Well, I bought one of those and used it for the first time today. After de-greasing it with carburetor spray cleaner, smoking it with a butane stick lighter, and lubing the alignment pins with RCBS bullet lube, I began to cast balls.
It was a short session because of the heat. But when I quit I found that I had thrown 101 balls, with not one discard. Every one - from first to last - was perfectly acceptable.
That's never happened before. I did, however, have the lead quite a bit hotter than in previous casting sessions.
EDIT: By the way. All 101 fit exactly in one of my little plastic bottles. It would not have taken 102. I guess I stopped casting at the right time.
__________________
My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
I agree... I use a Lee mold and always have great .530 ball that it casts. I also get the lead a little hotter then normal, but I find that I get less air bubbles and do not have to recast as many. It is just too warm outside to cast. What I will do is do it outside on a good breezy day when the temps are not too bad. Then I can stand the heat better.
Are you going to tumble these?
__________________
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
__________________
My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
It's a single cavity. But for $18 shipped you can't go wrong. Yes, it comes with handles. All you need is heat and lead (and some sort of lube for the alignment pins).
__________________
My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
I just scored about 50lbs. of roofing lead scrap from my neighbor across the road.That was Saturday then yesterday I went to a flea market and picked up an old cast iron pot and a ladle for 5 bucks.I plan on casting some REALS.I have a 50 cal mold and a 54cal mold on the way.Won't be long.
__________________
"GUNS HAVE ONLY TWO ENEMIES,RUST AND POLITICIANS"
I have a number of Lee molds and that work quite well but I must admit I have gone to mostly Lyman molds in the last few years, I find it easier to control the mold temperature.
A Most Amazing Casting Session - FOLLOW UP (Weighed Balls)
(and some sort of lube for the alignment pins).
