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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67 |
It's been a long process, but it all came together today. I originally got free lead that was taken out of an X-ray room. I decided it was time to get into casting. I build my PID controller. Bought a Lee pot, pewter, and linotype. Melted the lead down to ingots today. Weighed out some and remelted with linotype and pewter to give me a 95% lead, 3% antimony, and 2% tin. Used that alloy to cast my .356 95gr bullets for my 380. What do you all think? My only issue was out of the 6 cavities there was almost always 1 or 2 that the base didn't completely fill. Typically one of the inner cavities. I was casting at 700*. Lead Casting ingots My setup My ingots My bullets
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,150 Likes: 11
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,150 Likes: 11 |
Grey corn sticks? Does your wife know?
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67 |
Hahaha. Easiest ingot mold ever. They pour at 14-16 ounces each
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67 |
Powder coated bullets. Now to size them, load, and shoot.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,353
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,353 |
oh, powder coating.
I was going to say you may have a real soft bullet and you may want to harden it up by adding WW's.
not sure of the effect of pure lead when powdercoating.
Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
When your ship comes in. ... make sure you are willing to unload it.
PAYPAL, sucks and I will never use them again. I recommend you do the same.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67 |
They aren't pure lead. They are 2% tin and 3% antimony, but you can powder pure lead without leading.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,532
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,532 |
How much thickness does the powder coating add? Is it worth the trouble? You should be able to shoot that alloy without leading anyway with just about any reasonable lube-if the size is correct.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 67 |
I'm not sure about the thickness of the powder as they are sized after powder coating them. I'm just playing with this alloy. I'm going to primarily be using 98-1-1% alloys or 99-1% alloys and PC'ing them. I just figured this would make it easier for my first go around.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101 |
Perhaps try running your pot at 750-800� instead of 700� for better fill-out? I do that when casting WW alloy, and get excellent mold fill-out without adding tin which is not the case for me when casting down around 700�.
Last edited by gnoahhh; 04/13/14.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,532
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,532 |
A hotter pour does seem to help with fill-out in the absence of tin. As long as frosty bullets don't bother you (they don't bother me).
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101 |
Nope, doesn't bother me either.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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