Newby on the block... well, to casting anyways.

[avator]

Let me know what molds you decide to get rid of, I may be interested.

[EdinGa]

Let me know what molds you decide to get rid of, I may be interested.

My only brass airgun mold is the 22 grain .25 wadcutter. The others are PB molds.

[avator]

Yeah ok, I had that mold and none of my .25 guns shoot the wadcutters well.

[EdinGa]

Yeah ok, I had that mold and none of my .25 guns shoot the wadcutters well.

My .25 Bandit is the only one I have that shoots them well. I've got to tuned up now and it's shooting too hot for them though.

[avator]

Morning...
Been awhile for this thread. I haven't been casting much lately because well frankly, not many of the guns I own like the cast pellets as I had hoped so I haven't needed to add to the stock pile.
In the past I was never really able to master Wayne's method of pressure casting. I don't know if it's due to the lack of smooth shoulder rotation in my totally replaced left shoulder (no rotator cuff attached) or what the issue is. But I'm going to go at it today with great determination. Many others are having good success with this method.
I have the propane heat cranked up in the shop and the PIDs running bringing things up to temp. Weight consistency has been the main issues in the past with as much as .9gr variances.
I'll be pouring the NOE 2 cav brass 217 20 RF mold.

[avator]

While I was letting a fresh batch of cast pellets tumble I set up to weigh and sort some of the 3# of magnums I had cast previously.
I have the change tray out of an old cash box with the compartments labelled for sorting. I get the best results with the guns that shoot these well at weights between 22.20 and 22.39. One level up is 22.40 - 22.59 and the next level down is 21.90 - 22.19. Anything above or below goes back in the pot.
I'm also monitoring the GTA and streaming Shot Show 2024.

[triggertreat]

Bill, thanks for this post.  It looks like fun times you got going on there.  I haven't cast in over a year now.  I just have too many other priorities currently after my move to P'cola.  I am still focused on casting and air gunning and am keeping this in mind as I setup a new shop.

It looks like you have some fins going on with those cast unless my eyes are playing games.  This typically means the mold/melt is too hot or you got in a hurry, or the mold needs some TLC.  I have been there and done that a few times.  Either way it's just nice to see someone casting some lead.  I'll get back to it eventually.

[Back_Roads]

 Yup due for several casting sessions here also, have a .510, and a .303 mold that needs to get broke in and field tested yet, then catch up on my smaller calibers, that I have pretty much every style of pellet and slug in, including my beagled .172 to .178 18.5gr. slug mold.

[avator]

Bill, thanks for this post.  It looks like fun times you got going on there.  I haven't cast in over a year now.  I just have too many other priorities currently after my move to P'cola.  I am still focused on casting and air gunning and am keeping this in mind as I setup a new shop.

It looks like you have some fins going on with those cast unless my eyes are playing games.  This typically means the mold/melt is too hot or you got in a hurry, or the mold needs some TLC.  I have been there and done that a few times.  Either way it's just nice to see someone casting some lead.  I'll get back to it eventually.

You are right Keith. I need to scrub and wax my molds. I also need to polish the pins.

[triggertreat]

Bill, thanks for this post.  It looks like fun times you got going on there.  I haven't cast in over a year now.  I just have too many other priorities currently after my move to P'cola.  I am still focused on casting and air gunning and am keeping this in mind as I setup a new shop.

It looks like you have some fins going on with those cast unless my eyes are playing games.  This typically means the mold/melt is too hot or you got in a hurry, or the mold needs some TLC.  I have been there and done that a few times.  Either way it's just nice to see someone casting some lead.  I'll get back to it eventually.

You are right Keith. I need to scrub and wax my molds. I also need to polish the pins.

That's still part of the fun.  I've never heard of waxing the molds.  What's involved with doing that and the benifits?

[avator]

Bill, thanks for this post.  It looks like fun times you got going on there.  I haven't cast in over a year now.  I just have too many other priorities currently after my move to P'cola.  I am still focused on casting and air gunning and am keeping this in mind as I setup a new shop.

It looks like you have some fins going on with those cast unless my eyes are playing games.  This typically means the mold/melt is too hot or you got in a hurry, or the mold needs some TLC.  I have been there and done that a few times.  Either way it's just nice to see someone casting some lead.  I'll get back to it eventually.

You are right Keith. I need to scrub and wax my molds. I also need to polish the pins.

That's still part of the fun.  I've never heard of waxing the molds.  What's involved with doing that and the benifits?

"Waxing the mold" may have been a bit misleading. Once the mold is cleaned and heated up I just touch the alignment pins and the pivot screw of the sprue cutter plate with a candle so they move smooth. Careful not to get any wax into the cavities. Just a touch works.

[triggertreat]

Bill, thanks for this post.  It looks like fun times you got going on there.  I haven't cast in over a year now.  I just have too many other priorities currently after my move to P'cola.  I am still focused on casting and air gunning and am keeping this in mind as I setup a new shop.

It looks like you have some fins going on with those cast unless my eyes are playing games.  This typically means the mold/melt is too hot or you got in a hurry, or the mold needs some TLC.  I have been there and done that a few times.  Either way it's just nice to see someone casting some lead.  I'll get back to it eventually.

You are right Keith. I need to scrub and wax my molds. I also need to polish the pins.

That's still part of the fun.  I've never heard of waxing the molds.  What's involved with doing that and the benifits?

"Waxing the mold" may have been a bit misleading. Once the mold is cleaned and heated up I just touch the alignment pins and the pivot screw of the sprue cutter plate with a candle so they move smooth. Careful not to get any wax into the cavities. Just a touch works.

Gotcha.  I have been using a full synthetic two-cycle oil for this purpose.  I just put some on a Q-Tip tip and touch those areas.

[2A Georgia]

Fellow seniors you have dragged me into the latest rabbit hole..casting.
Today I cast my first slugs with the NOE68 30 caliber mold.
As suspected I made every mistake with the first two dozen.
At first I had a small gap in closing the mold.  Left a vertical line in the 66+gr drops.
I also had some not formed heads (air intrusion I guess).
I only had a small amount in the bottom of my Lee smelting pot so I tried to bottom pour into my laddle then pressure cast...took me some special techniques to get the laddle cast slug out of the laddle...lol
I ended up using the bottom pour and my last dozen IIDMP cast at 62gr .300.
I have 2 dozen which should give me one mag to chrono with the 70mm hammer spring (105+fpe) and another mag to see how they group.
My theory is if the 47.2 NSAs at 1,000+fps won't group, these at 62gr should group and still be at or above 850fps allowing them to still expand :-)

[avator]

It's a learning curve, you'll get there.

You might want to pull the wood handles of your mold back out the door of the toaster oven. They will burn.

[2A Georgia]

I did think about that.  All the pre-heating after the photo the handles wood was out of the door.
Practice will make perfect.  Thanks to the forum for all the tips.  I think I'm going for the 10 pounds for $40 I saw on Amazon...that will allow me to start with a near full pot.

[brewbear]

I did think about that.  All the pre-heating after the photo the handles wood was out of the door.
Practice will make perfect.  Thanks to the forum for all the tips.  I think I'm going for the 10 pounds for $40 I saw on Amazon...that will allow me to start with a near full pot.

If you're gonna stick with casting your own, you might want to try these guys https://www.rotometals.com/cut-in-half-lead-pig-ingot-42-47-pounds-99-9-with-freight-included/

They are a reputable vendor, ship very fast and their pure lead is indeed pure!

[triggertreat]

Welcome to the rabbit hole of casting.  Like has already been said Rotometals is a good source for commercial lead.  I would recommend the 1 to 40 lead.  It has just a little antimony (2.5% tin) in it to help the lead fill out the mold better.

https://www.rotometals.com/1-to-40-bullet-alloy-ingot-5-pounds-97-5-lead-2-5-tin/

[2A Georgia]

Good deal posted in the what did you order thread!

[Hoosier Daddy]

Ambient temps in the garage are just too low here at this time.
Once it warms up I will try my .22 mold casting again.
The .457 is a walk in the park compared to the .22 with the pins giving me the major headache.
 

[Back_Roads]

Ambient temps in the garage are just too low here at this time.
Once it warms up I will try my .22 mold casting again.
The .457 is a walk in the park compared to the .22 with the pins giving me the major headache.
 

Hmm I have heard others have that issue also...