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

[triggertreat]

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?

A 1gr spread would not make much of a difference at 33 feet.  It's not until you stretch out beyond 50 yards would that really come into play.  At that short of a distance, I would want to see them stacking or at least have a small, ragged hole to be comfortable shooting them farther.  It's a great distance for tuning and testing.

This said, slugs are spin stabilized and can need some distance to stabilize.  So, you might see how they do farther out.  The speed is okay and slugs typically like more speed.  A lot depends on their fit to the barrel and how they exit the muzzle/crown and the twist rate used.  It certainly wouldn't hurt to try them at other speeds higher or lower just for giggles.

[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?

A 1gr spread would not make much of a difference at 33 feet.  It's not until you stretch out beyond 50 yards would that really come into play.  At that short of a distance, I would want to see them stacking or at least have a small, ragged hole to be comfortable shooting them farther.  It's a great distance for tuning and testing.

This said, slugs are spin stabilized and can need some distance to stabilize.  So, you might see how they do farther out.  The speed is okay and slugs typically like more speed.  A lot depends on their fit to the barrel and how they exit the muzzle/crown and the twist rate used.  It certainly wouldn't hurt to try them at other speeds higher or lower just for giggles.

Confirms my gut feelings.  With the 2x28x60mm SSS spring I got one ragged hole at 10M, but a good foot low at 24M so much slower velocity.  The NSA 47.2s had .303 on the box and these are dropping at .300.  I'm thinking the 2x25x63 spring at 2950 fill gave me a 5% ES around 85-90fpe so maybe the gun wants to live there...lol.  Interesting theory to see if they group better at longer distances as well at these speeds...

[avator]

I was all psyched yesterday thinking the new mold was arriving. I had a pan of soapy water on the hot plate, the pot coming up to temp and the mold oven fired up. The mail lady came and went, no mold. Today the tracking says "out for delivery" but I'm not going to do anything until I have it in hand.
It's supposed to bow up and rain this afternoon and through the night so I won't have anything better to do anyways.

[avator]

I was out cutting some small trees and straggler bushes this morning while I was waiting for the mail. I must have pulled or twisted wrong because my back feels like I was kicked to the curb..... from a 5th floor window.  Mold cleaning and maiden run will need to wait until tomorrow, I'll spend the rest of today on a heating pad.

[triggertreat]

I was out cutting some small trees and straggler bushes this morning while I was waiting for the mail. I must have pulled or twisted wrong because my back feels like I was kicked to the curb..... from a 5th floor window.  Mold cleaning and maiden run will need to wait until tomorrow, I'll spend the rest of today on a heating pad.

Get well soon.

I cut four big oak trees down the last couple of days, but I did it the easy way, lol.

[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?

A 1gr spread would not make much of a difference at 33 feet.  It's not until you stretch out beyond 50 yards would that really come into play.  At that short of a distance, I would want to see them stacking or at least have a small, ragged hole to be comfortable shooting them farther.  It's a great distance for tuning and testing.

This said, slugs are spin stabilized and can need some distance to stabilize.  So, you might see how they do farther out.  The speed is okay and slugs typically like more speed.  A lot depends on their fit to the barrel and how they exit the muzzle/crown and the twist rate used.  It certainly wouldn't hurt to try them at other speeds higher or lower just for giggles.

Again thank you sir!  I shot some 17grWC through the Jumper at 10M and the Notos (0ne ragged hole).  More than acceptable for plinking and LGR practicing.  I will use a production pellet for casual matches but I now will have a lifetime supply of plinking ammo as I have the trap box for 177 Co2 Pistol recycling and my Jerry rigged Amazon cardboard trap for .22 and .30.  I will order 10# lots of RotoMetals to mix in as needed.

[2A Georgia]

In yet another SSS prospect moment I cast a round of NOE 22x20Hunters 2 cavity brass.  Much easier to deal with and counting less rejects, probably faster than the 4 cavity WC mold.  Dropped at 19.1 to 19.8 with a centroid of 19.3-19.6.  All the culls were my technique as I get the hang of bottom pouring.  As told and understood the PID cast Hunters should be 19.3-19.6 with few to no culls.  Just waiting on a few more parts before assembly.

[avator]

I was out cutting some small trees and straggler bushes this morning while I was waiting for the mail. I must have pulled or twisted wrong because my back feels like I was kicked to the curb..... from a 5th floor window.  Mold cleaning and maiden run will need to wait until tomorrow, I'll spend the rest of today on a heating pad.

Get well soon.

I cut four big oak trees down the last couple of days, but I did it the easy way, lol.

If I had access or the money to hire one of those I would take down every tree on this place.

[triggertreat]

I was out cutting some small trees and straggler bushes this morning while I was waiting for the mail. I must have pulled or twisted wrong because my back feels like I was kicked to the curb..... from a 5th floor window.  Mold cleaning and maiden run will need to wait until tomorrow, I'll spend the rest of today on a heating pad.

Get well soon.

I cut four big oak trees down the last couple of days, but I did it the easy way, lol.

If I had access or the money to hire one of those I would take down every tree on this place.

With hurricanes always a threat I figure this route is cheaper in the long run. At least I can sleep easier, and may can even grow some grass in some dead areas now.  There should also be less leaves to clean up.  It's like living in the forests around here with limbs always attacking my roof.  I got fed-up with all of that.  There was one squirrel casualty during the removal.  As I understand it the baby squirrel was caught in-between a vee in the tree and succumb to a chainsaw.

[avator]

Got up feeling much better this morning. The rain has cleared out and temps are supposed to hover right around 70 today. Getting ready to get out there and get things fired up and ready to go. I'll preheat the toaster oven PID to 450 or so I can cycle the mold temp up and down a couple times after cleaning it.
I did manage to check the pin setting on the mold and they were so close that I don't think I need to adjust them.

[avator]

The mold is scrubbed and cycling up and down to 200c (392f) in the toaster oven PID. (The instruction sheet that came with this mold said 400f... close enough)
The pot PID is heating the 99.9 pure lead to 700f (That PID has the option to read C or F but my other 2 do not have the option).
The window side shooting range is wet but ready for testing pellets.

[avator]

When I get to testing I'll set my portable target stand in the red circle which is 25 meters.

[avator]

Running the 2nd cool down then I set the oven timer to 40 minutes for one more cycle, cool it down then put the handles on and bring it to preheat temp.. around 300, then git to pourin' some pellets. 

[avator]

Sneak peek...
I ran 30 pellets on the very first run of this mold and culled out 15.. 50%. Half of those 15 were due to me miss pouring while trying the get my rhythm with bottom pouring. The 15 good ones weighed in between 18.98 and 19.20. I did not tumble the pellets.
I loaded them in the 15 rd Maple mag for the NoDoze and put all 15 into a 1" group at the steel blank I have on a 35 meter tree.
I think after the mold settles in and I catch my rhythm pouring they will be at a better percentage rate.

[avator]

Just as I thought, this run went much better. I ran about 100 and culled about 15%. Again, mostly due to me.
We have an 8 - 10 mph gusty wind from left to right still closed a 10 round group down to 3/4" at 35m.
I tumbled this run to get a comparison and the group was tighter but there are the other factors to consider... wind, mold breaking in and me pouring a little more consistently. The point here is... tumbling didn't have an ill affect.
I'm optimistic that I have solved my .22 cast pellet woes with this aluminum mold. I'm going to clean up the brass mold and pack it away.. for now.

[Madd Hatter]

I don't remember and I'm too lazy to go back through this thread, what do use as a medium when tumbling your pellets?

[avator]

Nothing... I let them tumble against each other. I worry about heavier object with sharp edges tumbling with them. I don't tumble them hot either. Especially now that I'm using the softer 99.9%  pure lead.

[Madd Hatter]

Thank you Bill. I'm going to get a HF tumbler and give it a try.

[avator]

Thank you Bill. I'm going to get a HF tumbler and give it a try.

Save yourself some money....

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Maxx-Explore-Rock-Tumbler-Kit-Durable-Gem-Polisher-Children-Teens-Adults-Seniors-8/460026892?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227460026892_154865745800_18530643039&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=669769482659&wl4=pla-1882113904760&wl5=9012797&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=460026892&veh=sem&gad_source=1

That's what I use and it works just fine. I stuck a toothpick in the safety latch for the clear cover and put one wrap of black tape under the rubber belt.

[Madd Hatter]

Is that what you are using?

Ordered!