GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Projectiles => Boolit and Pellet Casting => Topic started by: EdinGa on December 23, 2020, 12:40:40 PM
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I did a lot of reading and listened to some good advice from members here, and decided this was the best choice for me. I already own several NOE molds and I'm familiar with casting hollow points with them, so I'm hoping this will be a short learning curve. If my Flashpup likes them, I'm all set.
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I am subscribing to this thread to see what kind of luck you have with these. I knew I should have went ahead and ordered one myself. Now they are sold out again.
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if you want to try some let me know. Once I get comfortable with the mold I'll be happy to send you some.
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if you want to try some let me know. Once I get comfortable with the mold I'll be happy to send you some.
That's a very generous offer. You go ahead and get them sorted with the casting. I can only share my experiences if I can help any.
I may want to strike a deal with you in the future though as I am interested for sure in trying them with the two FX liners I have. I'm currently setup in .30 caliber playing with the same/similar NOE mold.
Attached are some I cast after listening to Bob's advice about sprue plate prep work. Boy was he right and these are some I cast after prepping the plate. The skirts and heads are much improved! Maybe the accuracy too?
(https://i.ibb.co/zSv9Zy9/30-cal-12-22-20.jpg)
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Those look really good. I'm pretty good at casting hollow points thanks to advice from an old hand with lots of experience. I'll definitely have a look at the sprue plate when I get the mold. I'm used to cutting bases and not noses.
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Looking good Keith !!!
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Those look really good. I'm pretty good at casting hollow points thanks to advice from an old hand with lots of experience. I'll definitely have a look at the sprue plate when I get the mold. I'm used to cutting bases and not noses.
Those are impressive! I'm not in that league, but all ears.
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Looking good Keith !!!
Thanks, Wayne! I'm still looking at the pressure pour ladle laying nearby.
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No update yet. I placed the order on the 23rd and it still says "In Shipping."
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if you want to try some let me know. Once I get comfortable with the mold I'll be happy to send you some.
That's a very generous offer. You go ahead and get them sorted with the casting. I can only share my experiences if I can help any.
I may want to strike a deal with you in the future though as I am interested for sure in trying them with the two FX liners I have. I'm currently setup in .30 caliber playing with the same/similar NOE mold.
Attached are some I cast after listening to Bob's advice about sprue plate prep work. Boy was he right and these are some I cast after prepping the plate. The skirts and heads are much improved! Maybe the accuracy too?
(https://i.ibb.co/zSv9Zy9/30-cal-12-22-20.jpg)
Can you point me to Bob’s advice? Looked through a couple threads but didn’t see what you’re referring to.
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if you want to try some let me know. Once I get comfortable with the mold I'll be happy to send you some.
That's a very generous offer. You go ahead and get them sorted with the casting. I can only share my experiences if I can help any.
I may want to strike a deal with you in the future though as I am interested for sure in trying them with the two FX liners I have. I'm currently setup in .30 caliber playing with the same/similar NOE mold.
Attached are some I cast after listening to Bob's advice about sprue plate prep work. Boy was he right and these are some I cast after prepping the plate. The skirts and heads are much improved! Maybe the accuracy too?
(https://i.ibb.co/zSv9Zy9/30-cal-12-22-20.jpg)
Can you point me to Bob’s advice? Looked through a couple threads but didn’t see what you’re referring to.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=181528.0 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=181528.0)
It's in this thread.
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if you want to try some let me know. Once I get comfortable with the mold I'll be happy to send you some.
That's a very generous offer. You go ahead and get them sorted with the casting. I can only share my experiences if I can help any.
I may want to strike a deal with you in the future though as I am interested for sure in trying them with the two FX liners I have. I'm currently setup in .30 caliber playing with the same/similar NOE mold.
Attached are some I cast after listening to Bob's advice about sprue plate prep work. Boy was he right and these are some I cast after prepping the plate. The skirts and heads are much improved! Maybe the accuracy too?
(https://i.ibb.co/zSv9Zy9/30-cal-12-22-20.jpg)
Can you point me to Bob’s advice? Looked through a couple threads but didn’t see what you’re referring to.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=181528.0 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=181528.0)
It's in this thread.
Thanks for the link! I never read what Bob had said about the sprue plate and think this would help my casting a lot.
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Well, I finally got in touch with Al. He said that the mold must have been out of stock when ordered it even though it said 1 available. It's going to be another week or so before he can get another run done. He said things are crazy right now, and they're doing everything they can to get caught up.
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I finally have this mold on the way! I got it from a member here, but it is a new one never used. Can't wait to get some cast for my two .25 cals.
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I finally have this mold on the way! I got it from a member here, but it is a new one never used. Can't wait to get some cast for my two .25 cals.
Keep us updated! It's been frustrating not knowing what was going on with mine, but at least I know it will be here in a couple of weeks.
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As you all know, I have this mold as well. Thus far I have not had good luck trying to get these to group or shoot well at all. I also haven't had much time to put into doing much. I've been crazy busy doing some much needed house remodeling.
Cant wait to see how things turn out for you guys with this mold and maybe it will help give me some ideas to try so that I can get mine working as well.
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As you all know, I have this mold as well. Thus far I have not had good luck trying to get these to group or shoot well at all. I also haven't had much time to put into doing much. I've been crazy busy doing some much needed house remodeling.
Cant wait to see how things turn out for you guys with this mold and maybe it will help give me some ideas to try so that I can get mine working as well.
I'll be sure to post my results here. I'll be shooting them in my Hatsan Flashpup, and I'm hoping this pellet will be good enough to be my go-to. I love casting and I have an almost unlimited supply of lead at my disposal.
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I finally have this mold on the way! I got it from a member here, but it is a new one never used. Can't wait to get some cast for my two .25 cals.
Keep us updated! It's been frustrating not knowing what was going on with mine, but at least I know it will be here in a couple of weeks.
Hope you end up with the hunter mag instead of the Hunter like happened to me. Same thing happened when I ordered the hunter mag. It was supposed to be in stock but wasn't. Talked to Al and he said he would run one the next week. I told him that it could wait until he did a normal run. So a few weeks later I received the mold BUT, it's the hunter not the hunter mag. I decided to just keep it but now wish I hadn't. Oh well,live and learn. It's not because it's not accurate but because I have problems keeping them in the sumatra magazine.
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I finally have this mold on the way! I got it from a member here, but it is a new one never used. Can't wait to get some cast for my two .25 cals.
Keep us updated! It's been frustrating not knowing what was going on with mine, but at least I know it will be here in a couple of weeks.
Hope you end up with the hunter mag instead of the Hunter like happened to me. Same thing happened when I ordered the hunter mag. It was supposed to be in stock but wasn't. Talked to Al and he said he would run one the next week. I told him that it could wait until he did a normal run. So a few weeks later I received the mold BUT, it's the hunter not the hunter mag. I decided to just keep it but now wish I hadn't. Oh well,live and learn. It's not because it's not accurate but because I have problems keeping them in the sumatra magazine.
I hope so too. We discussed the fact that it was the longer, heavier 34 grain that I wanted, so hopefully it works out.
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Al is so busy it's easy to make a mistake. But like I told Al, it's better to be way too busy than way too slow.
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I finally have this mold on the way! I got it from a member here, but it is a new one never used. Can't wait to get some cast for my two .25 cals.
Keep us updated! It's been frustrating not knowing what was going on with mine, but at least I know it will be here in a couple of weeks.
Hope you end up with the hunter mag instead of the Hunter like happened to me. Same thing happened when I ordered the hunter mag. It was supposed to be in stock but wasn't. Talked to Al and he said he would run one the next week. I told him that it could wait until he did a normal run. So a few weeks later I received the mold BUT, it's the hunter not the hunter mag. I decided to just keep it but now wish I hadn't. Oh well,live and learn. It's not because it's not accurate but because I have problems keeping them in the sumatra magazine.
I hope so too. We discussed the fact that it was the longer, heavier 34 grain that I wanted, so hopefully it works out.
They come with a number of different pins. You'll be able to cast that weight plus some a little heavier.
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I can tell you that I was impressed with how much time he spent on the phone with me discussing the issues with my order. He was very apologetic and willing to do what he could to make it right. I won't hesitate to do business with him again.
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Yep! He called me on a Sunday to figure out what happened. Like I said, he's swamped.
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I just finished casting some of these today for the first time to test out. They look good and fit the FX side-shot mag well. I'll get them sorted out and sized. They are running around 34.8gr when spot checking during casting. Hopefully the Marauder and the FX will like them.
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Those look great! I can't wait to get my mold and get some dropped.
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Those look great! I can't wait to get my mold and get some dropped.
Thanks! They do look good and the heads and cuts are really smooth to the touch. I cast these at 740° with pure lead.
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I'm not running a PID, but I've been casting for several years so I think I'll be good without it. I am planning to polish my sprue cutters before I start.
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I just weight sorted these. They all came in at 34.xx grains, so I had to sort them by tenths of a grain. Even though I have the PID controller controlling the lead temperature, I don't have full control over the mold temp itself, especially in aluminum. So, in the attached image you can see how they played out with the mold temperature changing a bit throughout the casting session.
When starting out there are a small handful that are 34.0 to 34.3 grain as the mold temp started out cooler than later on when the molten lead brought the mold's temperature up more. Once going at a steady pace I started getting more in the range of 34.4 to 34.7 grain. If I go a long time between pauses the mold gets a bit too hot and I get more in the range of 34.8 to 34.9 grains. Regardless, they are all 34 grainers and JSB would be very proud of me, lol. The best they can do on a good day is within two grains on the weights in this range. Their heavier .30 cal pellets can get much worse for their best tins of them. Regardless, I hope these do as well as the JSBs. I know without the PID these results would not be within the same base grain and would vary quite a bit more in weight differences. With the .250" diameters, I may not have to size these, but that would be a first. I usually do to be sure, but will try these un-sized to start.
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I bought the 4 cavity brass mold. This will be my first attempt with brass, but I hear they are more stable once you get them up to temperature.
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I bought the 4 cavity brass mold. This will be my first attempt with brass, but I hear they are more stable once you get them up to temperature.
Yes, the brass will hold the heat in much better, but be careful with brass molds. They can warp on you if you get them too hot. A lightly dampened sponge far away from the molten lead can help you keep its temperature from getting away from you just by touching the mold to it when needed.
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I keep a folded wet cloth on a table to the side and lower than my pot for cooling my aluminum molds when they get too hot. I usually run my pot around 6 on the dial, but I'll definitely be careful. This will be the most expensive mold I own, and I sure don't want to ruin it.
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I keep a folded wet cloth on a table to the side and lower than my pot for cooling my aluminum molds when they get too hot. I usually run my pot around 6 on the dial, but I'll definitely be careful. This will be the most expensive mold I own, and I sure don't want to ruin it.
NOE says to keep them under 600° to prevent warping.
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I've got an infrared thermometer I use to check my molds. I'll keep a close eye on it.
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I've got an infrared thermometer I use to check my molds. I'll keep a close eye on it.
I'm sure you already know then that 600° would be hard to reach with reasonable casting temps used unless you dip it to long in the pot. I use a hot plate with my 4-cavity brass mold in .30 caliber. Also, I had NOE drill it for a probe so I can monitor that one with a digital thermometer. At least I did back when I was casting at 850°. I like the 725° to 750° range much better now.
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I usually run my pot between 700-750 according to my thermometer. I don't think I've ever seen one of my aluminum molds get above 400. I use a hotplate with an old circular saw blade on top of the coils to keep my molds hot.
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I'm not having much luck so far. My Flashpup is shooting them around 700 fps and they aren't grouping worth a &^^&. This is the best I've been able to do at 15 yards and this was after I powder coated them. It was worse than this with bare lead.
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That's no good. What's the heads coming out at?
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Heads are around 0.253 after the powder coat. Weight is very consistent around 32.89 which seems a little light for this mold. Pencil test put my ingots at 4-5 bhn so it looks like they should be heavier.
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I've got the .22 cal version of your mold and I'm getting hole in hole at 37 yards out of my liberty.
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Heads are around 0.253 after the powder coat. Weight is very consistent around 32.89 which seems a little light for this mold. Pencil test put my ingots at 4-5 bhn so it looks like they should be heavier.
If you able to size just enough for some testing at anywhere from .249 up to .253, that would give you some idea as to where that barrel likes them at the speeds you want to shoot them. NOE has some sizing bushing(s) that are reasonable if looking for a cheap sizing source. If nothing else you'll know all of the heads are the same size, to rule out that factor.
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I might have to do that. I know it likes the .250 NSA slugs, and it shoots AA 25.4 gr lights out. I'll measure one of them tomorrow. I cast up some more with the medium depth pin tonight. I'll see how they shoot tomorrow too.
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Well, it looks like all the NOE push thru die bodies are sold out at the moment.
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I might have to do that. I know it likes the .250 NSA slugs, and it shoots AA 25.4 gr lights out. I'll measure one of them tomorrow. I cast up some more with the medium depth pin tonight. I'll see how they shoot tomorrow too.
I always size my cast, being there are two halves being put together. If I rotate them while taking measurements, I get different results. I don't want to rely on my bore nor its choke point to size different sized projectiles. The choke (if any) can become lead fouled faster using head sizes that would benefit everything overall by being reduced more.
I see a clear difference when testing different head sizes in my four FX liners. My .30 cal, for example, doesn't group well with .301" cast pellets. It doesn't like .300" so much either, but not bad groups. At .299", that's the magic ticket . At .298", not so good, and worse than .300". All of this testing was with the same batch cast and with the same tune. This is typically the type of things I do when plinking at the bench. I do have a spinner I may take a break on to have some fun.
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Well, it looks like all the NOE push thru die bodies are sold out at the moment.
They are in a different section, in-stock 25Cal .250 Body Bushing (B250AG) | NOE Bullet Moulds (noebulletmolds.com) (https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/sizing-tools/bushings/25cal-bushings-air-gun/25cal-250-body-bushing-b250ag/)
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I size all my PB cast bullets, but my only other air rifle mold is my .22 30gr BBT and it's a laser without being sized.
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Well, it looks like all the NOE push thru die bodies are sold out at the moment.
They are in a different section, in-stock 25Cal .250 Body Bushing (B250AG) | NOE Bullet Moulds (noebulletmolds.com) (https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/sizing-tools/bushings/25cal-bushings-air-gun/25cal-250-body-bushing-b250ag/)
Will the bushings fit my Lee sizing die bodies or do I need to buy the NOE die body?
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It fit my lyman sizer press. The bushings not the push rod.
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It fit my lyman sizer press. The bushings not the push rod.
All of my cast sizing dies are Lee. I'm not familiar with the NOE system, but it looks like you need several different parts to make it work.
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Well, it looks like all the NOE push thru die bodies are sold out at the moment.
They are in a different section, in-stock 25Cal .250 Body Bushing (B250AG) | NOE Bullet Moulds (noebulletmolds.com) (https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/sizing-tools/bushings/25cal-bushings-air-gun/25cal-250-body-bushing-b250ag/)
Will the bushings fit my Lee sizing die bodies or do I need to buy the NOE die body?
If not too difficult for you to press them through a NOE bushing, nothing else is needed besides the bushing to size for what diameter you need. Maybe include the 25 cal push rod also for a guide and for hand leverage. Or, tap them through with a light hammer as the push rod has a large enough flat head to do so in a jig setup. If you take them down in size one diameter at a time this should be very doable. If you decide to get a press, you'll already have the .25 caliber push rod needed, if not damaged.
I'm guessing to say the bushing will not fit the Lee die body. If you want to go for a full sizing setup you'll want the NOE die body to use with the NOE bushings. Once you have the die body, and whatever caliber size push rod you need, all you'll need is just the bushings. From what I understand, with Lee, you have to buy a die body for every different size you're wanting.
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Ah, looks like I was trying to make this more complicated than it needed to be. I've got a credit with NOE so I'll give Al a call later today. Thanks again!
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Are you talking about sizing the pellets?
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Yes. The head sizes seem to be out of round.
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See if you can find a pellet sizer. You don't want to size the skirts.
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Spent some time casting today. I ended up with 120 good ones and about a dozen culls. The sizing bushings are in transit, so I'm hoping accuracy improves once I size them down.
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They do look good, but I've learned that doesn't mean a lot.
What I like to do is start out sizing them as large as I can, then inpecting them to see if they were sized all the way around. If not, I'll go down in size until I see that they are sized all the way around. From there it's just testing at different speeds and sizes.
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They're definitely too big. They won't even chamber in my .25 Bandit. AA 25.4s measure .250 and they chamber easily.
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Eddie I have that same mold, it was my first mold from NOE and in my opinion it was a big flop with the pellets being way to nose heavy in my opinion. I think that was one of their first attempts at making a pellet mold.
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Eddie I have that same mold, it was my first mold from NOE and in my opinion it was a big flop with the pellets being way to nose heavy in my opinion. I think that was one of their first attempts at making a pellet mold.
We'll see what happens when I get them sized down. I'm definitely not happy with it so far. It looks like my sizing bushings are going to be awhile getting here though. I haven't had a tracking update in 4 days. They were supposed to be here Saturday.
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Eddie I have that same mold, it was my first mold from NOE and in my opinion it was a big flop with the pellets being way to nose heavy in my opinion. I think that was one of their first attempts at making a pellet mold.
Have you ever got them to shoot right Wayne?
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Eddie I have that same mold, it was my first mold from NOE and in my opinion it was a big flop with the pellets being way to nose heavy in my opinion. I think that was one of their first attempts at making a pellet mold.
Have you ever got them to shoot right Wayne?
I believe he did. I bought it based on this thread.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=180936.0 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=180936.0)
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Ed my mistake I was thinking about the 250-35-RF that was terrible, the mold that I showed a picture of previously wasn't the ones that I was thinking about. They actually shoot really great in all my .25's.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4754/39946658872_4c67c72eee_c.jpg)
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Ed my mistake I was thinking about the 250-35-RF that was terrible, the mold that I showed a picture of previously wasn't the ones that I was thinking about. They actually shoot really great in all my .25's.
I'm glad to hear that. I really think it's a size problem. They are dropping .253-4 at the head.
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Ed my mistake I was thinking about the 250-35-RF that was terrible, the mold that I showed a picture of previously wasn't the ones that I was thinking about. They actually shoot really great in all my .25's.
I'm glad to hear that. I really think it's a size problem. They are dropping .253-4 at the head.
Me too...Had me worried there for a post or two. I have cast a few of these, but haven't shot any yet. The biggest problem with NOE have been with too undersized in caliber for casting purposes. These are great if needing to be sized down that much, which is what I prefer so I know they are round and still fit the bore/choke well.
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Ed my mistake I was thinking about the 250-35-RF that was terrible, the mold that I showed a picture of previously wasn't the ones that I was thinking about. They actually shoot really great in all my .25's.
I'm glad to hear that. I really think it's a size problem. They are dropping .253-4 at the head.
Me too...Had me worried there for a post or two. I have cast a few of these, but haven't shot any yet. The biggest problem with NOE have been with too undersized in caliber for casting purposes. These are great if needing to be sized down that much, which is what I prefer so I know they are round and still fit the bore/choke well.
I'm hoping I can size them down enough to powder coat them. I really want to experiment with that.
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I'm sure you can size them down to the smallest sizing die available. Heck, I'm sizing down.22 slugs to.215 from .219 and pellets should be much easier.
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Checking the NOE site for airgun bushings, they have them in-stock all the way down to .248"
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Checking the NOE site for airgun bushings, they have them in-stock all the way down to .248"
I ordered them, but unfortunately...
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This
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They're out of the bushings or just the sizing body? If you can get the bushings you can use something else to hold the bushing and a soft faced mallet to push them through.
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They're out of the bushings or just the sizing body? If you can get the bushings you can use something else to hold the bushing and a soft faced mallet to push them through.
They're out of the die bodies. I ordered the bushings but they're stuck in usps la la land.
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You know that the USPS motto is "we shell not deliver any mail before it's time".
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How well I know. I just placed an order with Pyramyd and chose the cheapest and slowest option they offered because I know it won't make any difference one way or the other.
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How well I know. I just placed an order with Pyramyd and chose the cheapest and slowest option they offered because I know it won't make any difference one way or the other.
I do free or snail mail with everything I order, always have. "It'll get here when it gets here" I say. I guess I like surprises.