stubbicatt
New member
I casted up maybe close to 100 bullets yesterday, using a single cavity Saeco "Pope style" 200 grain, 32-40, bullet mould. I laid the bullets out in the order in which they were cast, and then began to weigh them.
Most weighed in the 203.5 to 203.9 grain range. The first one cast at 202.2 grains, number 10 at 203.5 grains. I guess this is to be expected as the mould comes up to temp and a rhythm is established. These would be culls in any event, no problem there.
I understand occasionally getting a light bullet -- indicative of a void perhaps in the casting. Occasionally, I would get a really heavy bullet, the heaviest was 204.5 grains. That I do not understand. Looks like I got 17 of them above 204 grains, and one at 204.5. When I see this, I begin to wonder if all those below 204.5 mightn't have voids?
If nothing I have learned, I have learned that once you get started, don't put sprues back in the pot, and don't stop to rest.
I have also learned that my technique needs improvement if I am seeing these sorts of weight ranges. I am casting at about 750-770*, ladle dipping. I have a RCBS dipper and a Lyman dipper, I find that the RCBS dipper is more user friendly, though I cannot say it is any more consistent.
In the pour, I skim the surface of the melt with the dipper to open up an unoxidized surface, and dip the melt from that spot. I pour a little into the pot thru the spout to make sure of unobstructed flow. Level the dipper, turn the mould 90 degrees, mate the sprue plate hole taper to the taper on the dipper, turn it all upright for a count of 3 seconds, and then disengage the ladle to pour a puddle on the sprueplate. Count 30 seconds, open sprue plate and put sprue in one box, the bullet in another, and line 'em up in the order they are cast.
I would like to get my finished product to .3 grains weight range. I am concerned that a significant percentage of the bullets weigh heavier than most, and reason that it isn't that the heavies had more melt in them for some reason, as the cavity is a finite volume, but worry that all the rest under that weight are imperfect for some reason.
Total weight variation is 1.2 grains, and nearly 1 grain after the mould is up to temp. Not good.
Suggestions?
Most weighed in the 203.5 to 203.9 grain range. The first one cast at 202.2 grains, number 10 at 203.5 grains. I guess this is to be expected as the mould comes up to temp and a rhythm is established. These would be culls in any event, no problem there.
I understand occasionally getting a light bullet -- indicative of a void perhaps in the casting. Occasionally, I would get a really heavy bullet, the heaviest was 204.5 grains. That I do not understand. Looks like I got 17 of them above 204 grains, and one at 204.5. When I see this, I begin to wonder if all those below 204.5 mightn't have voids?
If nothing I have learned, I have learned that once you get started, don't put sprues back in the pot, and don't stop to rest.
I have also learned that my technique needs improvement if I am seeing these sorts of weight ranges. I am casting at about 750-770*, ladle dipping. I have a RCBS dipper and a Lyman dipper, I find that the RCBS dipper is more user friendly, though I cannot say it is any more consistent.
In the pour, I skim the surface of the melt with the dipper to open up an unoxidized surface, and dip the melt from that spot. I pour a little into the pot thru the spout to make sure of unobstructed flow. Level the dipper, turn the mould 90 degrees, mate the sprue plate hole taper to the taper on the dipper, turn it all upright for a count of 3 seconds, and then disengage the ladle to pour a puddle on the sprueplate. Count 30 seconds, open sprue plate and put sprue in one box, the bullet in another, and line 'em up in the order they are cast.
I would like to get my finished product to .3 grains weight range. I am concerned that a significant percentage of the bullets weigh heavier than most, and reason that it isn't that the heavies had more melt in them for some reason, as the cavity is a finite volume, but worry that all the rest under that weight are imperfect for some reason.
Total weight variation is 1.2 grains, and nearly 1 grain after the mould is up to temp. Not good.
Suggestions?
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