Casting bullets

[nothing4u]

for higher velocities, there are options of Paper patching and gas checks to ensure "perfect" bullet bottoms and sealing.

do not go to http://castboolits.gunloads.com/ you will start joining group buys for pretty mold blocks like this:


That make bullets like this:

Come on man, that's not even fair comparison to the commercially available molds. I was reading the castingboolits and I think the guy quit his day job and is making molds for all of us in the US full time now because of the demand. Maybe he'll get around to the 22 Nato and 10mm molds by this time next year. It will be worth the wait.

[J-cat]

But for imperfected bullets, is it doesnt have to be perfect if it were just for practice vs the ones I used for competitions right? And if i shoot imperfect bullets, does it really affect accuracy since Im shooting under 50yards?

I'll put it this way: say you have a gun that shoots 3" groups at 25 yards with factory ammo. If you load "imperfect" bullets, you'll be lucky to hit paper. A 1" gun will likely shoot 6" with "imperfect" bullets. The base of the bullet must be square with the bore else gas will escape sooner on one side than the other as the bullet exits the muzzle and this will induce a wobble. Why do you think the quality of the muzzle crown is so important for accuracy?

[anyracoon]

I'm not holding my breath but I'm in on the Nato 22 mold group buy list! Guess there will be no rush getting any gas checks.

[gemoose23]

gemoose23 is that a Mihec mold you are showing.

yep. 10mm/ 40S&W mold. I hope with Miha leaving his job to go mold production full time his GB times will be reduced.

Good things come to those that wait, I keep telling myself.

But for imperfected bullets, is it doesnt have to be perfect if it were just for practice vs the ones I used for competitions right? And if i shoot imperfect bullets, does it really affect accuracy since Im shooting under 50yards?

If you take care of your casting factors (i.e. right lead mix, heat your mold and cast at a good temp) you'll end up with something shoot-able definitely. If they cast and you dislike them as they come out of the mold, you can always retoss into the pot, change factors to improve quality and cast again.. no loss of lead.

[ninjastar310]

I see, because one thing that Im having problems with is the base.

[gemoose23]

I see, because one thing that Im having problems with is the base.

Pics.. but from the troubleshooting I have read, you aren't casting hot enough or preheating your molds.

Gotta say more here or pictures.. What mold you using, gas checks, etc?

[Capt.Dunsel]

Pics.. but from the troubleshooting I have read, you aren't casting hot enough or preheating your molds.

Gotta say more here or pictures.. What mold you using, gas checks, etc?

Could also be not waiting long enough for the cast bullet to set up a little , causing wipe.

Need pics

[koehn,jim]

Are some of the bases ok and others rounded or are all of them bad. pjotos would help.

[bruce381]

sharp bases are very important and will affect accuracy more than any other imperfection, go to the cast boolits site and read the sticky things

[ninjastar310]

Well I use the lee 45acp 2 cavity mold with the lee 10lb pot and I use wheel weights. Everything on the bullet is good other than some bullets having small swirls on the tip of the projectile and sometimes the bullet lube area is frosted and of course the bullet base is not perfect.

It looks similar to this but not as bad.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cast+bullet+base&FORM=HDRSC2&&id=E6B1A17FC495F36D01DA5AFDCFDED19399EC4D8D&selectedIndex=5#view=detail&id=E6B1A17FC495F36D01DA5AFDCFDED19399EC4D8D&selectedIndex=0

[Solus]

you arent waiting for the lead to cool off enough. When casting make sure the lead solidifies before moving the sprue plate. Also make sure it is on tight. Swirls are bad. They are called wrinkles and it means its too cold. Frosting is too hot. But its better to be frosty rather than wrinkly. Good luck FYI stick on wheel weights are pure lead.

[koehn,jim]

If you have just started recently do not use new wheel weights, they are not lead. California banned lead in wheel weights several years back. You can always buys alloy from Rotometals or get it on the internet.

[M27]

This is what I cast yesterday



300 lyman 525 grain 12 gauge slugs

If you are like me and calculate your ammo cost by price per round to the tenth of a cent. Casting can really cut down on ammo cost.

And once you get into custom molds your possibilities are endless.

I love the huge hollow point in the mold above.

[Ferrum]

^^^^ Those look good!

[anyracoon]

Love those Lyman 525 grain slugs! STS hull, 25 gr Herco, W209 primer & WAA12 wad.