Author Topic: What Did You Cast Today ??? (Read 26442 times))

triggertreat · « **Reply #60 on:** February 18, 2019, 10:27:52 AM »

I was able to work the two sticky pins up and down in their mould slots to free them up, so no biggie there. I also centered the brackets on the pin slots. I now have them all falling freely when turned back upright.

The only thing with the one bracket that wasn't bent by the manufacturing machine is that it doesn't leave a slot for a screwdriver to slide under it for adjustments. Also, the pin doesn't fall away as far out as the other three with not being bent. I will contact Al and see if I can get another bracket. It should not affect casting as far as I can tell, just being able to adjust it.

triggertreat · « **Reply #61 on:** February 18, 2019, 06:21:46 PM »

I received a call from Al this morning...Super nice fella! He said he had found several flat brackets in the bin after receiving my email. He is shipping me out a replacement set. In fact, I just received a shipping notice while typing this. Love the fast response and personal touch of a phone call from Al.

I did make my first boolits today, too.

My experience was posted on the "Casting 101" thread.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #62 on:** February 18, 2019, 08:27:16 PM »

Quote from: triggertreat on February 18, 2019, 10:27:52 AM

I was able to work the two sticky pins up and down in their mould slots to free them up, so no biggie there. I also centered the brackets on the pin slots. I now have them all falling freely when turned back upright.

The only thing with the one bracket that wasn't bent by the manufacturing machine is that it doesn't leave a slot for a screwdriver to slide under it for adjustments. Also, the pin doesn't fall away as far out as the other three with not being bent. I will contact Al and see if I can get another bracket. It should not affect casting as far as I can tell, just being able to adjust it.

What I did was loosen the bolt that holds the bracket a smidge to allow a screwdriver access.

Had no clue it was a defect, glad they have you covered

Wayne52 · « **Reply #63 on:** February 19, 2019, 02:37:49 AM »

I did smelt a bunch of recovered pellets from my pellet traps again for a now full pot of lead to start with when I start casting again, I've been doing my smelting out doors and casting up stairs in the finished off attic where it's not near as cold as out doors. Once I've got good clean lead in the pot I'm pretty much good to go because that way I don't have to deal with all the smoke from the wax and sawdust after I re heat the lead. I then only skim it when oxide forms.

Bob Pratl · « **Reply #64 on:** February 19, 2019, 07:27:03 AM »

Quote from: Wayne52 on February 19, 2019, 02:37:49 AM

I did smelt a bunch of recovered pellets from my pellet traps again for a now full pot of lead to start with when I start casting again, I've been doing my smelting out doors and casting up stairs in the finished off attic where it's not near as cold as out doors. Once I've got good clean lead in the pot I'm pretty much good to go because that way I don't have to deal with all the smoke from the wax and sawdust after I re heat the lead. I then only skim it when oxide forms.

I also cast in a unheated room but I made a makeshift vent from a old oil drain pan (4" x 24") with a 4" drier duct and a old computer fan that I vent out a window.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #65 on:** February 19, 2019, 11:04:21 AM »

I cast up 517 of the .22 Hunters(long pin) this morning with 15 rejects averaging 19.6grains. I also started with a cleaned mold on this session and the pellets dropped fantastic. I probably spent about an hour yesterday cleaning that mold, it was overdue for a good cleaning.

Gut2Fish · « **Reply #66 on:** February 21, 2019, 10:07:29 AM »

I've got a question for those that use scales. How nice of a gram scale do you think is needed?

The weather is not cooperating where I live to shoot the cast .22 magnums. I've really no way to tell other than visually if the pellets of two cavity are same. Figured I would know once I get into a shooting session if I see two groups I'd know a pin needs adjustment.

I don't want to be cheap but am VERY frugal.

Edit: Found one on Ebay that reviews confirmed was +/- 0.1 grains, reads in 0.2 grain increments. We shall see, comes on Monday.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/100-x-0-01-GRAM-DIGITAL-POCKET-SCALE-GRAIN-CARAT-RELOAD-GUN-BLACK-POWDER-GOLD-GN/301167012269?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Wayne52 · « **Reply #67 on:** February 21, 2019, 11:13:30 AM »

I bought the Gemini-20 which seem to work pretty good, they were less than $30

Gut2Fish · « **Reply #68 on:** February 21, 2019, 01:19:06 PM »

Nice looking scale. Hope I didn't shoot myself in the foot being frugal but the reviews on one I got did say weights matched balance scale within .2 grains. And was repeatable. That's the big one there, weight then take off and weigh again to see if it's same. A lot of affordable scales cant' do that making them garbage in my eyes. Reading off is fine as long as it is repeatable/always reads off that same amount.

I'll find out Monday when it arrives. In researching this morning found great info on using modern coins as calibration checks. Like a new penny (zinc with copper platting) weighs 2.50 grams exact. Converts to 38.58 grains. New nickels are 5 grams exact or 77.16 grains.

The precision of our currency is remarkable. Dumb that it costs more to make than value of penny and Nickels are about on par to value so in reality free but very useful for folks like us. LOL

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #69 on:** February 21, 2019, 08:07:34 PM »

For the light weight bullets many of us cast, this is valuable information for calibrating out scales!

Thank You!!!

Knife

triggertreat · « **Reply #70 on:** February 21, 2019, 08:50:20 PM »

Too bad you can't use the calibration weight that came with the scale. I bet you can only use that weight in the grams mode only though is why. Thanks for the coin info!

Kinetic45^ · « **Reply #71 on:** February 21, 2019, 09:59:33 PM »

Quote from: triggertreat on February 21, 2019, 08:50:20 PM

Too bad you can't use the calibration weight that came with the scale. I bet you can only use that weight in the grams mode only though is why. Thanks for the coin info!

Sure you can, most calibration weights are 10g which converts to 154.32gr
https://www.metric-conversions.org/weight/grams-to-grains.htm

I have found the digital powder scales to usually/mostly have the right accuracy. The Hornady pocket scale works nicely and was cheap enough.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/700534/hornady-g2-1500-electronic-powder-scale-1500-grain-capacity

Thing about it is, FOR AIR RIFLE BULLETS, as long as the scale is consistently of it's all good. For example: on a centerfire - if my scale reads 148gr and the bullet is actually 153 and I used a maximum powder charge the rifle might blow up.
BUT in an air rifle, all that is going to happen is your trajectory is going to be off slightly and if every bullet is the same weight, even if that weight is off a bit consistently on the scale reading, then you might never even notice.
If I cast 100 bullets and they weigh 152gr on my scale then I send them to you and you weigh all 100 and your scale reads 150, are you going to discard them? No, you will still shot them because they will all weigh the same and be accurate - for that batch, that zero

Gut2Fish · « **Reply #72 on:** February 23, 2019, 04:50:49 PM »

My $15 scale arrived today. Just started weighing out the pellets I'd cast last week. Worried at first as one was only 22.0 grains when the first 5 were 22.8 or 23.0 (reads in 0.02 increments). Weighed out 20 more and all were 22.8 or 23.0 so that one had void or something. Was not my pins being off. Very happy about that.

Tossed a penny on it, 38.8 grains. Looked at the penny and it was a little dirty so put a shinny one on. 36.6 grain or 2.50 grams in other mode. I'm stoked about the scale and that my pins need no adjustment. Happy about the temp and tempo of my casting too. Got another 300 or so pellets to go through but first 50 look good. Was my second casting session with this mold, had very few rejects visual inspection and now going through to weight. I'll just put to scrap anything not 22.8 or 23.0. Tricky mold at first, just put everything back in pot from first hour of playing with it, but it's going great now.

Edit- ran into a few more 22.0-22.4. Started to look really hard and found the skirts on those were not complete. Good thing I got this scale, I can barely see that small of a defect. I should wear glasses but this scale will hold those off another year or two.

K.O. · « **Reply #73 on:** February 23, 2019, 06:27:09 PM »

I knew I was going to stick to the lighter stuff in .22 and .25 for at least a good while...I went with the little lee 100 grain beam...get it level and do not exhale towards it..

.05g once you get used to reading it...

Gut2Fish · « **Reply #74 on:** February 23, 2019, 06:44:22 PM »

Quote from: KnifeMaker on February 21, 2019, 08:07:34 PM

For the light weight bullets many of us cast, this is valuable information for calibrating out scales!

Thank You!!!

Knife

My new scale calibrates with 100 gram weight I didn't purchase with it. I mean just use 20 shiney new nickels. I did check my scale with penny, noted it was slightly dirty and read 0.2 grains high. Tried 2 perfectly shinny pennies and each were dead on.

Quote from: K.O. on February 23, 2019, 06:27:09 PM

I knew I was going to stick to the lighter stuff in .22 and .25 for at least a good while...I went with the little lee 100 grain beam...get it level and do not exhale towards it..

.05g once you get used to reading it...

I saw those balance beams, look really nice and you can't beat mechanical reliability. I'm just too cheap. I mean frugal. But if I was a reloader that would definitely be the reliable thing to use.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #75 on:** February 23, 2019, 10:52:33 PM »

Just got this in while I had hot lead in the pot.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?products_id=5339
They cast nice, too pooped to shoot them at the moment, split some firewood after the casting session to come in to a nice roast beast dinner, that SWMBO slow cooked.
I also cast some 357 130 gr BT HP, 30gr .217 FN BT , and .253 41 gr. FN BT

dyotat100 · « **Reply #76 on:** February 25, 2019, 06:57:45 PM »

Cast my 165 gr .338 mold today. Haven't cast since June of last year. Need to get out and shoot. Biggest problem is time.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #77 on:** February 25, 2019, 07:26:47 PM »

I cast some of my experimental 172-24-FN to .177 FN FB bullets, then cut them just in front of the driving band , making them a rebated boat tail, at 19.5 gr. Test show much promise, so off the mold goes to get decked.

dyotat100 · « **Reply #78 on:** February 25, 2019, 08:57:06 PM »

Here is my 257 92 gr mold. Once the pots up and running no reason not to keep going

triggertreat · « **Reply #79 on:** February 25, 2019, 09:02:01 PM »

That's a good looking pile of slugs. I can now appreciate what it takes to create a pile like that.

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What Did You Cast Today ???

Author Topic: What Did You Cast Today ??? (Read 26442 times))