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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Projectiles => Boolit and Pellet Casting => Topic started by: Wayne52 on October 28, 2020, 04:39:10 AM
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I have been getting people asking about the pressure pour method that I use for casting pellets/slugs which I've been using for a long time. For small projectiles this method works good for filling out the tiny cavities especially the skirts on pellets and small hollow point slugs as well. The particular mold that I was using when I did this video were the 217-30-FN RG mold
https://youtu.be/0GhOVDGmdRQ
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Wayne! Thank you for this! You always produce such lovely boolits!
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Thanks Wayne,
I noticed that you didn't have very much spru puddle in the fill holes, does this effect the form/fillout of these pellets?
I have alum molds, 4 banger,
would it help keep the heat/fill out for these molds, once they are up to casting temps etc?
Tia,
Don
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People pm me often asking about the bottom pour method, I figured I'd make a sticky of it in the casting section, much easier to find instead of searching forever for it.
Thanks Wayne,
I noticed that you didn't have very much spru puddle in the fill holes, does this effect the form/fillout of these pellets?
I have alum molds, 4 banger,
would it help keep the heat/fill out for these molds, once they are up to casting temps etc?
Tia,
Don
Not at all when doing the pressure pour, it's the best way I've found to fill out the tiny cavities. It works really great this way, Bob Sterne modified his bottom pour and it does a really great job that way too.
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I dont get the idea, by pouring into the moulds how much pressure increment can you get vs pouring from the bottom of the melter? In the melter you can have a pond of molten lead (or more) as your source of pressure vs a few ounces in your laddle.
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Hey Wayne, do you have asbestos hands or something? Dang man, even with gloves on my hands get kind of toasty.
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Thank you Wayne, having this up as a sticky will definitely save some time for those who are trying to find the existing information! There's something about the rhythmic cycle with the shiny new slugs piling up that is just mesmerizing LOL, looks very enjoyable.
Jesse
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Thanks for the great replies everyone !!! The only pressure that you'll get with a puddle on the sprue plate is very minimal in comparison to the pressure with the Ladle held directly to the sprue plate with lead still pushing from the ladle once it's full. I haven't burned myself ever from casting, even when I pour the 500 grain mini balls for my 58 cal Remington Zouave.
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OK if you will imagine 5 lbs of lead pushing down into a mold , if using a bottom pour pot, then the 1/4 lb of lead in a side pour ladle. The pot will vary throughout a session, where the ladle remains more consistent, like a regulated gun with a plenum in a way. Less chance of getting whiskers .
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Awesome video, thank you for sharing your hard earned knowledge.
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OK if you will imagine 5 lbs of lead pushing down into a mold , if using a bottom pour pot, then the 1/4 lb of lead in a side pour ladle. The pot will vary throughout a session, where the ladle remains more consistent, like a regulated gun with a plenum in a way. Less chance of getting whiskers .
James when using a mini dipper ladle everything is up to temperature (mold, sprue plate and ladle) pouring directly into the mold cavity will always fill that mold out completely whereas using a bottom pour the sprue puddle is already cooled down too much to properly fill out the puddle. This is basically probably the same way soldiers during the civil war cast their ammo. It's definitely tried and true method and in my opinion the only better way would be to swage which is VERY expensive !!!!!
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I have been getting people asking about the pressure pour method that I use for casting pellets/slugs which I've been using for a long time. For small projectiles this method works good for filling out the tiny cavities especially the skirts on pellets and small hollow point slugs as well. The particular mold that I was using when I did this video were the 217-30-FN RG mold
https://youtu.be/0GhOVDGmdRQ
I think I need that dipper. Is that the bottom pour dipper you mentioned the other day? I'm really close to ordering another NOE mold.
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DJ that bottom pour is mainly for pouring larger quantities of lead into large molds the Lyman little dipper is what I use for pouring directly into the sprue plate like I have been for about 40 years now.
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DJ that bottom pour is mainly for pouring larger quantities of lead into large molds the Lyman little dipper is what I use for pouring directly into the sprue plate like I have been for about 40 years now.
I see. Currently I have the Lee PRECISION lead ladle, but I'm ordering the Lyman right now. After seeing how neat and tidy your sprue looks, I'm convinced. With my Lee ladle I pour the lead until it puddles at the top and I connect those puddles into big glob of lead on the sprue plate, and then toss those connected blobs back the pot after I break the sprue.
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DJ it does take practice that way but if you want to get as close to perfection as you can that's the way to do it in my opinion. Even my little wad cutters in .22 shoot extremely well from my vintage co2's it brings a whole new life to indoor shooting, just trap the pellets and put them back in the pot for recycling 8)
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This is the only method I've used to cast both my pellets and slugs. I feel it's the only reason I've been so successful seeings how I just started to cast a year ago.
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Sounds like I really "need" to order that Lyman dipper!
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Sounds like I really "need" to order that Lyman dipper!
A follow up to my own post, I did order the dipper and I am thrilled with the performance. Wayne, thanks for making the video and the pressure cast technique made casting those .22 NOE hunter pellets a breeze.. With temps in the 20's it was tough keeping my pot and mold up to temperature. I'm using a wood fired burner, so any time I take a break to feed the fire the mold cools down and starts making incomplete pellets for a couple of pours. No big deal, I'll just toss the culls into the pot next time I cast.
Just for kicks I tried to use my Lee ladle and couldn't get any good pellets. Today could have been extremely frustrating, but instead it was a pleasant experience due to Wayne sharing his wealth of knowledge.
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DJ the man who sold me the pot and Lyman ladle back in the middle 70's had been casting for vintage black powder guns using this method for years (god rest his soul), he told me it was the best way to do it for a muzzle loader at the time, he had a gun collection like you wouldn't believe, he showed me his partial collection of Colts and it was unreal the condition that they were in, he ended up retiring and moving to the U.P. The really sad part of it is the guy that bought the gun shop today I don't trust any further than I can spit.
Here's a target I entered for the 5M competition for December with my Crosman 150 in the Crosman Pistol owners forum, I'm going to enter for the non Crosman 5M also but haven't done it yet.
(https://i.imgur.com/mzfN3lc.jpg)
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Wayne that's a great target. Do you have the file or image so I can print that target?
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Here is the target blank, I got this at Crosman Pistol owners forum.
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Wayne, thank you for posting that. Ive been casting for firearms 30+years using a plumbers ladle, getting xlent results. Not so with pellets! I ordered an RCBS ladle and tried it out for the first time today. Your method worked great, i had very few rejects. Most of them were from pellets sticking to the core pins. Out of about 100 cast, i think i pulled 5 or 6 off the pins and tossed them in the pot. HUGE difference, thanks again.
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A tip on the core pins smoke them with a bic lighter , it helps keep them hot and the soot acts as a release, #2 pencil lead also works. If it is persistent a light polish with Flitz polish does wonders.
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Ever since I first started casting I've enjoyed doing it, I started out pressure pouring to begin with on 44 cal round balls and 58 cal mini balls.
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Wayne, thank you for posting that. Ive been casting for firearms 30+years using a plumbers ladle, getting xlent results. Not so with pellets! I ordered an RCBS ladle and tried it out for the first time today. Your method worked great, i had very few rejects. Most of them were from pellets sticking to the core pins. Out of about 100 cast, i think i pulled 5 or 6 off the pins and tossed them in the pot. HUGE difference, thanks again.
I chucked the pins up in my hand drill and use 1200 grit emery then switch to 2000 grit. It makes them so slippery that I have a hard time picking them up.
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Ive enjoyed casting too, i cast for everything i shoot, and some that i dont shoot! It was only natural to get a pellet mould. I foresee lots of fun shooting and hunting with them. Mad Hatter, ill try polishing my pins, sounds like a good idea. Thanks.
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Madd Hatter, i polished the pins today. Threw the first pour back in the pot, and the mould ran flawlessly from there. Great suggestion, thanks.
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I have been getting people asking about the pressure pour method that I use for casting pellets/slugs which I've been using for a long time. For small projectiles this method works good for filling out the tiny cavities especially the skirts on pellets and small hollow point slugs as well. The particular mold that I was using when I did this video were the 217-30-FN RG mold
https://youtu.be/0GhOVDGmdRQ
Thanks for the excellent video.
Adding the Lyman Dipper to my items list and figure out how to remove my bottom pour lever and plug the hole :-)
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Madd Hatter, i polished the pins today. Threw the first pour back in the pot, and the mould ran flawlessly from there. Great suggestion, thanks.
I can't take credit for the idea. Knife maker is the one who came up with it.