Snow Day = Bullet Casting Time!

[Deep Creek Rock]

Ended up with a snow day today, so made use of the time, before I go outside and snow throw the mess.

Fired up the lead pot, and casted about 330 45 caliber 255 grain Round Flat for 45 Long Colt -for a toy I hope to have out of jail soon. Once the Alox dries they will be sized to .452", and relubed once more. Then there ready to be loaded into cases.

Ordered some 45LC brass, which will be here in a few days, and have everything else to load them (dies, powder, primers etc) but now I need my gun already

Gotta make good use of downtime, to keep your toys fed I'll add these bullets to the piles of that bullet I already have casted!

 

[BUFF7MM]

I'd love to fire up my pot, but with no garage I don't think my wife would appreciate me firing it up in the basement. Since she's off with a snow day I'll let sleeping dogs lie.
Rock, if you need to test those loads I'll bring "your" Blackhawk next time to test them.

 

[Marauder]

Very nice! Those would work nicely in my 45ar cases.

 

[Deep Creek Rock]

I'd love to fire up my pot, but with no garage I don't think my wife would appreciate me firing it up in the basement. Since she's off with a snow day I'll let sleeping dogs lie.
Rock, if you need to test those loads I'll bring "your" Blackhawk next time to test them.

You know Im going to disown that thing soon

I havent loaded any cases yet, I need to have a cylinder/gun in my hands, to check functioning, before I start loading away.

 

[BUFF7MM]

You know Im going to disown that thing soon .

Where's the love, where's the love.

 

[Winterborn]

I did some casting on Saturday, tried out my new 9mm mold. I like it, especially once I figured out how to pour it so the cam-operated sprue would open easily.

6-cavity sure does speed things up!

I'm jealous you get to stay home and cast today, I'm stuck at work all this week and next.

 

[HarCo2ANewb]

Rich, will you be casting for the .300 blk?

 

[bulletmen]

big ones

Nice pile 'o bullets you got there.We are casting today too !
45/70 RNFP,410gr. Using a H&G 6 cavity mold. It is a work out. Taking a 5 minute break for coffe.
Looks like you need a LEE 6 cavity.Once they heat up,they work pretty good.Price is right.
Left the mold on the furnace,now back to work !


www.bulletmen.com

 

[Winterborn]

Rich, will you be casting for the .300 blk?

Its tempting to do so for subsonic loads, I am awaiting parts for my build this week (got barrel and the upper parts coming in) and then I will see how it runs with subsonic loads.

I am unsure about casting for supersonic as I am not familiar with gas checks.

 

[wgttgw]

You guys have me jealous. I have 2 brand new molds. A brand new custom 30-30 mold and the Lee SKS mold and I am sitting here doing my ledger for this years taxes. Don't know why every year I wait till now. At least I am up to October.

No snow here on the shore. Biblical rain and the tide is coming. Blue bills are feeding in the ditch.

 

[Deep Creek Rock]

I suppose people do it, and I have no experience with it - but Ive always been told that cast bullets in gas operated rifles & pistols, are not a good idea. From what I have read before in some load manuals,build up of burned lube, and lead particles, in gas ports can cause actuation/operation failure.

Ive seen those Lee SKS/AK molds, and wondered if it actually is the case. From what I understand wheel weight lead alone, is not hard enough for rifles with faster velocities. I suppose if you have access to Linotype, that would work better.

 

[Winterborn]

I suppose people do it, and I have no experience with it - but Ive always been told that cast bullets in gas operated rifles & pistols, are not a good idea. From what I have read before in some load manuals,build up of burned lube, and lead particles, in gas ports can cause actuation/operation failure.

Ive seen those Lee SKS/AK molds, and wondered if it actually is the case. From what I understand wheel weight lead alone, is not hard enough for rifles with faster velocities. I suppose if you have access to Linotype, that would work better.

One reason that would probably stick to subsonic loads if I did it.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[wgttgw]

I have never reloaded for the SKS much less shot cast in it yet. The ammo was just too cheap until now.
A lot of people say you should not shoot cast in a gas operated semi auto. I will soon find out when I can find the time. Most of the things I have done with a cast bullet a lot of folks think can't be done. This was some interesting reading while researching cast in the SKS.

Practical Dope on the 7.62x39

By C.E. Harris—Updated 3-27-94

I have reloaded thousands of rounds of 7.62X39 ammunition with both cast bullets and jacketed, in the AK and the SKS. I got frustrated with the AK as accuracy of these seems is generally poor, at best about 5-6" at 100 yards. The SKS is more reasonable, about 3-4" and is still a real bargain these days. Most SKS rifles group better with cast bullets than they do with ball ammunition. If you are new to cast bullet shooting or not inclined to do a lot
of experimenting, I recommend 14.5-15.5 grs. of Hercules #2400 with the Lee .312-155-2R bullet, cast of wheel weights and sized .312". With this load the rifle functions like the proverbial pony trotting, and dumps the cases right
at your feet! You can also try 18-21 grs. of 4198 or 16-18 grs. of 4227 with any bullet from 122-125 grs.

The gas ports on these guns are larger than they need to be for reliable functioning. Lead fouling of the gas port is not a problem, but the gas piston and cylinder will foul, which can affect functioning if neglected. The gas
piston should be removed and cleaned with Break Free, Marvel Mystery Oil or Dexron IIe ATF and 000 steel wool after each use, and the gas cylinder scrubbed with a shotgun bore brush. Liberally lubricating with Break Free,
Marvel Mystery Oil or Dexron prior to reassembly eases the fouling problem.

You can fire several hundred rounds between cleanings if you avoid super heating the rifle with rapid fire so that the barrel becomes too hot to hold in the bare hand. If you do so, and let the rifle cool without stripping and cleaning it immediately it will be difficult to disassemble!

 

[John from MD]

"Fired up the lead pot, and casted about 330 45 caliber 255 grain Round Flat for 45 Long Colt -for a toy I hope to have out of jail soon. Once the Alox dries they will be sized to .452", and relubed once more. Then there ready to be loaded into cases."

I use the same mold for 45 colt and some 45 acp loads. I use the six cavity mold as it makes many bullets in short casting periods. I use two sets of blocks of differnt calibers and keep a small fan on to cool the sprue. Man can I turn out some bullets!


John

 

[stu929]

Any chance you cast 38/357?

 

[BUFF7MM]

Any chance you cast 38/357?

I've got a mold, but haven't had the chance to use it yet, I don't think Rock has a 38 mold.

 

[stu929]

I've got a mold, but haven't had the chance to use it yet, I don't think Rock has a 38 mold.

....

 

[BUFF7MM]

Just paid for a 38 waiting for the background check... I may be begging youfor some pointers. Maybe I can get some casting equipment by the summer.

If the weather doesn't soon clear up it might be summer before I can cast, no garage and it just keeps snowing= no casting for me.

 

[Deep Creek Rock]

Nope - dont cast or own any 38's.

 

[ENT Shooter]

Whats the best place to get info to start casting? I am interested but don't really know how to get started. Not sure what I need for basic start-up. Have wheel weights galore. I have heard that you can't use them or some such thing.
Any pointers on how to begin would be appreciated.