Bullet Casting 101 - Page 5

reloader28 · April 3, 2013, 10:56 PM

Just curious Nick, how did you find it was 3-5 BHN off?
I wouldnt think 3-5 would really make any difference.

Magnum Wheel Man · April 4, 2013, 05:44 AM

thanks for the info NICK

**Unclenick** · April 4, 2013, 10:41 AM

Reloader28,

I also own the LBT hardness tester, but wanted to try the Lee because it derives the number from the definition of BHN. I was hoping it would be more accurate. Instead, the LBT told me some commercial cast bullets that claimed to be BHN 16 were at right around that hardness, while the Lee told me they were BHN 21. Trying it on other alloys ranging from pure lead to Linotype also got me numbers that were too high.

To be fair, I haven't tried to calibrate the spring force on the ball. Been waiting until I have time to put a strain gage on the press I use it with. I've done the computations from the BHN formula, and if the spring is accurate the numbers say it should be working, but it isn't. And if mine isn't, I would assume others may not be, either.

tomon · December 11, 2013, 12:22 AM

Is there any printed instructions on installing gas checks on Cast Bullets? I must have a couple thousand that were sold to me prior to me knowing enough to say......Hey, I think these aren't load ready!

Beagle333 · December 11, 2013, 05:10 AM

First, you seat them squarely, like this:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ect-every-time
If you don't have a couple of seater stems, you perhaps can just snap them on with your fingers and tap the bullet on the desk, or lightly with a small mallet to seat, if it fits the shank really well..... but this is not always the case. Every shank is just a little different, depending on mold size, alloy, temp of casting, etc.

Then run them through a Lee push-thru sizing die to crimp them onto the bullet. That is the simplest way.

If you have a Lyman/RCBS lubrisizer, the technique is a little different. Let us know what equipment you plan to use.

Sonofagun1911 · November 27, 2018, 06:53 AM

Great post, very detailed. I have the same mold as you, can you please how me some pictures of how deep you seat your casted bullets for 9mm. Are you suppose to seat the casted bullets so that the shoulders or those strip lines not exposing, aka like a FMJ bullet?

dahermit · November 27, 2018, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonofagun1911

Great post, very detailed. I have the same mold as you, can you please how me some pictures of how deep you seat your casted bullets for 9mm. Are you suppose to seat the casted bullets so that the shoulders or those strip lines not exposing, aka like a FMJ bullet?

The post if five years old...zombie post. Who is bringing these things back to life? The information in the original post was from 2009...talked about using wheel weights from tire shops, something that here in Michigan (and other states), is a thing of the past.

5whiskey · November 27, 2018, 10:51 PM

To be fair it is stickied, so I could see someone responding to old posts.

Sonofagun, you may want to post a photo of your cast bullet in the general reloading forum and ask again. There are tons of photos of cast bullets in this thread, so I'm not tracking your exact reference. I can say it is very common to seat the boolit so that no lube grooves are visable.

Sonofagun1911 · November 28, 2018, 12:25 PM

I ordered 300lbs of wheel weights on ebay to cast my boolits last week.

Don Fischer · November 28, 2018, 01:08 PM

I am wondering, if you have a 180gr cast bullet fired from a 30-06 with a muzzle velocity of around 1800 fps, how much difference will hardness actually make in how well the bullet will preform on impact?

April 4, 2013, 05:44 AM	#102
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	thanks for the info NICK __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

April 4, 2013, 10:41 AM	#103
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,057	Reloader28, I also own the LBT hardness tester, but wanted to try the Lee because it derives the number from the definition of BHN. I was hoping it would be more accurate. Instead, the LBT told me some commercial cast bullets that claimed to be BHN 16 were at right around that hardness, while the Lee told me they were BHN 21. Trying it on other alloys ranging from pure lead to Linotype also got me numbers that were too high. To be fair, I haven't tried to calibrate the spring force on the ball. Been waiting until I have time to put a strain gage on the press I use it with. I've done the computations from the BHN formula, and if the spring is accurate the numbers say it should be working, but it isn't. And if mine isn't, I would assume others may not be, either. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 11, 2013, 05:10 AM	#105
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	First, you seat them squarely, like this: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ect-every-time If you don't have a couple of seater stems, you perhaps can just snap them on with your fingers and tap the bullet on the desk, or lightly with a small mallet to seat, if it fits the shank really well..... but this is not always the case. Every shank is just a little different, depending on mold size, alloy, temp of casting, etc. Then run them through a Lee push-thru sizing die to crimp them onto the bullet. That is the simplest way. If you have a Lyman/RCBS lubrisizer, the technique is a little different. Let us know what equipment you plan to use. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

November 27, 2018, 10:51 PM	#108
5whiskey Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,652	To be fair it is stickied, so I could see someone responding to old posts. Sonofagun, you may want to post a photo of your cast bullet in the general reloading forum and ask again. There are tons of photos of cast bullets in this thread, so I'm not tracking your exact reference. I can say it is very common to seat the boolit so that no lube grooves are visable. __________________ Support the NRA-ILA Auction, ends 03/09/2018 https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=593946

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April 3, 2013, 10:56 PM	#101
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	Just curious Nick, how did you find it was 3-5 BHN off? I wouldnt think 3-5 would really make any difference.

December 11, 2013, 12:22 AM	#104
tomon Junior Member Join Date: December 9, 2013 Posts: 1	Is there any printed instructions on installing gas checks on Cast Bullets? I must have a couple thousand that were sold to me prior to me knowing enough to say......Hey, I think these aren't load ready!

November 27, 2018, 06:53 AM	#106
Sonofagun1911 Junior Member Join Date: November 15, 2018 Posts: 7	Great post, very detailed. I have the same mold as you, can you please how me some pictures of how deep you seat your casted bullets for 9mm. Are you suppose to seat the casted bullets so that the shoulders or those strip lines not exposing, aka like a FMJ bullet?

November 28, 2018, 12:25 PM	#109
Sonofagun1911 Junior Member Join Date: November 15, 2018 Posts: 7	I ordered 300lbs of wheel weights on ebay to cast my boolits last week.

November 28, 2018, 01:08 PM	#110
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	I am wondering, if you have a 180gr cast bullet fired from a 30-06 with a muzzle velocity of around 1800 fps, how much difference will hardness actually make in how well the bullet will preform on impact?