A Most Amazing Casting Session - FOLLOW UP (Weighed Balls)
06-23-2010, 09:30 AM
#1
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
A Most Amazing Casting Session - FOLLOW UP (Weighed Balls)
A little while ago I posted a link to Lee's sale of surplus .530 ball molds for $18 shipped. (https://leeprec.securesites.net/cgi/...g/surplus.html)
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.
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.
Last edited by Semisane; 06-30-2010 at 09:24 PM.
06-23-2010, 10:25 AM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
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?
Are you going to tumble these?
06-23-2010, 01:07 PM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
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).
(and some sort of lube for the alignment pins).
06-23-2010, 01:53 PM
#8
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: NE Louisiana
Posts: 697
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.