Author Topic: Frosty bullets yesterday, not so frosty today. (Read 487 times)

Dusty Miller · « **on:** November 26, 2004, 08:17:06 PM »

Yesterday I was casting some 345 gr. .45 caliber bullets at 710 degrees and they were REALLY frosty. Today I was casting 230 gr. .44 caliber bullets at 770 degrees and they were hardly frosty at all. The ambient temperature was about the same. Both molds were 4 cavity LBT aluminum. This puzzles me. Does anybody have an idea what would cause this?

Duffy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2004, 10:34:24 PM »

There's more aluminum in the 44 mold (smaller cavitys) so it runs cooler.

haroldclark · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2004, 07:17:42 AM »

Frosty bullets. I like my bullets to be frosty. It is at that point where I can slow down the process a bit and I am assured that I get all the mold filled out.

There are no disfigured bullets at that point. I have shot a jillion of them frosted. However, when you get to the frosting point, you have to allow more cool time for the mold or when you knock of the sprue cutter, you will start getting lead smears between the cutter and the top of the mold. Cleaning that mess up is a painful experience to me.

Harold Clark

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2004, 09:44:37 AM »

There's also a lot more heat in the larger bullets, nearly 50% more were the alloy temp the same. Combination of more alloy and less aluminum makes those bullets slower to cool and gives the alloy more time to crystallize.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2004, 08:04:19 PM »

OK, I'll buy that. Thanks for the input, guys.