Casting buckshot

armednfree · December 9, 2020, 09:31 AM

Let's say I want to make some buckshot loads for SD, SHTF or whatever. Use my .31 muzzleloader mold (Takes a a long time) but cast them with hardball alloy and water drop them.

Looking at barrier penetration and such.

reloader28 · December 9, 2020, 10:01 AM

Lee makes a multi cavity mold. I think single ought is .31 caliber.
Dont bother water dropping them. They will be plenty hard

USSR · December 9, 2020, 10:08 AM

I have the Lee 2 cavity .319" mold. They fit 3 to a layer in 12 gauge wads, which is what you want. As reloader28 said, no need to water drop them.

Don

Shadow9mm · December 9, 2020, 11:14 AM

Lee buckshot mold. its currently out of stock, but its listed on midway. you might have to hunt around to find one.
They show it coming in the following sizes
.24
.33
.36
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010195439

armednfree · December 9, 2020, 10:19 PM

I was going to go with the round ball mold even though it takes longer. Probably I'll make 75-100 rounds and never again. Beyond testing and patterning I have no interest in really shooting them much.

Geezerbiker · December 10, 2020, 01:53 AM

Many years ago I used a Lyman .32 round ball mold to make home made buck shot loads. It took a long time to cast up enough .32" balls. I found that mold was hard to get and keep hot enough. I've considered drilling out some metal out of the bottom side but I'm not sure if I could do that without damaging the mold.

Tony

Shadow9mm · December 10, 2020, 09:08 AM

I have not cast in a long time, but I Always put my mold on top of my melter, got it fairly warm. Usually after 2-3 bullets cast the heat from the bullets would have the mold up to temp and I just needed to keep casting after that.

armednfree · December 10, 2020, 09:53 AM

Take the mold and put a rubber band on the handles as far away from the heat as you can. Set the mold on top of the lead as it melts. The mold will float on top of the lead and probably be a bit to hot when you use it. The first few bullets might be frosty but that will fall off soon.

December 9, 2020, 09:31 AM	#1
armednfree Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2016 Posts: 211	Casting buckshot Let's say I want to make some buckshot loads for SD, SHTF or whatever. Use my .31 muzzleloader mold (Takes a a long time) but cast them with hardball alloy and water drop them. Looking at barrier penetration and such.

December 9, 2020, 10:08 AM	#3
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	I have the Lee 2 cavity .319" mold. They fit 3 to a layer in 12 gauge wads, which is what you want. As reloader28 said, no need to water drop them. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

December 9, 2020, 11:14 AM	#4
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,969	Lee buckshot mold. its currently out of stock, but its listed on midway. you might have to hunt around to find one. They show it coming in the following sizes .24 .33 .36 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010195439 __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

December 10, 2020, 09:08 AM	#7
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,969	I have not cast in a long time, but I Always put my mold on top of my melter, got it fairly warm. Usually after 2-3 bullets cast the heat from the bullets would have the mold up to temp and I just needed to keep casting after that. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

December 9, 2020, 10:01 AM	#2
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	Lee makes a multi cavity mold. I think single ought is .31 caliber. Dont bother water dropping them. They will be plenty hard

December 9, 2020, 10:19 PM	#5
armednfree Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2016 Posts: 211	I was going to go with the round ball mold even though it takes longer. Probably I'll make 75-100 rounds and never again. Beyond testing and patterning I have no interest in really shooting them much.

December 10, 2020, 01:53 AM	#6
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	Many years ago I used a Lyman .32 round ball mold to make home made buck shot loads. It took a long time to cast up enough .32" balls. I found that mold was hard to get and keep hot enough. I've considered drilling out some metal out of the bottom side but I'm not sure if I could do that without damaging the mold. Tony

December 10, 2020, 09:53 AM	#8
armednfree Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2016 Posts: 211	Take the mold and put a rubber band on the handles as far away from the heat as you can. Set the mold on top of the lead as it melts. The mold will float on top of the lead and probably be a bit to hot when you use it. The first few bullets might be frosty but that will fall off soon.