RCBS Sizer: The learning curve of sizing bullets

[skarke]

Well, I set the machine up, cast some bullets out of my new lee moulds (averaged about 4.5 good ones, started with Frankford Ars. Mould Release which is a great product), and began to size and lube them.  Well, I figured out that I needed to turn the crank about a 1/4 turn as the bullet is in the bottom of the sizer for each bullet.  As a newbee, I thought that cranking the screw was an occasional thing.  Figuring this out sure helped.

I am using blue angel lube that a guy gave me at the range to try.  It definitely needs the heater, but it sure makes a pretty bullet.

My friend says that texas heat makes most lubes pretty sticky in the Summer around here, but he says that this stuff stays on.

I don't know how hard these things are, they are pure wheel weights.  I also used the Frankford Arsenal flux which cleaned the pot great.  What I'd really like is some advice on which tool works best to skim the scum off of the top.  I used an old spatula, but there has to be something better.

Sure is fun.  Made about 125 in about an hour and a half.  I was doing pretty good at the end, though.  I'm thinking that 150 to 200 in the same time frame is reasonable after the learning curve.

[D Crockett]

If I read your post right you are talking about the stuff that forms on top of your casting pot. You do not want to get rid of that. that is your tin that is oxidizing out of your lead . take a piece of bees wax about the size of a pea and flux it back into your mix them put a layer of (unused) cat litter on top that will stop the oxidizing of your lead .hope this helps D Crockett

[skarke]

Thanks dcrockett,

That's a big help!!!  I bought some Frankford Arsenal flux that seems to work very well, no smoke.  Never heard the cat litter stuff before (non clumping, I assume).

I'll give it a try.

[Darrell Davis]

Hey there skarke,

One thing you might try in the fluxing dept is simply candle wax.

My wife saves me all the old or bent candles and I have used it for fluxing for years.

Cheap and works just fine.

Of course as always, make sure there is no mosture of any kind in the candle wax or bad things will happen when it comes in contact with the melted metal.

I run two sizers, a RCBS and a Lyman. Both have their good/bad points.

One thing I really like about the Lyman is the small (1/4" wratchet) they use to apply pressure on the lub chamber.

In fact I have drilled the pressure shaft on my RCBS, seated a piece of 1/4' Allen wrench in the hole and then silver soldered the connection.

Now I can use the same wrench on both sizers which I find much handier then the lever supplied with the RCBS.

The RCBS sizer seems to have a bit better finger room for setting bullets in place then on the Lyman, but as I indicated they both have their good points.

By the way, the candle wax does smoke, but I use a fan close to my casting pot, which pulls fresh air into the area, so no big thing.

Also, If you haven't already done so, try a bottom pour ladle as they are way better then the side pour.

Using a LARGE lead pot, and a bottom pour ladle, I can cast big circles - bullet vol. wise - around the folk with the bottom pour pots

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[skarke]

Darrell,

I'm kind of embarrassed to say it, but I bought a bottom pour Lee pot, a Lee Pro 4-20.  I read some of the posts on Lee stuff, but the RCBS was so expensive that I thought I'd just try the Lee.  Well, frankly, it er, uh.... it works great!!!!  I know that I might have committed a casting sacrilege, but, the thing does what it is supposed to.

And with these 6 cavity moulds, I don't think that I could do it with anything else other than a bottom pour pot.  My bullets are coming out great, the spray release I'm using makes them smooth as a baby's butt, and seamless, bumpless, and as fast as I can pour, wait 5 seconds, cut the sprue, then make more.

The RCBS sizer works great, though I had to make a spacer to have the bullet stop raise up higher for short pistol bullets with a Lyman die.

I will say, however, if I had two RCBSs, or an RCBS and a Lyman, I'd probably sell them both and buy a Star.  What a fabulous machine that is.

[lrrice]

Yeah, I bought one of those "junky" Lee pots 15+ years ago.  It's still casting and has paid for its self over and over.  It may not be the quality of some of those other pots and if I was casting tons of lead, I would probably want a better one.  For what I do, it left lots of $ to buy other things.  I own lots of Lee stuff and have never felt the need to apologize for any of it.  If your too embarrassed to own it, box it up and I'll pay the shipping

[Okie2]

Irrice...saw your photo of the H&R with tang sight...I have the same rifle (38-55) & now have a tang sight...just haven't mounted it yet....What method did you use to attach the sight to the tang?  Was thinking of grinding some metal into a false tang...epoxy & screw the false tang to stock & then attach sight with screws (drilled & tapped).  Would I need to inlet the wood for the tang? Seems like a bunch of work!  Can the false tang be welded to the guns action? I don't know what metal they use & if welding would ruin some internal components.  Thanks for any help! Scott in OK (love that little gun!)

[Sweetwater]

'bout the learning curve - it never ends. There is always a new twist discovered. I have a Lyman 450 Lubrasizer and a Lee 10lb electric pot back in the early '90's. They seemed like trash, very much used and dirty, BUT both came in a box with a bunch of sizing dies and some pure lead for $25.00. I sold the lead for $10 and cried all the way home!! LOL! I had been using a brand new 20lb Electric RCBS pot that belonged to a buddy, and what a step downhill to the Lee, both in size and usage. The upside is I still have it and it still melts my lead and still has paid for itself how many times over. FYI - That bottom pour spigot will sometimes collect some crud and not let the plunger seat. Lead will keep on pouring out the bottom. I keep my muffin pan handy for such mini emergencies and let the pan fill while I try to clear the jam. Can't say I don't 'want' a better one, but I can say I don't 'need' one.

I've not even seen a Star sizer in operation, so I don't have that temptation. I've heard they are fabulous. I may have to get some of that mold release you are using. Sounds like it works real good. I've got some Mold Prep and it works on some molds but doesn't seem to be so great on others.

Keep us up on your adventure!

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Darrell Davis]

Well skarke, hope the Lee Pot keeps doing what you bought it for.

However, when I cast I will be running as many as 5 molds at one time which means I go through a lot of metal fast.

The only way a bottom pour pot would keep up is to have two pots or another stove and pot so I didn't need to wait for metal to melt in the electric pot.

How many molds I run depends on the temp and if I am casting by my self or with a helper.

Anyway, a large lead pot - really an old cast iron cook pot - on the Ol'Colman stove, combined with a bottom pour ladle allows me to cast a lot of bullets and do so in a relatively quick time period.

By the time my pot is getting down on metal, I already have a lot of bullets in the bucket and am ready for a break.

Normally I will be using molds for different bullet types or sizes, depending on what I'm low on at the moment.

I quench all my bullets - directly from the mold into cold water - and make no attempt to keep them separated by size or type, doing that part of the process while I am culling the session's production.

Rotating the 5 +/- molds, allows each mold plenty of time to cool before opening, yet I am returning to that mold soon enough that it never cools down too much.  Works great.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[lrrice]

Okie 2,  For the front screw, I drilled and tapped the receiver with just enough room to clear the hammer nicely.  Then I inlet the wood level with the receiver to let the sight set flat.  I have heard of others mounting just in the wood but that didn't seem like a good option to me.  Others have welded a false tang on to mount it to.  Just have to be careful of the heat.  I figured that if it didn't work this way, that was always an option.  So far I am quite happy with the way it has worked out.  Only problem is you have to take the Williams off to use it cause it blocks your view from 100 to 200+ yards.

[skarke]

Darrell,

I can picture you pouring like crazy all those bullets, you probably look like a machine yourself .  I am using an old cast iron dutch oven to melt and flux the wheel weights, them making ingots out of my wife's muffin pan (the one she didn't like, thank God).  I find it relaxing to make the bullets, more fun than I thought it would be.

I can make a couple of hundred, then size them, in about 2 hours.  What I really want now is a progressive machine.  I'm not liking much throwing that handle 1000 times for 200 cartridges.

It'll have to wait, I'm pretty broke after my latest spending spree on this gun stuff