Question about the lee pro 20 bottom pour pot

[35 shooter]

Does the pour valve angle across the pot like the old 10 lb. lee pots, or is it staight up and down against the side of the pot?
From the pics it looks like it’s close to the side of the pot and straight up and down.

In other words is the valve in the way of ladle casting all the way to the bottom of the pot like the old lee pots are?
I like to ladle cast pellets and bottom pour my pb bullets.

I have an old 10 lb. lee bottom pour pot. In fact that’s all i’ve ever used.
If the valve is in the way on the new 20 lb. lee bottom pour pots, i’ll just get the lee ladle pot.

Thanks for any info.

[brewbear]

The pour valve is straight up/down, no angles of any kind.

[35 shooter]

The pour valve is straight up/down, no angles of any kind.

Thanks.... that’s what I thought from the pics i’ve seem of them, but had’nt looked at one up close in person.

[Wayne52]

The first person that showed me the best results for casting anything was a man that owned what I considered the best gun shop in the area back in the middle 70's, he ended up moving up in the upper peninsula of Michigan when he finally sold everything and retired.  He had a giant collection of vintage guns from muzzle loaders to vintage black powder cartridge guns.  He recommended at the time to use the pressure pour method first thing when explaining how he did it.  The very first mold that I started on was my Lyman mini ball mold for my Lyman Remington Zouave replica which I also purchased from the owner of that gun shop.  I still do it the same way with a 4lb pot and pure lead along with my Lyman little dipper.

[35 shooter]

Lol, Wayne,

Your the very one that got me pressure pour ladle casting for pellets. I’ve had my best results that way with pellets.

I’ve always bottom poured my cast bullets for my pb guns, mainly cause all I had was the same old lee bottom pour pot i’ve always had.I “can ladle cast from it, but only about a third of the way down the pot, because the valve is in the way.
I was thinking of getting a lee ladle pot, but noticed the pour valve on the lee pro bottom pour pot looked like it was straight up and down
as brewbear said it was. If it’s close to the side of the pot also, it should be out of the way for ladle casting..... thus a dual purpose pot?

I’ll probably just wind up with the big lee ladle pot though, as I already have the old 10 lb. lee bottom pour pot if I ever need to bottom pour for whatever reason.
That way I would’nt need to change alloys from pb to airgun. Each pot would just have it’s own alloy.

[Wayne52]

Buddy one of the first NOE molds that I purchased early on is a 250-34-RF, it really does cast some very nice accurate heavy 25 cal pellets however up until recently when I purchased a semi auto AEA carbine in 25 cal did I REALLY start using that mold a lot, the gun is very accurate with those pellets as well.  It's doing in the mid 800's with those for a good 35 shots before I need to refill it.  The biggest downfall of that mold is it's a heavy 4 cavity mold but the speed you can cast up pellets with it makes up for that with a short casting session.

[35 shooter]

Wayne,

I’ve always enjoyed casting my own and even more so now that pellet molds are available.
Casting is so relaxing to me and I really love the more relaxed pace of ladle casting now that I learned the pressure pore ladle method from your short video on it.

I’ve never in over 40 years of casting tried more than a 2 cavity mold, but I believe I may try a 3 or 4 cavity with the ladle in the future. 
I’ve been patiently waiting on NOE to put out some more .217” 30 gr. molds, but they’ve been out of them for quite some time now.

I’ve cast plenty of the 20 gr. 22 cal. pellets to have paid for the mold AND rifle now, so any future shooting is absolutely free lol.
No primers, powder, or cases to buy either... just reclaimed lead and pellets from my pellet trap.... gotta love airgunning!!!
A big bore airgun may be in my future now.

[Chickenthief]

The reason you need pressure pour is because of insufficient mould temp!
Try that on a proper hot mould and youll get finned bullets.

When casting very small bullets i have a hotplate that i use in the "rotation".
Heat mould on hotplate to at least 170degC~340degF ish and pour full.
Wait for puddles to solidify (might take several seconds but you need to get the mould up to proper casting temp!), open and throw bullets.
Put mould on hotplate for a few seconds (depends on mold mass) and pour again.

Takes a little time to learn, but gives better weight SD than simply pressure casting.

Have a NOE 3 banger for a 17cal 32grain bullet and that big block sheds heat like crazy and a hotplate is a must.

[brewbear]

I found this contraption from NOE to ease fatigue on long casting sessions.

[Greg_E]

How much is that guide? That would save a bunch of time trying to make my own, I may need to buy it. The included shelf works, but not very well and it is difficult to adjust after it gets hot.

[edit] $40 for Lee pot, might need to make my own for that much. https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/bullet-casting-reloading/melting-pots-and-related/lead-pot-mould-guide/lead-pot-mould-guide-3nd-gen/

[brewbear]

You'd need to buy both to make it work I guess. They are not cheap but I lack several things (time, experience, tools) to make them myself so I figured in my case, it would be cheaper in the long run to just buy them. It helps a lot with the 8 cavity mould from MP.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/bullet-casting-reloading/melting-pots-and-related/lead-pot-mould-guide/lead-pot-mould-guide-3nd-gen/
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/bullet-casting-reloading/melting-pots-and-related/lead-pot-mould-guide/lee-pro-4-20-lead-pot-mould-guide-adapter/

[Greg_E]

It would help with any 4 cavity or larger steel or brass mold, just wish the two parts were cheaper. I may try to make one with a beam clamp and long bolt or all thread, and a couple of nuts.

[scion19801]

easiest solution i found for casting

[Greg_E]

Yup, blocks will work, hadn't really though of that.