Bullet Casting Question

[jglabe]

I am new to casting my own bullets. I recently bought a mold and started casting bullets for my .41 mag. I am using Lyman #2 Alloy, and the bullets are coming out at .412. If I drop the bullet into the revolver cylinder, it will not pass all the way through. It is stopped by the throat. I would assume I have to size these down. I looked at sizers and only see an option for a .410 sizer. Is this right? All of the factory bullets i have are .410, and I would assume that cast lead would need to be .411 or even .412. Being new to casting i don't know..... My manual says to slug the bore and the cylinders. Currently i have no way to slug those. Was hoping for a simpler solution. Any ideas or advice?

[CSACANNONEER]

I think we need to know a little more. Are you planning on powder coating? Are you using gas checks? If not, unless you are loading powder puff loads, I would be skeptical of loading hardcast magnum loads in the first place. Have you checked a Lymans cast bullet reloading manual? That will probably have your answers. That said, all cast bullets should be sized! I would NEVER trust a mold that says it throws perfectly sized bullets every time. There are just too many variables to trust that.

[LynnJr]

To slug the bore or cylinder push one of your bullets through it and measure the bullets diameter.

[jglabe]

I think we need to know a little more. Are you planning on powder coating? Are you using gas checks? If not, unless you are loading powder puff loads, I would be skeptical of loading hardcast magnum loads in the first place. Have you checked a Lymans cast bullet reloading manual? That will probably have your answers. That said, all cast bullets should be sized! I would NEVER trust a mold that says it throws perfectly sized bullets every time. There are just too many variables to trust that.

That is the manual that i have. Not using a gas check, and not powder coating. Just going to lube them for now. The recipe calls for hardcast alloy, but calls for it sized to .410. Since I am new to casting that just seemed at odds as to what the front of the manual says about cast bullets being .001 to .002 larger than bore size. So, now i am just confused. Honestly, I wouldn't of even considered it a problem had the bullets not hung up on the cylinder throat. That made me measure my factory bullets and my extreme plated bullets. All measured .410, and all passed right through the cylinder throat.

[jglabe]

To slug the bore or cylinder push one of your bullets through it and measure the bullets diameter.

Is it OK to use a hardcast bullet to slug the bore and cylinders? If so that would be easy!! The manual said to use round balls or steel pins that were calibrated. I do have pure lead i can cast, but i suspect it will come out smaller than .412.

[BigBronco]

You can also use a egg shaped fishing weight of slightly larger diameter to slug your bore should you have one.

[CGT80]

Hard cast might be really tough to get down the bore. Castboolits forum has a ton of info on this subject. I have played with cerosafe to slug a barrel but am no expert.

[LynnJr]

Round balls are preferred because only the outermost edge touches the bore.
With a bullet it is harder to push it through but it works in a pinch

[jglabe]

Round balls are preferred because only the outermost edge touches the bore.
With a bullet it is harder to push it through but it works in a pinch

I guess I will try and get a hold of some .44 round balls. I have only seem them sold by the 100 box. Lol

[wbunning]

I am new to casting my own bullets. I recently bought a mold and started casting bullets for my .41 mag. I am using Lyman #2 Alloy, and the bullets are coming out at .412. If I drop the bullet into the revolver cylinder, it will not pass all the way through. It is stopped by the throat. I would assume I have to size these down. I looked at sizers and only see an option for a .410 sizer. Is this right? All of the factory bullets i have are .410, and I would assume that cast lead would need to be .411 or even .412. Being new to casting i don't know..... My manual says to slug the bore and the cylinders. Currently i have no way to slug those. Was hoping for a simpler solution. Any ideas or advice?

Measure the cylinder throats. All 6. Size your bullets to .001 over the average and shoot 'em. Lee precision will make you a sizing die to whatever size you want :-)

[jglabe]

Measure the cylinder throats. All 6. Size your bullets to .001 over the average and shoot 'em. Lee precision will make you a sizing die to whatever size you want :-)

This might be a dumb question, but if I size my bullets .001 larger than my throat, wouldn't I have a hard time loading the rounds in the cylinder?

[bruce381]

go .001 over grove in my smith that is .4095

take a old 41 mag case clean the inside with a bore brush and wash/dry.

get some soft straight lead maybe the split shot used on fishing line and fill the case with this, heat the case with a propane torch till the lead melts fill to top of case. Let cool and use you bullet puller hammer to extract the slug.

it will have a nice rounded bottom to easily start in the bore with a plastic mallet then tap through with a soft rod and there you go.

bullets should go through eh throats of slight drag.