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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755 |
45s and 38s from Lee truncated cone molds, some 45 23o gr round nose from a Lyman mold. Want to find a good used 35 mold in the 200 to 250 ge range to play with.
Ii am also looking real hard and saving my pennies for a Harbor Freight powder casting setup. I really like what I have been reading about powder coating cast bullets. Scott, before spending money on a powder coating gun, just buy some powder (NOT the Hobo Freight junk) and dry tumble the bullets. All you need is a plastic container from butter/yogurt/sour cream, etc, just dump the bullets and some powder in, and shake well. I'd be happy to share more info if you want.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,504
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,504 |
I fired up the pot last night and attempted to cast some bullets, but kept getting poor fillout, possibly due to low alloy temps. I hope to get another chance to try playing with temps tonight. I'm going to have to break down and get a casting thermometer so I can know what I'm dealing with rather than chasing possibilities when I have casting problems.
4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 814
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 814 |
I have to develop 158SWC for .357. Once I have the right load, I will turn 10 pounds or so to boolits to have a stash for my weekly trips to range.
On top of that I keep casting 200 RNs for SBH in 44, great plinking bullet. Will try so hunting with it in rifle season.
My son needs to practice with his 30-30 - already got bullets casted for that.
The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts the moment you get up and doesn't stop untill you get into the office.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,955
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,955 |
Right now, its Auto Rims for a 25-2 and a Smith 1917: But I've got lots of stuff loaded with lead....
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943 |
Very cool. I have always wanted one of those 1917's. Just don't want to pay Gunbroker pices. One of these days....
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 39,301 |
Scott, before spending money on a powder coating gun, just buy some powder (NOT the Hobo Freight junk) and dry tumble the bullets. All you need is a plastic container from butter/yogurt/sour cream, etc, just dump the bullets and some powder in, and shake well. I'd be happy to share more info if you want.
What I read about dry tumbling had mixed reviews with a lot of problems. I would love to keep it simple. If you don't mind would you share your secrets?
The first time I shot myself in the head...
Meniere's Sucks Big Time!!!
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,140
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,140 |
Knocked out a couple hundred of these fat bad boys-custom Postell mould 530 gr for my 45-70.
Kids are for people that can't have dogs
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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 |
Dayum Kitch, you mad at something? Dan
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: May 2004
Posts: 56,150 Likes: 11
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,150 Likes: 11 |
I lost my mind awhile back. Everything from .25 to .45 and a few in between.
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 2003
Posts: 19,822
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19,822 |
Knocked out a couple hundred of these fat bad boys-custom Postell mould 530 gr for my 45-70. Kitch, I'm pretty sure I see a flaw in that bullet. You should mail that mold to me for further "beta" testing before you cast a bad bullet and miss your target. Ed (Actually, VERY good looking bullet there! Nice work! )
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,140
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,140 |
Flaw? Yep, that was a reject. You should see the good ones! that mould is from Brooks' custom moulds, not cheap but a great mould.
Kids are for people that can't have dogs
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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 |
You need to fill in those grooves with putty, wrap it in paper and head out to Gillette for the Wasserberger Mile.
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: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,366
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,366 |
My '53 has only fired on load. 3.8 Tight group (rotor #2 RCBS Lil'Dandy) over 115 gr laser cast. Just excellent 1050 fps clover leafs (wife calls them Mickey Mouse) groups. Way better than an open sighted gun should shoot. Gathering up the courage to order a .32 sledge hammer 140 gr button nose flat point from Accurate for it... Mean while I am still casting the 4 pc Orvis 6 weight but it is blowing 30 knots out so may have to fire up the 9 weight. What a coincidence ............ I have a Winchester 1892 with a model 53 barrel, rebored to .357. It seems to go out more often than the .224 CF's lately. I cast some Ideal 358477 and 358439 today for this hybrid. Favorite all purpose load is the '477 powered by 4.5 grains of HP-38 for 1070 FPS. The '439 is loaded with 11 grains of old 2400 for a slightly more powerful load. Both loads are assembled in .357 cases. Not as cool as a 53 but fills a similar niche!
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,397 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,397 Likes: 1 |
Flaw? Yep, that was a reject. You should see the good ones! that mould is from Brooks' custom moulds, not cheap but a great mould. Let's see - a Postell from a custom Brooks mold? I like your style! I had Mr. Brooks cut a mold with the older original Postell nose shape (more rounded) using the same driving band/lube groove design from his 540 gr Creedmore. It comes out at 543 gr with 30:1... And I just used one to let the air out of this guy a couple of weeks ago...
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101 |
Impressive. Nice Ballard, too.
"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: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,076
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,076 |
Next thaw: 40 (S&W) cal TC's and 45 (ACP) SWC's. Completely out.
Hang on to your memories; they're better than the real thing ever was - Joe Sherlock
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
I've got a 22 cal mould that the fedex man is bringing tomorrow. It is one of the Lee bator 6-cavs that Midsouth carries. Excited to run some plain-base 55's out to 1800 or so, and some gc at 2200 or as warm as they will shoot in my Bee. Kicks hell out of rimfire! Hope it works out. Before this, 30 cal has been the smallest diameter I cast, and those were fairly simple once the moulds are hot. Likely the same with these 22 cals. Nothing runs as smoothly as a 300 gr 44 cal. I can almost take a nap while casting those.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,101 |
I love my .22 Bator mould and the bullets it makes. I found it to be the most accurate design in my 5.6x35R ("Euro Hornet"), but it does have a rapid twist- 1-9". It is the t*ts in my 30's vintage .22 Maximum Lovell Krag single shot too (1-14" twist).
"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: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
Gnoahhh, if you favor the design, then I made a good call! I've not cast any yet, but upon looking at the mould, the design is just what I am after. I'd read about some coming from Lee with funky bases. Some too narrow, some too short for GC seating. The 6-cav I got looks perfect. Excited to get these shooting!
They'll be run through 2 14 inch contenders from BullBerry: one in 218 Bee, the other in 221 Fireball. As well, a Remington 700 in 22 K-Hornet. And since Ruger is now making LH Americans, I'm planning to pick one up in 223, and will load it with these Bators, as well as heavier jacketed.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 20,494
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 20,494 |
Mostly I cast bullets for my 45 Colt Vaquero and Ranch Hand -- 200 grain semi wadcutter and 255 grain RNFP. I like the heavier ones better. I also cast quite a few 405 grain FP for my 45-70s. The Buffalo Classic likes them with 25 grains of AA5744. I use that one for sniping empty 12 guage hulls at 50 yards.
I also have a couple different moulds for my 50 cal Flinter and a plethora of .358 and .356 pistol bullets. I cast everything except the muzzle loader bullets from wheel weights. The 405 slugs, I water quench.
Also have a mould for a 405 Winchester - 300 grain round nose. Loads of fun
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov 4:23) Brother Keith
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