What temp for .38 sized bullets?

[fiver]

brass is magic once you get it broke in and patina'd.
it heat soaks quickly and stays that way as long as you keep putting alloy in it every so often.
heavy though.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

brass is magic once you get it broke in and patina'd.
it heat soaks quickly and stays that way as long as you keep putting alloy in it every so often.
heavy though.

And it doesn't rust
And it drops bullets with ease
And it has a very fine finish


But yes, it is heavy

 

[dale2242]

I cast in the 700-740* range.
720* seems to work best for most of my moulds.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

You got Sage advice here!

Nothing ta ad that wouldnt parrot all guys before me.

I run my main pot 700 on PID. My other pots get diff temps but are usually used for dead soft or very hard. But generally 7-750° like everyone else.

Good luck with your new hobby. Its a good one!

CW

 

[Bret4207]

I'll just add my 2 cents and note that I would much rather have my melt and mould a little hot rather than cool. Frosty bullets don't hurt anything from what I can see. Making bullets as close to possible to perfect is the goal, not hitting an exact temperature. Shiny bullets are fine, but I'll take frosty over shiny with wrinkles and incomplete fill out every time.

My 3rd cent- mould temp is dependent on how fast you fill the mould with alloy that's hot enough to start with. You don't contol mould temp with the pot temp!

 

[Mainiac]

My old rcbs promelt has stayed in one place for about 20 years,,think it says 710 on the dial.havent a clue what it really is for temp,,,its no importance to me.

 

[fiver]

my first pot [LEE 20] went to about 620-F and wouldn't go over that.
it took forever to melt down ww's in it, but it was great for mixing antimony ore in.

and yeah i used it to melt down ww's, still got it and use it.

 

[JWFilips]

725 Degs here! Except a 3 cavity NOE .256-63 mould ! It Needs 750 Degs to work! Lots of mould block but little cavities!

 

[Charles Graff]

I have never owned a lead thermometer. I just set the pot for about 725 and let it heat until the alloy runs about like water. Works for me.

 

[Winelover]

my first pot [LEE 20] went to about 620-F and wouldn't go over that.
it took forever to melt down ww's in it, but it was great for mixing antimony ore in.

and yeah i used it to melt down ww's, still got it and use it.

Still have my first 10# Lee pot. Thermostat worked OK, don't know what it topped out at. Never used a thermometer. Could get frosty bullets, though.

I used it to smelt and blend alloy, back then...............over 40 years ago. Currently, use it to smelt the few jacketed bullets, I rarely shoot.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Still have my first 10# Lee pot. Thermostat worked OK, don't know what it topped out at. Never used a thermometer. Could get frosty bullets, though.

I used it to smelt and blend alloy, back then...............over 40 years ago. Currently, use it to smelt the few jacketed bullets, I rarely shoot.

I have same. Bought in the 1980's. Didnt have stat then either. I have pot today its been my pure lead melter for thirty years. It can get nearly to 800.

CW