Author Topic: What Did You Cast Today ??? (Read 26431 times))

rkr · « **Reply #360 on:** April 26, 2019, 05:03:31 AM »

Well, I found out how to make bigger bullets. I ran the pot empty and threw in a handful of old wheel weights I found. They dropped right at 0.2580. I then went and added roughly the same amount of my old bullets and after stirring the mix bullets were dropping at 0.2577 which should be about a perfect size for my barrel. Go figure. The problem is now that I need a hammer to get the sprue plate started while earlier I could move it with my thumb. I guess I could try sharpening out the edges to fix that or perhaps make an extension to the sprue plate? All bullets (old and new casts) are shooting at around 965 fps so that is good.

Bob Pratl · « **Reply #361 on:** April 26, 2019, 05:23:17 AM »

Quote from: Wayne52 on April 26, 2019, 02:15:50 AM

I didn't cast anything today but I did smelt down a bunch of recovered trap pellets to make a decent pot ready for casting. I did receive a ATI Nova Freedom (non warranty) that will be getting a taste of my cast pellets at the state land in the morning though. It's holding air perfect and all I'll need to do is sight it in when I get there.

Wayne, that's great and it sounds like you have another winner. Did your Liberty probe work in the Freedom? I was thinking about the Freedom all week as it's a great concept, as the name applies, for a field gun. I just got too many pokers in the fire and not enough time to get anything done. I know that I will be kicking myself later because I think that you made a good decision.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #362 on:** April 26, 2019, 10:40:03 AM »

Bob I decided not to go to the state land today with the wind like it is, I did sight it in at 20 yards with my 19.6 grainers though.

Sorry to say that the Liberty probe is too small for the Freedom but the pump on it works great

K.O. · « **Reply #363 on:** April 26, 2019, 11:16:12 AM »

Quote from: rkr on April 26, 2019, 05:03:31 AM

Well, I found out how to make bigger bullets. I ran the pot empty and threw in a handful of old wheel weights I found. They dropped right at 0.2580. I then went and added roughly the same amount of my old bullets and after stirring the mix bullets were dropping at 0.2577 which should be about a perfect size for my barrel. Go figure. The problem is now that I need a hammer to get the sprue plate started while earlier I could move it with my thumb. I guess I could try sharpening out the edges to fix that or perhaps make an extension to the sprue plate? All bullets (old and new casts) are shooting at around 965 fps so that is good.

Can you scratch it with your thumbnail... If so it is under about 12 Bhn...

If you look under the heading... Alloy shrinkage of cast bullets... in the below link... there is a guide of a sort to the % shrink to expect.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

Kinetic45^ · « **Reply #364 on:** April 26, 2019, 01:48:30 PM »

Don't forget the issue of hardness vs accuracy in airguns in your search for fit

rkr · « **Reply #365 on:** April 26, 2019, 01:50:55 PM »

Quote from: K.O. on April 26, 2019, 11:16:12 AM

Quote from: rkr on April 26, 2019, 05:03:31 AM
Well, I found out how to make bigger bullets. I ran the pot empty and threw in a handful of old wheel weights I found. They dropped right at 0.2580. I then went and added roughly the same amount of my old bullets and after stirring the mix bullets were dropping at 0.2577 which should be about a perfect size for my barrel. Go figure. The problem is now that I need a hammer to get the sprue plate started while earlier I could move it with my thumb. I guess I could try sharpening out the edges to fix that or perhaps make an extension to the sprue plate? All bullets (old and new casts) are shooting at around 965 fps so that is good.

Can you scratch it with your thumbnail... If so it is under about 12 Bhn...

If you look under the heading... Alloy shrinkage of cast bullets... in the below link... there is a guide of a sort to the % shrink to expect.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

I can scratch bullets made from a mix of wheelweights + my old bullets but not those made from pure wheelweight lead. That lasc site was what got me thinking and then I checked Arsenal's FAQ which stated that their stated nominal bullet diameter is for bullets cast from wheelweights - thus I decided to give it a go and got bullets that match the diameter they state in the drawing of a 257420 bullet. I still have problems getting the mold temperature up and to have it stay there but small wrinkles in bullets shouldn't affect accuracy much.

rkr · « **Reply #366 on:** April 26, 2019, 01:51:29 PM »

Quote from: Kinetic45^ on April 26, 2019, 01:48:30 PM

Don't forget the issue of hardness vs accuracy in airguns in your search for fit

I don't recall that one, can you explain?

K.O. · « **Reply #367 on:** April 26, 2019, 04:35:00 PM »

My first casting session was about half pellets of which most were Crosman(1% Sb 99%lead) the rest was pure lead and then about 4-5% tin... I went heavy on the tin because all I had in .22 that had umph was my 21 fpe MK1322... cut down to 22" disco barrel... very shallow rifling and no choke( sub .001 rifling) ... So I figured the harder lead was needed to help grip the rifling... I also have a very seasoned old Marlin model 60 barrel that may benefit from a bit harder mix... both may be very sensitive to sizing also

I think It is worth trying softer and harder mix if sending the rounds out of a non choked poly barrel or say you adapt an old Dianna 52 barrel... wide lands and very narrow grooves... see first post in below link

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=77016.0

I think it is obvious why a harder mix should be tried in that rifling...

then there is the opposite wide grooves and Narrow lands like the older H.W.
https://www.airgunforum.co.uk/community/index.php?threads/hw100-barrel-poor-internal-finish-lead-fouling-and-accuracy-loss.183828/

because lead has very little spring back (nearly zero)as the round moves down the barrel the grooves in the lead can open up a bit allowing a tiny bit of wobble... makes it possible for the round to come out of the barrel just very slightly differently...Can see a harder mix may be better...

Choked barrels may prefer softer mix and may lead up more with a harder mix...

In my Buc and Urban the 4% sn mix Behaved differently than the 1% mix... the 4% mix at 40 yards was .6" ish group scattered thru that size of groups... some times with a couple touching...

The 1% mix was 3 or four shots touching and near the same hole with a flier or two that made the group grow to .6" ish... probably due to the 1% mix noses falling just slightly under size... the Buccaneer is just slightly bigger at the choke and it is worse with it than the Urban... that causes the flier I am pretty sure... these behaviors are consistent... and I am pretty sure using the bigger 30g BBT Mold I have with 1% mix is the way to go... will know soon... also can open my .217 sizing insert just a tiny bit then... right now the .217/.219 30g BBT cast drop so the nose passes without being sized... and I mean just barely has to be they are dropping just .0001-.0002 under .217...

I have only tried the 1% mix in the AT 44 so far... I am pretty sure a harder mix is not the way to go (still will check in the long run tho)... tall rifling (about 220 groove/215 land)and choked from about .2195 to about .215 abruptly... the only thing that works is sized to .216 and Knurled between two files... groups are averaging ~.56" at 35 yards... windy conditions 10 -18 mph...

I am sure there are more cases of why But these are the ones that pop into my head right now... I have seen it said do not worry about alloy just use 1%-2% tin for fill out... I think that does work to a point... I have felt and said I think experimenting with alloys could help... both with size and hardness issues...

K.O. · « **Reply #368 on:** April 26, 2019, 04:54:03 PM »

Just my take... and still willing to listen to other views...

Wayne52 · « **Reply #369 on:** April 27, 2019, 04:06:44 AM »

I cast over 500 of my NOE .22 "Hunters" yesterday, it was an excellent run with very few rejects (probably no more than 30) these have a little less tin in them than my last cast because I used pellets I recovered from my pellet traps to cast these which included half and half pure lead and tin mixed.

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #370 on:** April 28, 2019, 05:28:30 PM »

Kirby, the experimenting can be a time consuming, sometimes frustrating, yet rewarding endeavor. I enjoy it a lot. When something is discovered that works, very rewarding.

I was lucky enough to make quite a discovery today. unreal accuracy. I have a person in the industry that I want to discuss it with.

May very well be a game changer of all of us shooting slugs.

Too early to let the cat outta the bag just yet, but Man am I stoked!

Mike

triggertreat · « **Reply #371 on:** April 28, 2019, 07:36:55 PM »

Very exciting post Knife. I wonder if this would do wonders for my chocked Marauder barrel and cast slug issue.

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #372 on:** April 28, 2019, 11:21:05 PM »

It will work with any airgun that you can get to the barrel.

I tested my worst bullet today. It is a virtual shotgun at 50 yards. After the mod, it was all holes touching. Even in the 20+ mph winds from he 4:3= to 5 o'clock position.

Wow Just wow!

rsterne · « **Reply #373 on:** April 29, 2019, 12:26:58 AM »

Awwwwwwwww…. now yer just teasin' us.... totally UNFAIR !!!!

Bob

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #374 on:** April 29, 2019, 04:43:48 AM »

Quote from: rsterne on April 29, 2019, 12:26:58 AM

Awwwwwwwww…. now yer just teasin' us.... totally UNFAIR !!!!

Bob

Yeah, I know, and it's tougher on me than you. I want to talk to one of my old friends, a leading manufacturer we all respect an going to give him the results. I want nothing for it. I just want it avaliable.

Mike

tnt76 · « **Reply #375 on:** April 30, 2019, 12:57:07 AM »

My latest batch of the .308 135gr BBT.
I’m very happy with how this batch turned out. Good fill out and very low reject rate. I threw 3-4 back in the pot, mostly caused by operator error when tipping ladle into the sprue plate using a pressure pour technique.

Shooting these in my .308 Texan are proving reasonably accurate (for a .308 Texan) at 50m with 1-1.5in groups. Only time limits have prevented me shooting at 100m, which I prefer to determine decent groups.

triggertreat · « **Reply #376 on:** April 30, 2019, 01:15:40 AM »

Quote from: KnifeMaker on April 28, 2019, 11:21:05 PM

It will work with any airgun that you can get to the barrel.

I tested my worst bullet today. It is a virtual shotgun at 50 yards. After the mod, it was all holes touching. Even in the 20+ mph winds from he 4:3= to 5 o'clock position.

Wow Just wow!

Did you run a rasp or bit through the choke? I'm just fun'n around with some crazy ideas waiting for the reveal. My brain consist primarily of sailboat fuel so I couldn't think of much else.

victorspain · « **Reply #377 on:** May 01, 2019, 07:10:28 AM »

Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

victorspain · « **Reply #378 on:** May 01, 2019, 07:12:24 AM »

My work team is this

victorspain · « **Reply #379 on:** May 01, 2019, 07:15:24 AM »

By the way, if you do not know this is the TORO carbine of the Spanish manufacturer LOBO AIRGUNS. It has a large cannon that is not strangled and multi-free. I have it in caliber 25 and 30. Its average energy is 120 joules

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What Did You Cast Today ???

Author Topic: What Did You Cast Today ??? (Read 26431 times))