Slow Learner

TXGunNut · August 28, 2010, 10:14 PM

Cast a few rifle bullets with 30-1 alloy today, not very happy with the results. Couldn't seem to find the right temp but eventually cast a few I could live with. While I was waiting for the temp to adjust itself I sorted my first bucket of ww's.

Only found a handful of zinc but quite a few marked "Fe", decided to save them to cast into a Dutch oven as soon as I decide to get a real smelting outfit.

Wound up with almost 60 lbs of good weights and about 5 lbs of lead stick-ons. Quite a few iron stick-ons as well, they went into the "Dutch oven" bucket.
For some reason I decided to jump in and smelt a few lbs of ww's and cast some boolits for a .45 Colt. New moulds been sitting around too long.

WW's melted nicely and it was quite amusing watching the clips float to the top. Before I knew it I'd smelted almost 20 lbs for a "test batch". Funny thing, ww's had less stuff (other than clips) to skim off after fluxing than my "store bought" lead.

Another funny thing: 45 Colt boolits cast quite nicely once I determined the right temp. Then I decided to try the rifle molds again, had to go a little hot & frosty on the big ones but the rifle boolits came out very nicely too.

I finally figured it out, you guys like ww's not just because they're cheap. Seems they're also better than store-bought lead for some applications. Not sure how they'll do in my BPCR but it doesn't seem to like the hard 20-1 boolits.
Your secret's safe with me.

DiscoRacing · August 28, 2010, 10:16 PM

Nice to hear that your progressing... dont get frustrated... I always use only straight wheel weights... ive never had a problem with them..

TXGunNut · August 28, 2010, 10:32 PM

Far from frustrated, DR, today's one of the best days I've had in weeks! Spent a nice relaxing day outside, learned a few new things and have quite a few nice shiny boolits to show for it.

DiscoRacing · August 29, 2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

nice shiny boolits to show for it

Other than shooting them.... making them is as good as it gets

GP100man · August 29, 2010, 06:58 PM

Nuttin like the feelin of independence from the bullet manufacturers !!!

Now a slave to the mold makers ,& scroungin lead ,WHAT JOY !!!!!

That`s rite I`m an addict !!!!!!!!!!!!!

DiscoRacing · August 29, 2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

That`s rite I`m an addict !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty sure that Im close to qualifying for that also>>>!!!

TXGunNut · August 29, 2010, 09:10 PM

Hope there's not a 12-step program for this. Last time I had this much fun it involved handcuffs, a judge and lots of paperwork.

TXGunNut · August 29, 2010, 09:17 PM

Too busy loading up dozens and dozens of jacketed levergun bullets

to lubrisize and load my shiny new boolits today. Got the brass worked but will weigh, lubrisize and load another day. I guess I just want to look at them for a few more days.

reloader28 · August 30, 2010, 08:18 AM

I think the planets were all aligned just right last night, cause out of around 400 boolits I cast, I only rejected about 6.

Everything was working so perfect, I hated to quit. Its raining today and I cant work, maybe I'll try again.

TXGunNut · August 30, 2010, 06:57 PM

I had a run like that with the new 45 Colt boolits I was casting. It was hard to stop but I wanted to try another mould with that alloy. Hope today went smoothly as well.

Steve T · September 14, 2010, 01:53 PM

Well I think I did have a frustrating night. I just pulled out my 9mm mold and have not used it in a WHILE. I started casting and I am getting hairline ridges all around my bullets. So I figured it was a piece of trash I need to work out so I kept casting. Then I took a copper brush and a cloth and wiped it down and kept casting... I think it starting going away and getting a LITTLE better around 300-400 lol. Guess I know what I will be doing tonight haha

But I agree you really cant get mad at it. Just smile and keep on going

GP100man · September 14, 2010, 08:26 PM

SteveT

Welcome to the casting forum !!!!!!!sit back & enjoy & join in ifin ya can or want . Been castin long ????

Sounds as if some lube of some type was leachin out & cookin off , do you put anything on ya molds for storage ???

Alloy temp hi enuff???

The last Lee mold I purchased it took 2 sessions to "cook" out the machinin lube & that was after boilin it for 15min.

TXGunNut · September 14, 2010, 09:06 PM

Welcome to the asylum, Steve T. Hope you figure it out, let us know.

August 28, 2010, 10:14 PM	#1
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Slow Learner Cast a few rifle bullets with 30-1 alloy today, not very happy with the results. Couldn't seem to find the right temp but eventually cast a few I could live with. While I was waiting for the temp to adjust itself I sorted my first bucket of ww's. Only found a handful of zinc but quite a few marked "Fe", decided to save them to cast into a Dutch oven as soon as I decide to get a real smelting outfit. Wound up with almost 60 lbs of good weights and about 5 lbs of lead stick-ons. Quite a few iron stick-ons as well, they went into the "Dutch oven" bucket. For some reason I decided to jump in and smelt a few lbs of ww's and cast some boolits for a .45 Colt. New moulds been sitting around too long. WW's melted nicely and it was quite amusing watching the clips float to the top. Before I knew it I'd smelted almost 20 lbs for a "test batch". Funny thing, ww's had less stuff (other than clips) to skim off after fluxing than my "store bought" lead. Another funny thing: 45 Colt boolits cast quite nicely once I determined the right temp. Then I decided to try the rifle molds again, had to go a little hot & frosty on the big ones but the rifle boolits came out very nicely too. I finally figured it out, you guys like ww's not just because they're cheap. Seems they're also better than store-bought lead for some applications. Not sure how they'll do in my BPCR but it doesn't seem to like the hard 20-1 boolits. Your secret's safe with me. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 28, 2010, 10:16 PM	#2
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	Nice to hear that your progressing... dont get frustrated... I always use only straight wheel weights... ive never had a problem with them.. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

August 28, 2010, 10:32 PM	#3
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Far from frustrated, DR, today's one of the best days I've had in weeks! Spent a nice relaxing day outside, learned a few new things and have quite a few nice shiny boolits to show for it. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 29, 2010, 06:58 PM	#5
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Nuttin like the feelin of independence from the bullet manufacturers !!! Now a slave to the mold makers ,& scroungin lead ,WHAT JOY !!!!! That`s rite I`m an addict !!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ GP100man

August 29, 2010, 09:10 PM	#7
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Hope there's not a 12-step program for this. Last time I had this much fun it involved handcuffs, a judge and lots of paperwork. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 29, 2010, 09:17 PM	#8
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Too busy loading up dozens and dozens of jacketed levergun bullets to lubrisize and load my shiny new boolits today. Got the brass worked but will weigh, lubrisize and load another day. I guess I just want to look at them for a few more days. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 30, 2010, 08:18 AM	#9
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I think the planets were all aligned just right last night, cause out of around 400 boolits I cast, I only rejected about 6. Everything was working so perfect, I hated to quit. Its raining today and I cant work, maybe I'll try again.

August 30, 2010, 06:57 PM	#10
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	I had a run like that with the new 45 Colt boolits I was casting. It was hard to stop but I wanted to try another mould with that alloy. Hope today went smoothly as well. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

September 14, 2010, 01:53 PM	#11
Steve T Junior Member Join Date: September 14, 2010 Posts: 1	Well I think I did have a frustrating night. I just pulled out my 9mm mold and have not used it in a WHILE. I started casting and I am getting hairline ridges all around my bullets. So I figured it was a piece of trash I need to work out so I kept casting. Then I took a copper brush and a cloth and wiped it down and kept casting... I think it starting going away and getting a LITTLE better around 300-400 lol. Guess I know what I will be doing tonight haha But I agree you really cant get mad at it. Just smile and keep on going

September 14, 2010, 08:26 PM	#12
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	SteveT Welcome to the casting forum !!!!!!!sit back & enjoy & join in ifin ya can or want . Been castin long ???? Sounds as if some lube of some type was leachin out & cookin off , do you put anything on ya molds for storage ??? Alloy temp hi enuff??? The last Lee mold I purchased it took 2 sessions to "cook" out the machinin lube & that was after boilin it for 15min. __________________ GP100man

September 14, 2010, 09:06 PM	#13
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Welcome to the asylum, Steve T. Hope you figure it out, let us know. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.