new to the casting

scottd913 · July 28, 2012, 12:31 AM

hello all you fine people's im new to casting and wanted to warn you all im sure there will be many questions comming your way just wanted to say hi!!!
plan on doing shotgun slugs this weekend will report back on how they came out got about 20lbs of ingots made up and a new mold came this week.

Shootest · July 28, 2012, 02:36 AM

Bring on the Questions, there are many here that will be happy to help.

hornady · July 28, 2012, 08:43 AM

You did not mention the alloy you intended to use. Years ago I cast shotgun slugs with a Lee mold, I never did get them too shoot that well. But as with Muzzle loader bullets you want too use almost pure lead, an easy test for this if you can scratch the ingots with your thumb nail its good for shotgun slugs or muzzleloader bullets.

grubbylabs · July 29, 2012, 06:07 PM

Yup we know it all just ask us

This is one of those hobbies where every time you participate their is a learning opportunity if you look for it.

scottd913 · July 29, 2012, 11:46 PM

well today my step father and i cast our first shotgun slugs, the first few had to go back into the pot but once we got the hang of it it went well. we cast about fourty slugs ...i know that is'nt alot but when its 103 here and two old guys it was enough. one question is they were frosty more so than shiny...any reason for that or is that right?

hornady · July 30, 2012, 06:15 AM

Frosty bullets the alloy was a little hotter than need be. But the frosty bullets shoot just as well as the shinny ones.

dahermit · July 30, 2012, 06:36 AM

What kind of slugs are you casting? The reason I ask is, if they are the traditional hollow-base slugs, not the solid type that fit inside a plastic wad, they recomend only using pure lead, not wheel weights...if that is what you are using for an alloy.

scottd913 · July 31, 2012, 09:35 AM

yes we are using the lee 12ga mold that has the key slot in the hollow portion of the slug

snuffy · July 31, 2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

yes we are using the lee 12ga mold that has the key slot in the hollow portion of the slug

Which one? They make two, a 7/8 and a one ounce. It doesn't really matter which one, just curious.

As for the "frosty" look, that's just fine. ALL of mine are a dull silver color, some call it "frosty", I call it perfect!

As for the recommended pure lead, that's IF you're going to be hunting with them. Then you want them soft so they can expand. If made from pure lead, you'll find them a lot harder to make, lots more rejects because of poor fill-out. Also, the need to run the pot as hot as it will go.

To my way of thinking, a 12 ga. hole in the ribs of a deer lets a lot of blood escape, and a lot of air into the lungs, so they collapse. WW lead is soft enough to expand a bit, and is a lot easier to get good slugs with.

scottd913 · August 2, 2012, 09:08 PM

they are 1oz slugs thx

July 28, 2012, 12:31 AM	#1
scottd913 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2012 Location: Texas ... north of houston, east of el paso Posts: 214	new to the casting hello all you fine people's im new to casting and wanted to warn you all im sure there will be many questions comming your way just wanted to say hi!!! plan on doing shotgun slugs this weekend will report back on how they came out got about 20lbs of ingots made up and a new mold came this week.

July 28, 2012, 02:36 AM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	Bring on the Questions, there are many here that will be happy to help. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

July 29, 2012, 06:07 PM	#4
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,465	Yup we know it all just ask us This is one of those hobbies where every time you participate their is a learning opportunity if you look for it. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)

July 28, 2012, 08:43 AM	#3
hornady Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2009 Location: SWPA Posts: 428	You did not mention the alloy you intended to use. Years ago I cast shotgun slugs with a Lee mold, I never did get them too shoot that well. But as with Muzzle loader bullets you want too use almost pure lead, an easy test for this if you can scratch the ingots with your thumb nail its good for shotgun slugs or muzzleloader bullets.

July 29, 2012, 11:46 PM	#5
scottd913 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2012 Location: Texas ... north of houston, east of el paso Posts: 214	well today my step father and i cast our first shotgun slugs, the first few had to go back into the pot but once we got the hang of it it went well. we cast about fourty slugs ...i know that is'nt alot but when its 103 here and two old guys it was enough. one question is they were frosty more so than shiny...any reason for that or is that right?

July 30, 2012, 06:15 AM	#6
hornady Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2009 Location: SWPA Posts: 428	Frosty bullets the alloy was a little hotter than need be. But the frosty bullets shoot just as well as the shinny ones.

July 30, 2012, 06:36 AM	#7
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	What kind of slugs are you casting? The reason I ask is, if they are the traditional hollow-base slugs, not the solid type that fit inside a plastic wad, they recomend only using pure lead, not wheel weights...if that is what you are using for an alloy.

July 31, 2012, 09:35 AM	#8
scottd913 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2012 Location: Texas ... north of houston, east of el paso Posts: 214	yes we are using the lee 12ga mold that has the key slot in the hollow portion of the slug

August 2, 2012, 09:08 PM	#10
scottd913 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2012 Location: Texas ... north of houston, east of el paso Posts: 214	they are 1oz slugs thx