Lee Loader

I just came in from the shop after a failed attempt to cast some bullets. I played around for about 2 hours. I have a 2 cavity 160 gr. Lachmiller SWC mold that makes excellent bullets, when I can make it work. My recipe today was; Lyman #2 (10 lbs of 'certified #2, and 8-10 lbs of "my" #2) and I heated the mold fairly hot on my hotplate. Started melt out at around 750 degrees, cast a few, let some cool and measured them. About .005" out of round, or .357"-.362"+. Too much for me. Cooled melt to 650 degrees. Let melt "settle" and cast a few more. Same variations. Roughly .005" and a hair out of round. I tried varying the distance to the spout, tried "pressure pouring", nope same stuff. I know this mold can make consistent .358" bullets when I remember what the mold likes, but today I couldn't find the right combination (mebbe I need to change my stool?, or play some Willie instead of Do-%@*&$?). So, I pulled the plugs, cleaned up dropped sprues and let the pot cool and went inside to play on my computer...

Try again mebbe Monday...

Personally I'm convinced the moon phase, black cats and or a problem in Afghanistan can influence casting outcomes.

daboone wrote:Personally I'm convinced the moon phase, black cats and or a problem in Afghanistan can influence casting outcomes.

You are right about that. If I can't cast usable bullets within 15 minutes of starting, I pack it up for the day. It always seems if it doesn't come together at the start, it isn't. I don't have very many misses, but they do happen, so I stop.

My pot doesn't get hot in 15 minutes. I don't know the temp any more because I packed my PIDs away. I can make better bullets without knowing the temp. Takes me an hour to feel right then I'm tired. Casting hurts my back. I use the same lead and same pot for all my bullets but each mold is very different on what they "like" as far as pour rate and distance off the spout. I guess I need to take notes.

Boy I know about the fussy moulds .
I have one that needs a little more tin to run right and a sister mould that whiskers like cat with it's tail in a light socket if I run anything but straight WW . Oh and that brass mould !
I have an NOE that I just gave up on ever getting 5 keepers in a single pour . It'd do 3 every time , 4 about 10% .

RBHarter wrote:I have an NOE that I just gave up on ever getting 5 keepers in a single pour . It'd do 3 every time , 4 about 10% .

You bring up a good reason not to buy single or double cavity molds if you can help it. At least with a bad cavity, even if it is just something wrong with the current session, you can keep going.

Good point. All mine are two hole except the 45 colt I recently bought from RD and my old Lee custom RD design for my waffle top.

I usually switch to another mold and try it, maybe more than one. Just hate getting the pot hot and nothing to show for it.

Make smoke,

GasGuzzler wrote:Good point. All mine are two hole except the 45 colt I recently bought from RD and my old Lee custom RD design for my waffle top.

Waffle Top

Ohio3Wheels wrote:I usually switch to another mold and try it, maybe more than one. Just hate getting the pot hot and nothing to show for it.

Make smoke,