What Did You Cast Today ???

[rsterne]

I got my Lee 225-55 mould today and cast some up.... Using the pressure pour feature I think I'm getting turbulence in the cavity because I had a lot of wrinkles.... I did some with a conventional bottom pour (~1" gap to the sprue plate) and they were better.... I tried heating the mould up more and a small improvement again....

The biggest problem was rounding over of one side of the base, I think when I cut the sprue, as it was always on the side opposite the sprue plate handle on the 6 cavity mould…. As some of you will know, the 6 cavity Lee have a handle that cams the sprue plate open instead of having to beat on it.... I tried all sorts of different timing, and could not get away from the rounded edge on the "tension" side of the sprue....

The holes in the sprue plate are quite large.... I'm pretty sure Lee use the same size holes in the sprue plate for all their calibers.... and it is likely too large for these small bullets....  I have one with smaller holes, and will swap them out the next time I use this mould….

The bullets weighed 55.8 gr. +- 0.2 gr. for all the "keepers".... with the wrinkled ones lighter, of course.... Sorting by appearance before weighing gave me 95% of the bullets between 55.6-56.0 gr. with none heavier.... Everything lighter (55.3-55.5 gr) plus all those with wrinkles went back in the pot....

Bob

[Lani52]

And of course you cleaned the mold throughly first?

Had to ask.

Roachcreek

[K.O.]

Yep I think they are to big a sprue hole also...Doug-Pak Protector replaced the sprue plate on his... a cast boolits group buy thing... wish for some for the 2 cav 225-55 rf molds I have...

[K.O.]

Bob ya should get a 2 cavity they are pretty cheap... then mill of most of the gas check for a lighter round experiment..

[rsterne]

Lani…. Yep, cleaned the mould thoroughly....

Kirby.... I think I got this sprue plate in a GB.... The weight on this fills a gap I had in my .224 cal lineup....

Bob

[KnifeMaker]

I wouldn't trust bismuth. I doubt that  tin is causing your issues. I never cast without it, and NEVER have whiskers. Only way to get them is too high a pressure pour. and you aren't' gonna get that with a ladle. LOL


Knife

[Wayne52]

My last casting session was right around midnight when I finished last night.  I soon will be ordering me a good temp control pot and thermometer. I think I'll try getting some tin from Rotometals because my attempt at mixing GTO pellets recently really caused bad whisker's.  I'm thinking if I start using a little tin in my mix the fills will be more wrinkle free but I do think these will shoot ok once I get out and try them.

These are all from 26 grains to 26.16 grains.

[Lani52]

Mike,

I would consider my alloy ruined if I had bismuth in it.

I can generate enough pressure at 850 F to create whiskers with a ladle and the NOE pellet mold, of course that is way too hot. 

With a Lyman/Ideal style mold if I get whiskers, well it is time to clean the mold or at the very least check for a spot of lead on the mold face and remove it.

For accuracy the single cavity is hands down the best choice, a double cavity is a good 2nd choice.

 I used to run 2 -4 cavity 250 grain Lyman 429421’s, in  old 1963 mdl 29 they shot very well, but what a workout casting with them.



Roachcreek

[KnifeMaker]

I really enjoy the multi cavity noe's and arsenals. I have been trying out an MP 8 cavity. Man, it gets heavy quick with the cam lever attached. 


Sure shells out the bullets though.  

[KnifeMaker]

Wayne, Your gonna find that just a touch of tin will make a huge difference in quality. And it only takes the tiniest amount. 

[Wayne52]

I had a good run with my last casting session of the .22 Hunters.

[Airgunhunter73]

Received my new NOE 358-152 HP mold the other day cleaned first with brake cleaner and then a toothbrush an dawn dish soap put it on the hotplate to heat treat per instructions, did a little casting today thought they turned out pretty good averaging 148-150gr 359 out of the mold sized to 358 for my Bulldog.

[triggertreat]

Those are looking good Terry!  What was the cast temp?


I haven't cast any with mine yet, but I will coming up.  Got other projects going on right now.

[Wayne52]

I just smelted down some lead with most of it coming from the pellet trap for the chrony, I'm sure there's a little storebought mixed in with otherwise pure lead pellets and slugs mostly.  I'll see how the next cast session goes, I'll probably make some more of the .25 Hunters.

[Back_Roads]

 I feel like I have been slacking on this post, have many cast not much time to shoot them. 

[Lani52]

I did not cast today, but I worked on it all day.

I clad my bench with sheet metal on the bench top and on the back splash, makes it easier for the wife to clean up after me after after I cast.

Nice looking 358 /152 bullets.

Roachcreek

[Airgunhunter73]

Hey Trigger thanks I was run my Lyman Mag 25 at 800 degrees that's what I generally run it at for all my casting I like the digital readout on it is pretty consistent on the temp.

[Lani52]

I like that design, but for me and my ladle, I would run it at around 850 f for sharper corners.

I have thought about getting that remaining brass mold, but I will have a JSAR Build bill for my Skyhawk soon.  Besides, I have a very accurate  Accuuratemold  company 360-120 which  shoots so very well, just love bullet molds.  I had close to 40 of them at one time. 

My wife says I was a mold hoarder, is their really such a thing?

Roachcreek

[KnifeMaker]

"Y" Yes, Yes there is.

[triggertreat]

Hey Trigger thanks I was run my Lyman Mag 25 at 800 degrees that's what I generally run it at for all my casting I like the digital readout on it is pretty consistent on the temp.

That's what I ran my last cast at with 25 cal slugs.  I like that temp better than the 715° I tried prior.  I built a DIY PID controller for my Lee Pro 4-20.  It really is nice to be able to keep within a degree or two from the setpoint regardless of the lead level.  I may try bumping the temp up even more for these new 152gr.