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Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? (Read 18765 times)

gunlaker Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2371 Location: lower mainland, B.C. Joined: Dec 13^th, 2010	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #30 - Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 6:37pm	Print Post
	cuslog wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 12:12pm: Sooooo, "reading between the lines", it sounds like fixed loads, shot "as cast" from a Lee mold may not work all that well ? I don't size bullets for fixed ammunition either. Unsized bullets work quite well for fixed ammunition. Like any sort of cast bullet shooting, the bullet must fit well. That often means a custom mold, but not always. One of the best shooting bullets I use is from a Saeco "off the shelf" mold. Chris.


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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3664 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #31 - Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 7:06pm	Print Post
	Schuetzenmeister has mentioned the fully closed mold. I do agree but would be interested in whether most, most molds need to be held very firmly, or whether a more mild grip is often found to work for clean, good fitting molds. I have an assortment of old and very old molds from Ideal, as well as a few custom oddball ones I've picked up. Most are good shooters (or don't get used), but none casts a perfectly round slug. I size some, others shot right out of the mold. My tapered bullet is not round by about .002, but shoots well. I don't squeeze the handles hard on any of them when casting, because it gets tiring and I forget anyway, but my grip is consistent I think. Ideas?


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Schuetzenmiester Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 6707 Location: Cool Wet Side of WA Joined: Apr 27^th, 2008	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #32 - Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 8:34pm	Print Post
	I do not recall when or what bullet mold, but I had one a I used quite a bit that required a very firm squeeze. If one is not paying attention, easy to do daydreaming about the 25 ring while casting , it is easy to get a few small bits of lead between the faces. Especially if you are casting hot and the mold isn't quite down to temp when you make the next bullet. A few whiskers from the vents will cause a lot of grief if unnoticed While I cast, I examine each bullet for sharp base and whiskering starting while the mold cools. I usually get 99.9% of 215 gr bullets within .1 gr until the pot runs dry or I get so bored I fall asleep

	"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3664 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #33 - Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 8:46pm	Print Post
	Thanks, I don't get whiskers, and I'm good about checking for flecks of lead between the faces, etc. What I guess I was hoping to hear about was whether one type of holding force or the other would possibly make the mold cast those out of round bullets. Or, in other words would changing my hold only make me tired faster without helping concentricity. I like unsized bullets for lots of reasons, but some need the trip through a sizer to help to get the right size, and others get sent through to make 'em rounder. Just wondering what might help out.


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Schuetzenmiester Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 6707 Location: Cool Wet Side of WA Joined: Apr 27^th, 2008	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #34 - Dec 22^nd, 2015 at 8:53pm	Print Post
	I only had one mold that was so far out of round that it concerned me. No amount of force was going to correct it! I'm a stocky little guy who over does everything by accident if I'm not careful, so my molds are held very firmly by default. Not sure that helps much? I can't remember the mold I was holding firmly on purpose, but I suppose it was probably getting well worn.

	"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
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40_Rod Frequent Elocutionist Offline Extremism in the persuit of accuracy is not a vice Posts: 4285 Location: Knoxville, TN Joined: Apr 20^th, 2004	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #35 - Dec 23^rd, 2015 at 9:29am	Print Post
	Since I have switched to Cabin Tree handles I get much more consistent bullets than using Lyman or Lee handles. 40 Rod


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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7388 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #36 - Dec 23^rd, 2015 at 10:46am	Print Post
	Regarding out of round molds: You'll never make the bullet that comes out of them round. You can't resize the minor diameter of the lube grooves round. If the bullet isn't to over size, the barrel is the best place to size it with your BSer. The pins in a Lyman/Ideal mold, aren't very good at aligning the blocks. They are to small and IF, the mold will actually cast round, when used a lot, they will wear. Look at the pin hole, if you see one side looks different than the other, it's worn way to much. Push the pins out until it just closes. It will make it better but, probably not round. Out of round molds can be fixed. I had a custom mold, made on Lyman blocks and it was .0045 out of round, when done, it was <.0005 out of round. It's fairly simple but, takes a lathe and mill, with a good vise to do. Frank

	ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2932 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #37 - Dec 23^rd, 2015 at 12:58pm	Print Post
	40_Rod wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2015 at 9:29am: Since I have switched to Cabin Tree handles I get much more consistent bullets than using Lyman or Lee handles. 40 Rod Another vote for the Cabin Tree handles. Especially the newest ones with the set-screw to lock the setting. As calledflyer mentioned, my hold was inconsistent (like my off-hand shooting ) and resulted in out-of-round, whiskers, flash, etc., after 50, or so, bullets. With the Cabin Tree handles I get considerably better bullets and about 150 per hot pot before I get tired (bored?) and stop. Am in winter 'casting mode' at the moment (regardless of the outside temp) and try to get at least 150 cast on several days a week. The Cabin Tree handles are a big step in making this happen. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)

	Glenn - Stevens 044 1/2, Bartlein SS 5R barrel in 22LR
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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3664 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Shooting "as cast" cast bullets ?? Reply #38 - Dec 23^rd, 2015 at 4:10pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the pointers and leads guys. Man, I'm sure happy that the bullets already shoot well enough for this ol' duffer. I have a couple of molds that I might try to experiment on if I get brave. As for the handles with latches, I'll consider one in the spring. Sorta hope it makes little difference. Reason? I like to have my molds with their own handles permanent, and the cost would kill me. haha. Time to join the kids for a few days- hope ya all have a great weekend when it gets here.


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