Author Topic: Insanity's odyssey in casting. (Read 13724 times))

anti-squirrel · « **Reply #100 on:** January 12, 2020, 02:28:27 AM »

I'm wanting to take the plunge. Gonna have to wait a few months, but that's fine. I'm dying to try some cast Murder Missiles in the 2400KT and tomorrow (today?) is warm enough for CO2. Those .22 wadcutter molds have my attention. Actually all the wadcutter molds do. 😁

Insanity · « **Reply #101 on:** January 12, 2020, 03:15:43 AM »

Just do it 80 bucks for a layman big dipper kit, say 120 for a brass mold, 40~ for a good thermometer I recommend the RSCB or the rebadged one, 20~ for some mold handles, last some lead from rotometals if you don't have at least 5-10 pounds of reclaimed pallet lead. Get some paraffin wax and some 20 mule team borax a spoon to dross with and you are set. Sure that's a few hundred to start with but if you are dedicated to it it is worth it.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #102 on:** January 12, 2020, 04:47:33 AM »

The .22 WC mold would be very nice to have for anyone interested in a wad cutter for their vintage Benjamin and Crosmans, especially the older pneumatics. The ones that I've been casting come out to 16.5 grain, I wish that I had been using them in my Crosman 150 last summer when I was out shooting chippers with it. It makes a nice carry gun in off season when the only thing you can shoot are red squirrels and chipmunks.

Awesome for plinking too

They are just like a flying frypan !!!

anti-squirrel · « **Reply #103 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:39:19 AM »

Wayne and Matt- no doubt I'll be getting the brass 4-pellet wadcutter molds in .22 and .25. Just gotta wait until I get the payout from the company. I may see if NOA can fabricate me a .30 wadcutter since at that point, money isn't really going to be an issue.

My entire realm of shooting endeavors has been shifting to wadcutters- they simply work best for my needs. I still want some Hades, and I bought a sampler of NSAs in .22 but those are reserved for my Leshiy (if it ever gets here!). And I love big meaty heavy pellets moving at slower speeds. Gamo and H&N have the heaviest .22 wadcutters right now. Those NOEs fall in between the Gamo and H&N in mass, and based on appearance, look longer so a slow-twist barrel should be able to squeeze out longer distance for accuracy as long as whatever is shooting them isn't running too hot.

I have a goal of a 50 yard wadcutter- just gotta figure out what it takes.

Insanity · « **Reply #104 on:** September 28, 2020, 04:52:50 PM »

After a move across town and striking a deal with the guy who lives downstairs I now have an area to cast again. So I fired it up and got to casting 000 buck... Not at all airgun related but thought I would let yous guys know I ought to be getting back into casting some pellets some time soon. I suppose you could shoot them out of an AG at .36/9.14mm which I know of none that can its a scosche larger than .357.

Insanity · « **Reply #105 on:** October 06, 2022, 06:47:19 PM »

Lets go ahead and resurrect this dead thread...

I had bought a few molds and stuffs since 2 years ago and tonight got around to it and casted up some 357, 25, and these odd 25 wads.

I really like the NOE mold handles and may have to buy more. How many mold handles is too many? One more than the amount of mold you own.

I never thought a map torch would be so useful for casting its not required but it helps, it helps.

I have some inspecting and sorting to do later.

EdinGa · « **Reply #106 on:** October 06, 2022, 07:44:01 PM »

Warming up the pins sure helps with getting good results right off. An old caster taught me that and it has come in handy for sure.

Insanity · « **Reply #107 on:** October 06, 2022, 08:37:29 PM »

Today I didn't really need to as the 25 and these odd wadcutters fell off. But yes good hot pins make a world of difference. The 357 pellets didnt want to drop right away ,maybe they needed hotter pins?, but a tap with my mold mallet (miss my lead hammer) and they came off. Maybe a polish? But I was having other issues also so I need to learn that mold. Its a brass 4 cavity and its heavy and with all the moving parts and did not want to shut right every time. That made me tap it here and there to get the gap on ither end to close.

The 25 pellets man all I did was get it hot and run it when I opened it and they fell right out no taps. The 25 wads the same.

EdinGa · « **Reply #108 on:** October 06, 2022, 08:50:35 PM »

Quote from: Insanity on October 06, 2022, 08:37:29 PM

Today I didn't really need to as the 25 and these odd wadcutters fell off. But yes good hot pins make a world of difference. The 357 pellets didnt want to drop right away ,maybe they needed hotter pins?, but a tap with my mold mallet (miss my lead hammer) and they came off. Maybe a polish? But I was having other issues also so I need to learn that mold. Its a brass 4 cavity and its heavy and with all the moving parts and did not want to shut right every time. That made me tap it here and there to get the gap on ither end to close.

The 25 pellets man all I did was get it hot and run it when I opened it and they fell right out no taps. The 25 wads the same.

Another option is coloring the pins with a graphite pencil. It works for awhile but has to be redone. Polishing should definitely help too.

I have a couple of brass molds, but I prefer aluminum. That brass gets heavy in a hurry and I'm not exactly a weakling.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #109 on:** October 07, 2022, 04:09:41 AM »

I've found that when a mold doesn't close properly it's out of adjustment or the steel locating bushing in the mold have lead in them.
Most of the time in my case it's the bushings have lead in them not allowing the locating pins to enter the bushing freely.

Insanity · « **Reply #110 on:** October 07, 2022, 05:28:47 AM »

Quote from: Wayne52 on October 07, 2022, 04:09:41 AM

I've found that when a mold doesn't close properly it's out of adjustment or the steel locating bushing in the mold have lead in them.
Most of the time in my case it's the bushings have lead in them not allowing the locating pins to enter the bushing freely.

That makes sense but brand new unused mold it was the base pins not jiving well. If I got them to settle it closed perfect.

Insanity · « **Reply #111 on:** October 07, 2022, 05:53:39 AM »

Quote from: EdinGa on October 06, 2022, 08:50:35 PM

Quote from: Insanity on October 06, 2022, 08:37:29 PM
Today I didn't really need to as the 25 and these odd wadcutters fell off. But yes good hot pins make a world of difference. The 357 pellets didnt want to drop right away ,maybe they needed hotter pins?, but a tap with my mold mallet (miss my lead hammer) and they came off. Maybe a polish? But I was having other issues also so I need to learn that mold. Its a brass 4 cavity and its heavy and with all the moving parts and did not want to shut right every time. That made me tap it here and there to get the gap on ither end to close.

The 25 pellets man all I did was get it hot and run it when I opened it and they fell right out no taps. The 25 wads the same.

Another option is coloring the pins with a graphite pencil. It works for awhile but has to be redone. Polishing should definitely help too.

I have a couple of brass molds, but I prefer aluminum. That brass gets heavy in a hurry and I'm not exactly a weakling.

I will try some easy tricks before I polish the pins. It was less of an issue than it sounds. But it was not how I expected it to run.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #112 on:** October 07, 2022, 06:54:23 AM »

Quote from: anti-squirrel on January 12, 2020, 02:28:27 AM

I'm wanting to take the plunge. Gonna have to wait a few months, but that's fine. I'm dying to try some cast Murder Missiles in the 2400KT and tomorrow (today?) is warm enough for CO2. Those .22 wadcutter molds have my attention. Actually all the wadcutter molds do. 😁

I was up in the attic yesterday shooting those wad cutters out of my new Xisico XS60C and they shoot beautiful out of that gun, I almost think they might shoot better than the 19.6 grain hunters but I won't really
know for sure until I put a scope on it and really zero it in. I was just using the open sights right out of the box with bad focus on the sights to boot.

brewbear · « **Reply #113 on:** October 07, 2022, 09:24:26 AM »

My trick with sticking pins is to lay a thin sut layer with a candle or lighter.
I would love to try the .22 wadcutters but NOE ignores us....

Wayne52 · « **Reply #114 on:** October 07, 2022, 01:02:52 PM »

Brewbear when I heard they were going to make them I watched closely until they had them and jump on a brass 2 cavity, I've probably cast more of those .22 wad cutters than any other pellet.

Insanity · « **Reply #115 on:** October 07, 2022, 11:24:48 PM »

Kept all 200 of the 25 pellets, 135 of the 150 357 pellets, and 82 of 100 of the wads.

Insanity · « **Reply #116 on:** October 10, 2022, 11:46:10 PM »

Went to Jeffs house to do some shooting.

I made an update of that WC mold in its own thread.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=200003.new#new

I got the 357 on paper at 10 and 50 yards and was satisfied with that as a start.

Moved to the 25 nova and proceeded to shoot only my cast pellets and I am quite pleased for my wants needs and desires with the light weight mold. They preformed as well as I can shoot them compared to out of the tin JSBs.

I cant say I'll only shoot them from now on because I may not have the time to cast enough for every time I want to shoot. It is nice to know that I have an acceptable alternative for when I have some time to play with licquid lead. I think if I can squirt out 200 at a time that should pretty well keep me shooting with out buying any. I took 200 to Jeffs we shot the snot out of them and still have some left over. Great plinking pellet for me.

Insanity · « **Reply #117 on:** October 16, 2022, 08:21:15 PM »

Cast up some trash cans, pellets and some slugs all in .25 today.

brewbear · « **Reply #118 on:** October 16, 2022, 08:51:18 PM »

Quote from: Wayne52 on October 07, 2022, 01:02:52 PM

Brewbear when I heard they were going to make them I watched closely until they had them and jump on a brass 2 cavity, I've probably cast more of those .22 wad cutters than any other pellet.

The .22 wadcutter moulds were more than likely available before I pursued my interest in air guns so I am SOL for now.... I live with the hope they will become available at some point in the near future.
Matt, nice to see you're getting the hang of casting, I find it relaxing...

Privateer · « **Reply #119 on:** October 18, 2022, 03:05:00 PM »

Matt casts some pretty good pellets! I've shot them.
Not quite JSB quality but for the stuff He and I shoot at? Good enough!
I've hit Beer cans at 80 and 110 yards with the .25's he cast.

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Insanity's odyssey in casting.

Author Topic: Insanity's odyssey in casting. (Read 13724 times))