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.22-5-40
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Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Mar 23rd, 2013 at 12:04am
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Hello, everyone.  I have noticed an interesting trend on another site dealing with lead projectiles they refer to as Boolits.  They seeem to prefer 4 to six cavity moulds for their rifle use.  Now most of these guys are shooting .223..and probably want as many slugs they can get at a whack..but years of casting in old Ideal and Lyman single cavity's...I have a habit of seperating two cavity bullets..even for casual handgun use..I just can't help myself.  To attempt to use a six cavity for precision rifle use would really mess with my mind!  Are these custom moulds that good or is it the younger gen. tendency to do everything faster?.....or are their standards alot lower than the likes of most of the folks here?
  
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MT Chambers
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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #1 - Mar 23rd, 2013 at 12:17am
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For many on the "Boolits" site, accuracy is not as critical to those folks, not nearly as important as the folks here. We, as a group are very proud of our single shots and their accuracy. I also agree with the poster, single cavities will give better accuracy on average then 6 cavity molds. Some of the group buys on that site are indeed excellent quality.
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #2 - Mar 23rd, 2013 at 12:35am
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For larger caliber bullets I prefer a single cavity.

However for my .25 85 grain mold the two cavity mold works better. I cast one bullet at a time but cycle back and forth between the two cavities. This works best to properly cool between bullet drops. Results in sharper bases and fewer air pockets in the bullets and no whiskers or bullet flashing.

The larger 122 grain .25 mold works quite well as a single cavity. Seems smaller bullets of lighter mass are more sensitive to the heating/cooling cycle and it may work better to have additional cavities to change the pour time or retention time between cavities.
« Last Edit: Mar 23rd, 2013 at 12:40am by Schuetzendave »  
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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #3 - Mar 23rd, 2013 at 1:18am
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I was dating a gal a few years ago who was into modern military rifles.  Took her to a 600 yard BPC match and some 200 yard schuetzen matches.  One day she enlightened me about a forum where they call lead bullets, (lead boolits.)  Told me that, is THE place to be and that was where the REAL sharpies are when it comes to cast bullets. ............................... what was I talking about? lead boolits?  What?  

       Joe.  Grin
  

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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #4 - Mar 23rd, 2013 at 7:03am
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It grates me every time I see bullets spelled wrong.

However a good 2 cavity mold used for matches that are more quantity than precision is not a bad thing.  I shoot about 100 fixed 38/55's a month.  15-20 few days before our 40 shot offhand club match. Sight in match day match itself shoot off's and dozen or so left for mid month practice. Takes a lot of casting to keep up with it. Not to mention time spent on Single cavity molds and tapered breech seating bullets

Mold holding 600 grs of hot lead keeps it heat nice due to the large mass and can throw very consistent bullets. If it's a good mold to start with. Been using a LBT 2 for a long time with good results.  Have a Hoch 2 on order now and my guess is it's going to do even better.  Pins on the LBT are getting worn and lately able to tell which cavity the bullet came out of, not a good thing. Hoch 2 is nose pour I think that's an advantage

If shooting bench rest don't think I would use a 2 position matches they can be real useful. Don't see much use for the larger 4's and 6's

Boats
  
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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #5 - Mar 23rd, 2013 at 9:15am
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I Say "Quality" First!

Terry Smiley
  

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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #6 - Mar 25th, 2013 at 9:50pm
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Have found that casting 38 or 40cal in a 2-cavity mould has two problems for me. First, the additional weight wears out my left hand and I have to rest every 10, or so, pours. Second, the mould tends to overheat at the rate I like to cast and after 16-20 bullets it is too hot and start getting a sugar finish on the bullets. With a single-cavity mould I find I can cast 25-30 bullets with no break or mould over-heating. Am more efficient with 1-cavity, so only use the 2-cavity when I need some 312gr RCBS boolits. Wink
  

Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #7 - Mar 26th, 2013 at 6:22am
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Hmmm.  There's a place for both.

Single shot rifles:  quality.
Mac 11 9mm or PPSH-41 FA: quantitiiy.
  

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Re: Cast Bullets..Quality 0r Quantity?
Reply #8 - Mar 26th, 2013 at 8:50am
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My daddy told me that I could have what ever I wanted but I couldn't have everything I wanted. The same holds true here. You can have a lot of bullets or you can have good bullets. Good accuracy, in single shots, depends on everything being as close to the same as humanly possible. Your not going to get that with a gang mold. If your a pistol shooter and just want to shoot at things a gang mold is fine. If you actually want to hit something, like an 1 1/2" circle at 200 yards, Stick to one at a time and really learn how to use the mold.

40 Rod
  
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