Found some time to cast this morning

Topics concerning individual handgun & rifle bullet designs, buckshot, and shotgun slugs.
Post Reply
User avatar
Steelbanger
Founding Member
Founding Member
Posts: 59
Joined: 30 Jun 2013 10:12
My Press Choice: Single Stage
Location: Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 24 times

Found some time to cast this morning

Post by Steelbanger »

Then I found some time this afternoon to cast some more.

Two of my favorite bullets are cast from LEE two cavity moulds, the 300 gr .430 RDFN and the 230 gr .379 RDFN and this morning I decided to cast a few to have a small supply available for reloading. The second mould used was the 380 RDFN bullet for the 38-55, this mould gives three plain base and 3 gas check based bullets working well as usual. This task went really well and I had well over 100 of each. Shutting down my propane burner and trying to remember everything that's involved with securing the area went really well also. I grabbed a handfull of these newly cast bullets and noticed that something was amiss. The 230 gr FN was the wrong bullet. I made approx 250 of the 300 gr .430 bullet. What a mistake!

I located the mould I wanted and began my prep again. Ah, now I remember that this mould doesn't produce pretty bullets until all the stars fall in alignment. So I struggled through the prep and finally it began to satisfy me. I cast about 100 bullets and then quit for the second time.

Lesson learned - Make a marking system to identify every mould. And the reason for telling this tale is to help any of you avoid duplicating my error. Old age isn't fun at all.

Frank
User avatar
GasGuzzler
Moderator & Supporter
Moderator & Supporter
Posts: 2035
Joined: 26 Jan 2016 22:39
My Press Choice: Turret
Location: Cooke County, TX
Has thanked: 330 times
Been thanked: 500 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by GasGuzzler »

Good idea. I keep mine in their boxes hoping the labels are correct.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
I've always been crazy but it's kept me from goin' insane.
User avatar
Old Scribe
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 369
Joined: 02 May 2015 09:13
My Press Choice: Turret
Location: State of Jefferson
Has thanked: 461 times
Been thanked: 120 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by Old Scribe »

I keep my Lee moulds in their respective boxes and put the information of the mould on the metal part of the handle with an electric engraver. The Noe moulds are kept in their respective boxes too. HOWEVER, this doesn't completely eliminate casting with the wrong one.
Yer correct Steelbanger, sometimes old age gets the best of me too.
"Well here's another nice mess you've gotten me into." Oliver Hardy
User avatar
Ranch Dog
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Inez, TX
Has thanked: 1616 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by Ranch Dog »

Look at it this way Steel, you have some bullet for your 44 Mag and 444 Marlin now!
Michael
Image
User avatar
Steelbanger
Founding Member
Founding Member
Posts: 59
Joined: 30 Jun 2013 10:12
My Press Choice: Single Stage
Location: Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 24 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by Steelbanger »

Michael,

As I related this story to one of my daughters yesterday, she said "It's too bad that you have to throw all those others away". I said that I was keeping those because I also shoot them on occasion. As a matter of fact, I will be hunting deer next week and the first 5 days will see me carrying my 444P loaded with the 300 gr. bullet.

Frank
User avatar
Ranch Dog
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Inez, TX
Has thanked: 1616 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by Ranch Dog »

Steelbanger wrote:Michael,

As I related this story to one of my daughters yesterday, she said "It's too bad that you have to throw all those others away". I said that I was keeping those because I also shoot them on occasion. As a matter of fact, I will be hunting deer next week and the first 5 days will see me carrying my 444P loaded with the 300 gr. bullet.

Frank
There you go Frank! Killed this beast last night.

Image
Michael
Image
larryw
Founding Member & Supporter
Founding Member & Supporter
Posts: 1123
Joined: 20 Dec 2013 11:09
My Press Choice: Single Stage
Location: Arizona
Location: Arizona
Has thanked: 688 times
Been thanked: 327 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by larryw »

It's turned nice enough now that it's about time to fire up the old pot, hopefully no more
cottage cheese..

RD, you are one hog dumping son of a gun, anymore info on hot dog making?
A day late & A dollar short? Story of my life +guns
User avatar
Ranch Dog
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Inez, TX
Has thanked: 1616 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Found some time to cast this morning

Post by Ranch Dog »

larryw wrote:RD, you are one hog dumping son of a gun, anymore info on hot dog making?
I don't do any of the "making" on my own but run everything through a processor run by an elderly lady in her late '80s. I like supporting her business, and she so far has duplicated everything I have asked about so will check with the next batch. I was worried about the business supporting me over the coming years, but her son gave up his career for the country life and came home. He was trained to be a butcher as a kid and is quite enthusiastic about seeing the family business continue.
Michael
Image
Post Reply

Return to “Bullets, Buckshot, & Slugs”