The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Cast bullet question--water cooling?

Paul B. · October 2, 1999, 11:58 PM

Kent. Seems like everybody is getting good results just dropping the hot bullets into a bucket of water. Brings up certain points though. When you lube your bullets, do you also size them? From what I have read, this will wipe out the hardening affect of water quenching. All my bullets must be sized down, so after casting, I size them to the proper dimensions. Then I cook them in the oven at 450 degrees for at least one hour. The bullets are in a little basket I made out of quarter inch mesh screen with a wire handle. After the bullets have baked for the hour, I rapidly remove them from the oven and immediately drop them, basket and all into the water. Them I lube them with a sizing die that is at least .001-2 oversize so as not to touch the bullet's sides.
Works for me.
Paul B.

October 2, 1999, 11:58 PM	#7
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Kent. Seems like everybody is getting good results just dropping the hot bullets into a bucket of water. Brings up certain points though. When you lube your bullets, do you also size them? From what I have read, this will wipe out the hardening affect of water quenching. All my bullets must be sized down, so after casting, I size them to the proper dimensions. Then I cook them in the oven at 450 degrees for at least one hour. The bullets are in a little basket I made out of quarter inch mesh screen with a wire handle. After the bullets have baked for the hour, I rapidly remove them from the oven and immediately drop them, basket and all into the water. Them I lube them with a sizing die that is at least .001-2 oversize so as not to touch the bullet's sides. Works for me. Paul B.