Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting What have you cast lately?

An idea has been running through my head for about a year and yesterday, Friday the 22nd, I decided to act on it. I had never found a good straight BP load for my Reilley double in 500 BPE. I couldn't figure out why as it is a 2 - 2 1/2 inch composite group rifle at 50 yards. I tried everything but the bullet alloy. I always use a 25-1 alloy for black powder soooooo...yesterday I cast up 10, 360 gr., .512 bullets from a 50/50, lead/lino alloy. I'm wondering if the Henry rifling doesn't like a soft alloy. I had a similar experience in a drilling once that had "henryesque" rifling. Gonna try them and see what happens.

Worth a try I've always been a fan of softer alloys and never liked hard cast at all out of anything.Been running all my 45 bullets at 30:1 and the greasers are showing no leading whatsoever which tells me the stars are lined up for velocity,lube and zero leading.

The furnace is heating up, the alloy laid out, and a half dozen .30 molds lined up. Spring time is around the corner and I aim to cast enough to get me through 'til summer. (Unless the GF calls and wants to go for lunch, drinks, and whoopee. You gotta have priorities! )

Like to keep this thread up to date and enjoy looking at what the rest of you are up to.Ran these two batches the last few days,the first a Lee six cavity C430-310-RF 310gr gas check which is a great hunting bullet for my 444 and 44 Mag.Takes a bit to get it up to temp even with a preheat but then it really kicks out nice bullets and lots of em.



This last batch is the Lyman #264121.457 475gr Parker Hale for my 45/110.Great bullet and carries a ton of lube one of Bill Bagwell's [Sharpsguy] favorite greasers as he's taken a fair amount of African critters with it quite successfully.Also the same bullet jorge shot his buffler with two years ago.It's nice being retired as I have more time to play!

I cast probably 3 days a week so I don't take time to post much but I did these the other day for the 41 mag.

Cast about 800 H&G 68 pattern boolits this evening from a Redding 68 mould.

I cast my first ever batch todsy. Brand new Lyman mold 452424, it arrived Monday. Ikept 51 of 60 that I cast, the others will go back into the pot next time. I have to say I'm somewhat pleased by the effort, though shooting will be the test. I have a lubrisizer, top punch, and sizing die on backorder that should arrive in May. Right now it's just learning techniques, but I think I'm going to enjoy it as a retirement pastime. Creeker; love your pics of bases, meplats as learning aids. The picture of your mold with the puddle on top was woth more than any of the pics I've seen in manuals. Many great looking bullets on this thread.

Couple of weeks back had to stay home so I set up the bench in the open garage incase it rained and smelted down two 5 cal buckets of WW. I then turned around and cast up 500+ 230 LBT FN for my 1911, 500+ 285 LBT WFN for my NMBH Bisley in 45 Colt and 1000+ 115 gr RN GC by NOE for my M1A1 Carbine. About 8 hrs each day.

Alan

Woody,

What are you (or ARE you) sizing those Parker Hale slugs to for your Sharps?

Ed

Sorry Ed haven't been on line much as the greenhouse and bedding plants are priority one lately..as to your question I'm running them through a .458 sizer which basically lubes em only.

Thank you, sir. That is currently the only diameter sizing die I have right now for my .45-70 & .458WM and was hoping it was actually useful.

Ed

Ed,
Do you have the PH mold? If not I can't think of a better greaser under 500 grs for your 45/70. I think Senor' Bagwell would agree! It shoots lights out in my 110..

W

I do not. I need to get over to Bill's place soon. It's not like it's on the far side of the moon from here.

Ed

Here is what I've been messing around with.

340 gr 45-70, 230 gr 45 ACP, and 158 gr .38/.357

[img:left]
IMAG0086 by claybirds, on Flickr[/img]

Alukban: Bacon fat contains quite a bit of salt which isnt very bore friendly if not cleaned out quickly after shooting. Rendered fat from uncured side meat would be a better choice.

What are you doing with that big ole 45 rifle bullet?

At this point just punching holes in paper targets, with my Marlin Guide Gun.

Which mould?

Poured more .452 300gr. LFN, .455 280 LFN's and .452 200 WFN's today.

Gettin ready to load up some handguns....LONG way to go!

Lee Double Cavity Bullet Mold 457-340-F