Author Topic: Bullets getting smaller ?  (Read 1425 times)

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Offline stimpylu32

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Bullets getting smaller ?
« on: April 13, 2012, 09:12:50 AM »
I have some .429 that I cast a few weeks ago , now their running .422 , any ideas ?   
The mix was 50% WW and 50% soft lead .
 
This one has me stumped .
 
stimpy
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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2012, 02:20:33 AM »
That seems counter-intuitive.  According to LBT, air-cooled 50/50 usually increases in diameter.  Can you squish them in a .429" sizing die?  Not too elegant a solution.  They could also be recast.  Not too elegant either come to think of it.

Offline Nobade

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2012, 02:31:19 AM »
You sure you're reading those mics right? That just doesn't happen.
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Offline PowPow

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2012, 02:59:57 AM »
Or the mic could have drifted out of calibration.
Mine drifted off zero once.
Calibrate my scale every time I use it, never thought check the mic til I saw it not land on zero.
The difference between people who do stuff and people who don't do stuff is that the people who do stuff do stuff.

Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2012, 06:09:13 AM »
You sure you're reading those mics right? That just doesn't happen.

Thats what I thought too , so I checked some of the bullets that I cast last year using the same mold . The older bullets all check out good , yet the new ones will drop right down into a sized 44 case .
 
This one has me perplexed , as for the calibration , have replaced the Batt. checked them on known OD bullets of different sizes and all good .
 
stimpy
Deceased June 17, 2015


:D If i can,t stop it with 6 it can,t be stopped

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2012, 01:59:29 PM »
Check the "sized 44" case dimensions.  Maybe it isn't the mould.

Offline briarpatch

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2012, 02:19:53 PM »
obviously the .422 is correct as you have probably mic,ed a million. I would guess you have already poured other molds to check. If that is the case the alloy is drawing down when it cools.

Offline mechanic

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2012, 02:24:36 PM »
Flux in the mix that burns out in the mold?  Beats me, never heard of this one.  I've had them seem to grow a bit, but never shrink.
 
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Offline res45

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2012, 04:36:57 PM »
The size and weight of a given bullet  can change depending on the temp the bullet was cast at.  A bullet cast at a higher temp will shrink more an weigh less as it cools than a bullet cast at a lower temp from the same alloy/mold.  Even more so as the softness of the alloy an bullet dia. increases.
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Offline .22-5-40

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2012, 05:55:54 PM »
Hello, You didn't happen to lube them with a formula containing Preparation H did you?

Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2012, 11:13:44 AM »
Hello, You didn't happen to lube them with a formula containing Preparation H did you?

Now thats funny  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
Just going to toss them back into the pot , add some Tin and see what happens , this one has me stummped .  ???
 
stimpy
Deceased June 17, 2015


:D If i can,t stop it with 6 it can,t be stopped

Offline LAH

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2012, 05:00:05 PM »
You sure you're reading those mics right? That just doesn't happen.


From .429 to .422. Never heard of such.
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2012, 11:38:29 PM »
never heard of such a thing either. you might see some shrinkage but ive never seen it more then .001
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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2012, 12:14:38 PM »
This one has me stummped , the only thing that I can think of is that there is something else in the mix , by that I mean some other metal , can't see zink causing this .
What other metals could melt in that temp range and still return to a solid without being noticed ? Any ideas ?
 
I think I'm going to take a couple over to the chem plant and have a buddy in the lab run them to see just what their made of .
 
stimpy
Deceased June 17, 2015


:D If i can,t stop it with 6 it can,t be stopped

Offline gypsyman

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #14 on: April 24, 2012, 03:24:16 PM »
stimpy, Catfish is sneaking into your loading room, and switching bullets on ya. ;D He doesn't want you to shoot real good at next years Ohio shoot. ;) gypsyman
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Bullets getting smaller ?
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2012, 04:41:46 AM »
I am going to put this in my reloading records.
 
Stimpage - "The uncontrollable loss of cast bullet diameter occuring over time."
 
Steve :)
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