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June 17, 2012, 06:21 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: August 23, 2011
Location: Trinity, Texas
Posts: 636
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Did a little casting today
New at this, but I had a pretty good day. I'm finally getting the hang of it. I was casting bullets between unpacking boxes from our recent move.
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David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06 |
June 17, 2012, 07:23 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: January 16, 2011
Location: North Bend, OR
Posts: 743
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Looking good.
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June 17, 2012, 08:25 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: November 10, 2008
Location: SC
Posts: 41
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Those are purdy!
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June 17, 2012, 09:34 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: January 7, 2012
Location: Auburn, AL.
Posts: 2,332
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Nice! I'm going to try to learn to cast in a week or two when I collect the rest of my stuff. I hope mine look that good. Those are neat!
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June 17, 2012, 10:16 PM | #5 |
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Well done! Any issues?
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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. |
June 17, 2012, 10:27 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: October 18, 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
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Looking good, David. That was one of the first ones I cast with as well. Nice pretty boolits, nice sharp edges. What kind of alloy are you using?
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June 17, 2012, 10:33 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: August 23, 2011
Location: Trinity, Texas
Posts: 636
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I had a few that were wrinkled. I read that wrinkling meant your mold was too cold. So I placed the mold over the pot for a few minutes and tossed the wrinkles back into the pot. After that they were popping out looking almost perfect.
After a while I had trouble getting the mold (2 cavity LEE) to close properly. I put a little wax on the bars and in the slots, after that it started working perfectly. I also lubed between the sprue plate and top of the mold with graphite (carpenters pencil). I never smoked the mold or used any kind of release. The bullets were dropping off real well, ever once and a while I get a hanger, not often. Things went pretty smooth as long as I kept the pot between 725 and 800 F. Go figure.
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David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06 |
June 19, 2012, 08:38 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: January 16, 2010
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Sounds great! I've found that a mould has a temp it prefers and there is an optimum temp for the alloy as well. Only problem is that these preferences vary from mould to mould. When I get wrinkled bullets I just cast faster until they smooth out; I'll preheat the moulds but once I get them close I let the alloy finish heating them up.
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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. |
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