Waht did you cast today?

Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
glassparman said:
Well, with some awesome advice from Ben on getting a steel mold hot enough and Oscarflytyer for sending me a nice WC mold, I'm finally on my way down success lane with casting using older molds made of steel. All I have messed with before were the Lee Aluminum molds.

These aren't perfect but they are much better than when I tried it before! My lubesizer die and top punches will be here Friday. Can't wait to go shoot!

View attachment 30427
View attachment 30428
Click to expand...
Those look great.
 
Spindrift

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
I needed more of the NOE 360-232 PB, and the Lee 309-230-5R, as I'm doing some interesting load development with these, in .35 Whelen and 30-06, respectively. I'll get back to you with a proper write- up once I have more solid data.

A couple of degrees below freezing, it started to snow a little during the casting session. My casting area is under a roof, but snow flakes tend to drift into my work place. The errant snow flake that enters the pot is no problem, it doesn't have the density to break the surface - only makes a little sizzle. It's the other stuff that can cause danger; your skimming spoon, your pile of cut sprues etc. You have to keep a level head, and think before you stick anything into the melt.

All went well, and I have a nice pile of bullets of mostly acceptable quality (considering somewhat demanding conditions).

IMG_20221121_113516357.jpg
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
well, you know Lyman Ideal311413
XglDkAt.jpg

my Rem 700 .308 likes them.72 " @100 yds
kzv8hdV.jpg
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Well I got a couple NOE molds!!

I cast some 6.5's. My mold is a combo GC/PB. I have a good friend who is also interested to test these. So we have cooked up a test.
So, I cast up a couple hundred and have begun to size up groups of 50, of each, in .265 and .266. Then send him off 25 of each (of four) He will work up a quick load and then test accuracy. More ta see bullet accuracy diff in preformance, not so much ta see which of us or our guns is more accurate. Be interesting ta see if a size or is a PB or GC is "better consistently. Here is the bullet not select just a random bullet outta the pile.

ABEF5B11-045A-4720-8A48-0B179A3AA7D1.jpeg

CW
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Lee 452-230 TC.

Yes, there are some rejects, but they don't look like they were cast of chromium or solder ;).
Was casting in the cold garage and I wasn't keep too close enough attention to the pot's temperature swings.
F6B9BE3F-93AF-40DC-8F03-AD869E2859D1.jpeg
 
Last edited:
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Glaciers said:
Okay CW that’s sweet looking, mind sharing what it is?
Click to expand...
Its a bullet from a repaired ( heavily rusted & abused mold) my buddy brought down ta see if I could make useable. I think I succeeded. Lyman 311041 mold. ( Thought I wrote that?? Ill fix it now, sorry)

CW
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
CW, run your moulds faster and hotter with that range scrap and the driving bands will fill out. You're right at the mould tempreature point where you're past shiny and the bands are starting to frost and shy away from the grooves. another 30-50 degrees mould temp and the effect will reverse and metal will flow fully and give a very light satin frost all over.

Edit to add photo:

20210824_174021.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
Nah, I'm too cheap for that. I cut that cherry to cast a .450" bullet using range scrap so I could powder coat and load without sizing them (also why the bevel base).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.