Boy them are some nice looking casts. Hope I can get that good some day. I would show you some of my cast bullets but then I would halve to stay off the forum for 2 weeks just out of shame.Rainy day here also So it is mil surp's casting day!
First two batches were for my 6.5 Arisaka ( which needs a .275" bullet because of a worn throat) That is the Lee 277-135 bullet on left..
and my 1916 Spanish Mauser ( which need a .294" bullet because of a worn throat) That is satisfied by a somewhat rare single cavity Lyman 287 221
it is lightly beagled!...... not sized after casting and a PC coat of Smoke's Clear gives me the proper size These on on the right:
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Close up below 287 221 on left and 277-135 on right
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Now on to My GEW 98 And It's NOE 326-130 FN and My JP Saure Mauser 98 ( which needs a .334" bullet!) Lee 338 mould
Boy them are some nice looking casts. Hope I can get that good some day. I would show you some of my cast bullets but then I would halve to stay off the forum for 2 weeks just out of shame.
That’s a great write up, thanks! I’ve been casting rug for several years but I have never been that diligent about my pot cleanliness. Thanks!Mitty,
the trick is Get your mould up to temp on a hotplate! I start my pot and hot plate at the same time the mould is already sitting on the hot plate!
When the pot starts to show some melting. I pick up the mould and ligtly lube the sprew plate and mould pins wiping off the excess! I have always used Bullshop's lube but a good 2 cycle oil is ok.
Place it back on the hot plate! When my pot comes up to about 625-650 I stir the heck out of it & start scraping the bottom with a metal scraper (I made) You should feel some sticky spots! This is crud! Got to get that suspended in the mix! Some times a pea size piece of Bees wax is a big help.
I do not use wood because I bottom pour....it always end up on the bottom under the melt!.
My ingots that go into the pot are super cleaned with sawdust in the smelting so They are only the thing that goes into my casting pot At that point I only need beeswax to reduce the oxides back into the melt
Once you feel the bottom of the pot is smooth. you can start a good whirlpool and scoop off the crud that may have floated up!
Now bring the temp up to about 725 730 deg Add a piece of bees wax to seal the top of the pot ( you can light it up to burn off the smoke) you will end up with a nice brown seal that prevents most oxidation.
I then cast until the pot is 2/3rds to 3/4 empty ....Then Clean it, then cool it , then fill it and start over! This works for me!
Every so often read the bottoms of you sprew cuts....if you see specks and inclusions on them they are also in your bullets Re-clean your alloy in the pot!
Got the water system checked and ready to go. Can't check for leaks until they put the water in the canal.Week 3 Day 7
Sun is out but not warm. 29° this morning. Going out when it warms up a little and get the secondary water system ready for the year. Water comes back into the canal April 15.