for another casting session.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Each mould seems to have a particular time sequence ( pour, sprue hardens, open, dump,........) that it operates well with. Just takes a bit of time to cast with a particular mould to discover this.

Enjoy your new mould ! !
 
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Ian

Ian

Notorious member
That's how most of my PB bullets from 3+ cavity moulds look. If I wait too much longer the sprue are too difficult to cut by hand. A little syn 2-stroke oil every 50 pours or so keeps the smears away. I'm a lot more concerned with having nice, clean, sharp bases and band edges than with a little goat arse pucker in the center. Now, gas checked rifle bullets can't have a spongy or cratered base, particularly for high velocity and/or high pressure applications, or you'll have problems.
 
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fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
or crack it sooner.
you take a big chance at getting lead smears doing that, but the bases are usually smooth like butter.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have a Lyman 4 cav steel mold of same profile. I dont do 9mm but my 357 sig and 38 Super likes the bullet!!

Are you gonna lube/size or powder coat/size?
Good luck

CW
 
L Ross

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Spindrift said:
Nice!
Click to expand...
Brother_Love said:
I cast a few tonight just to see them. No mold prep, just heat and cast. They
fell out with just a tap at .3575 and I will size to .356
Took several pics just because I love the camera on my phone.

View attachment 18815View attachment 18817View attachment 18819View attachment 18820
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Have you considered trying a few as cast diameter? I have shot .357"-.358" in a S&W 6906, a Hi-Power, a Beretta 92, and a Ruger something or other a buddy brought over. No leading and perfect cycling using a Magma 38-130-RNFP.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My CZ 75 will shoot Ok with a .356 bullet for a magazine or so. After that it goes to hell as the bore fills with lead.

I size to .357 or .358 for 9 mm
 
Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Boy that is a mighty good looking mold. Makes some fine bullets.
I am personally waiting on my first new mould, it is an Arsenal brand also.
 
D

dale2242

Well-Known Member
Most of my molds seem to cast better with the slight frost look like yours.
I do wait a bit longer to open the sprue plate.
Good looking bullets there.
I size all my 9MM bullets to .358.
 
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