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

[HunterWhite]

Scott, that last photo seems to indicate a weight variance.  Do you have a p.i.d. controller?

[Hoosier Daddy]

Nope... Just a thermal couple on a meter.

[avator]

The 99.9% pure pellets in 2 different weights of Hunter and Magnum only shot slightly better in the NoDoze at 40yds than wheel weight lead.
I wonder why 217 was the chosen size for the .22 molds? I sent a messge to Bob Sterne asking if he had any insight.
I'm also questioning tumbling this soft lead... am I beating the skirts in?  I'm going to need to do some comparing in the coming days. I already have samples of tumbled pellets... I'll make of run of both molds without tumbling and measure them against each other.

[triggertreat]

Scott, that last photo seems to indicate a weight variance.  Do you have a p.i.d. controller?

.

LOL, funny.  They do look good though.  The grill Scott used is thinking outside the box.  I threw one of those away and later had to go buy a hotplate.

[2A Georgia]

I know I'm supposed to wait for the PID but my ADHD inner child decided to cast some NOE217WC17gr in my Aluminum 4 cavity.  I opened up the bottom pour, but she went back to a dribble by the end of this short run.  I can only guess the spout is cooler than the pot?  She was flowing nice shinny lead out the bottom.  I used the alternate fill direction to equalize mold temperature.  Apparently I had the same clamping issue as 75% of the culls have flashing beyond the skirt so lead is making it past the pin...the rest are under-formed due to the dribble spout issue.  The keepers dropped at 18-18.5gr.  Should be enough to see how they group in the jumper...

[cosmic]

If you empty the pot and clean it, use some lapping compound and a drill to lap the spout and the valve rod together..

[avator]

Got the go ahead from the finance department and ordered the NOE 217 20 RF aluminum 2 cav mold this morning. The brass one I have is just too finicky for me. I would have order the 4 cav but they were out of stock. Also the 4 cav doubles the chances for varying weights due to pin settings. .22 pellets are already hard enough to consistently pour without that added headache.
This has been with my limited experience... YMMV

[triggertreat]

I know I'm supposed to wait for the PID but my ADHD inner child decided to cast some NOE217WC17gr in my Aluminum 4 cavity.  I opened up the bottom pour, but she went back to a dribble by the end of this short run.  I can only guess the spout is cooler than the pot?  She was flowing nice shinny lead out the bottom.  I used the alternate fill direction to equalize mold temperature.  Apparently, I had the same clamping issue as 75% of the culls have flashing beyond the skirt so lead is making it past the pin...the rest are under-formed due to the dribble spout issue.  The keepers dropped at 18-18.5gr.  Should be enough to see how they group in the jumper...

That's a good sign that the lead is not hot enough.  The spout is cooler, and in my experience, you have to have the lead hotter to compensate for the temp difference.  What I do sometimes is use pliers and a large sewing needle to poke up through the spout to clear it when I set my lead too cool.  I also put some scrap wood around the pot to help hold heat while leaving an opening for casting.  I am fortunate that the Lee 20lb spot has an adjustable spout flow.  This is one really handy feature.

[avator]

Once my 10# pot gets to 700f I have no more issues with the pour spout plugging. The PID has no problem maintaining the temps. I add sprues back to the pot all at once during my pour, sort and cull cycle.  The pot coming back up to temp gives me time and a break. Like Keith, I have a small Allen wrench and small vise grips in case it should plug.

[2A Georgia]

Thank you gentlemen.  Today's 217WC17 attempts looked worse than the last girl on the wall at a middle school sock hop.  I will get my pliers and the appropriate sized gouging needle and wait patiently for the PID parts which AliEx says 70% of them have left China and reached local delivery service (USPS/UPS I hope).  I will start at 700 degrees as my "target" temperature.  My pot is 10# as well.  Tracking and learning.

[2A Georgia]

Got the go ahead from the finance department and ordered the NOE 217 20 RF aluminum 2 cav mold this morning. The brass one I have is just too finicky for me. I would have order the 4 cav but they were out of stock. Also the 4 cav doubles the chances for varying weights due to pin settings. .22 pellets are already hard enough to consistently pour without that added headache.
This has been with my limited experience... YMMV

Yessir yesterday's 4 cavity 217WC17's had many 20gr flashing skirts.  I tightened up all the pins but had the fouled spout today so 100% incomplete formed.  The 30cal was much easier.  I have a 217Hunter20 2 cavity aluminum to try once the PID is assembled.  Nothing like having ADHD and being forced to wait by the mailbox.....maybe something will come along and distract me.

[avator]

Got the go ahead from the finance department and ordered the NOE 217 20 RF aluminum 2 cav mold this morning. The brass one I have is just too finicky for me. I would have order the 4 cav but they were out of stock. Also the 4 cav doubles the chances for varying weights due to pin settings. .22 pellets are already hard enough to consistently pour without that added headache.
This has been with my limited experience... YMMV

Yessir yesterday's 4 cavity 217WC17's had many 20gr flashing skirts.  I tightened up all the pins but had the fouled spout today so 100% incomplete formed.  The 30cal was much easier.  I have a 217Hunter20 2 cavity aluminum to try once the PID is assembled.  Nothing like having ADHD and being forced to wait by the mailbox.....maybe something will come along and distract me.

For the flash issue I might suggest cleaning the 2 alignment pins of the mold with hot soapy water and the wire brush from a .22 cleaning kit. Then pre heat your mold before pouring. Some just use a hotplate. I went further making mold ovens. I seem to find comfort in the rabbit hole..   

[avator]

Tracking this morning puts the new mold here on Friday.

[cosmic]

You need to clean the whole mold surface .. Not the bullet cavities...

[avator]

You need to clean the whole mold surface .. Not the bullet cavities...

Agreed

[2A Georgia]

Tracking.  Thank you gentlemen.  Added to the list of things to do while waiting for the rest of the PID parts from China.....

[2A Georgia]

I posted over in the Challenger Hammer Spring tuning thread but I'll ask here.  Is the quarter sized group at 10M pictured below "about right" for a 1gr variation 62.7to63.7?  Is 900fps too fast for this slug?  Or does my Challenger just not like these slugs?

[Insanity]

I think its time to rename this thread to something else lol. You are no longer a newB. The Odyssey of Avatar in the Red Shed and his casting corner. That comes to mind.

[avator]

I think its time to rename this thread to something else lol. You are no longer a newB. The Odyssey of Avatar in the Red Shed and his casting corner. That comes to mind.

Thanks to you for the most part for loaning me all those molds to get me started. 
Meanwhile, my 4th mold is due to arrive today. I'll get the NOE 217 20 RF 2cav aluminum mold scrubbed up and the pins set while the pot is heating up and see what we get today.

[Back_Roads]

I posted over in the Challenger Hammer Spring tuning thread but I'll ask here.  Is the quarter sized group at 10M pictured below "about right" for a 1gr variation 62.7to63.7?  Is 900fps too fast for this slug?  Or does my Challenger just not like these slugs?

 At 10m I expect same hole unless I pull the shot, are the slugs sized to .303