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Ladle or Bottom Pour? (Read 9643 times)

Jubilado Full Member Offline Posts: 123 Location: Nebraska Joined: Nov 14^th, 2005	Ladle or Bottom Pour? Oct 14^th, 2016 at 3:41pm	Print Post
	I have experience casting large .40 and .45 bullets for BPCR using a ladle, but am new to the smaller calibers. What is the preferred method for casting long spitzers, specifically .32 235 gr.? If one method is preferred, would the other still work OK? Thanks. Paul


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rr2241tx Full Member Offline Posts: 139 Location: San Marcos Joined: Mar 27^th, 2012	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #1 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 3:56pm	Print Post
	What's this? Utah run out of fireants? Excellent results can be had either way and it is all a matter of individual preference. Technique is key to both.


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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3803 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #2 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 3:56pm	Print Post
	I cast all my bullets with a ladle including my Paul Jones 32 cal spitzer. Jack

	People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.
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Jubilado Full Member Offline Posts: 123 Location: Nebraska Joined: Nov 14^th, 2005	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #3 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 4:15pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the quick replies, gents. At least I won't have to buy a bottom pour in order to play. OTOH, my trusty Waage just went TU. Paul


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John Boy Ex Member	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #4 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 5:30pm	Print Post
	Bottom pours can vary the temperature being dropped into the cavity. With a ladle spout stuffed into the sprue hole - temperature variance is minimal resulting withe bullets in a tighter Bell Curve I ladle pour 22LR up to 50 caliber with a ladle and won't use nothing else


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beltfed Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1826 Location: Central Wi Joined: Dec 20^th, 2007	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #5 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 6:17pm	Print Post
	OVer the last 62 yrs of casting bullets, and Having done both small and large bullets, including up to 4 cav molds for 44mag bullets and single cav 25s, etc Its HANDS DOWN, using my trusty lyman ladle for the best quality bullets of any size beltfed/arnie


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18078 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #6 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 8:12pm	Print Post
	I started with a bottom pour, and still use one 4 decades later. Matter of preference, and my bullets come out just fine.

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oldman46 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 424 Joined: Sep 21^st, 2016	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #7 - Oct 14^th, 2016 at 11:54pm	Print Post
	Never could get decent bullets with the bottom pour. Drilled and tapped the opening for a screw and only use a ladle. My hat is off to those who cast bottom pour. I could never get it to work. Frank


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Travelor Full Member Offline Posts: 132 Location: Central Arkansas Joined: May 5^th, 2008	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #8 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 7:06am	Print Post
	I've been casting 38 and 45 caliber bullets on and off for 55 years. I stopped when we found a source of these bullets for $.05 a piece sized and lubed. I now cast 28 and 32 caliber bullets using my Lyman bottom pour lead pot. My 28 caliber mold is a 287221 in 120 grain and I get =/- .1 grain variation after sorting out the bullets with hidden voids (about 5% of those cast). My 32 caliber mold is the Saeco 200 grain bullet and bottom poured bullets vary .2 grains after sorting out the bullets with hidden voids (about 5% of those cast). Always in the past I had a lot of start up bullets not properly filling the base of the bullets. Just my $.02 worth of experience.


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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: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #9 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 8:36am	Print Post
	I have never been able to get a consistent bullet out of a bottom pour pot. It’s probably a personal failing, I know people who claim to get very consistent bullets that way. With a RCBS ladle I get 32 caliber bullets that after the first 10 stay inside of .2 of a grain from start to finish (a 100 or so). As someone else mentioned technique is king. Knowing what your mold wants and doing it consistently will give you good bullets every time. 40 Rod


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shovel80 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 896 Location: Sonora,CA Joined: Jun 6^th, 2011	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #10 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 9:37am	Print Post
	Ladler here...... 96 gr. to 550 gr. Terry

	ASSRA Member # 11021
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18078 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #11 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 11:49am	Print Post
	I would agree that technique is a huge part of getting good bullets! That and rhythm in casting. Doing everything the same way, in the same length of time is very important to getting consistent results. I leave my molds on top of the lead pot as it's heating up. I have an old piece of BBQ grill I put over the top, and just rest them there so they heat as the lead melts. I also never stop during casting without leaving a bullet in the mold to retain heat. If I stop for any length of time I put the grill over the pot, and leave the mold on it to stay hot. The rest the process is just repetition.

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Leo1885 Junior Member Offline Posts: 85 Location: Beaverton, OR Joined: Sep 30^th, 2007	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #12 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 11:50am	Print Post
	I just tried out my new RCBS ladle and I like it alot better than my old Lyman. I cast 322 grain, .38 caliber bullets among others.


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silver Full Member Offline Posts: 247 Location: Central wi, Joined: Sep 20^th, 2016	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #13 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 3:58pm	Print Post
	Ladle pour for all my long range bullets and bottom pour all lever gun bullets for my father . Bottom is faster but as the lead in the pot drops so does the weight for me.


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herrschutz Participating Member Offline Posts: 17 Location: Anthem, Az Joined: Jul 2^nd, 2014	Re: Ladle or Bottom Pour? Reply #14 - Oct 15^th, 2016 at 11:23pm	Print Post
	I can see where less than 100 gr bullets would have an advantage with a ladle. Bottom pour tends to need a higer temp reading to produce the same results as dip and pour. As the pot level lowers you can keep flow rate steady by opening up the stem. I like the ability of covering the alloy with Borax to hold heat in and reduce Sn oxidation / separation from the alloy. Regardless, it is all preference. Both work well except for the small light bullets. If you are casting 22's, become a dipper.


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