Author Topic: Beginner needs help... (Read 521 times)

Shooting Leo · « **on:** April 10, 2006, 10:22:44 AM »

I am new to Bullet Casting and tried myself on some Lee 457-340-F, hoping to shoot them out of some .458/.50 Cal. Sabots in my .50 Cal. Muzzleloader. I am just using scrab lead, here out of an old soil pipe.

The first bullets were wrinkled, which I blamed on the heat. Also there was no detail. Bullets improved after I cranked the heat to max and then backed up to 6 on a 10 scale, (whatever that may correspond to on a Lee Production Pot !). Also I started using Bullet Casting Flux.
Casted about 60 Bullets.

I was happy with the detail, no wrinkles and the shiny look of them until I weighted them. I found a difference of weight in between 349 gr. to 356 gr. Is it common to have such a big difference of bullet weights ?

I ended up sorting them in batches of .5 gr.
Please let me know if thats normal and acceptable . If not please let me know what I am doing wrong.

Thanks, Leo

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2006, 11:00:02 PM »

That's a difference of only seven grains. Throw out the few that are the lightest and the few that are the heaviest and then have a good time shooting the remainder. :grin:

Castaway · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2006, 02:13:09 AM »

I cast a 423 grain bullet and keep the difference at around 7 grains, then sort the bullets into piles using a loading block. I load "batches" from those piles. Never knew they had a 458/50 caliber sabot. Was happy when I found a 452/50 caliber that allowed me to use my Lee 255 RNFP instead of a 44/50. What's you source of the larger sabot?

Shooting Leo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2006, 01:23:28 PM »

Dusty Miller

This is the website for the orange sabots (.458/.50)

http://www.mmpsabots.com/

(I wish I knew how to send you the link)

Thanks for the replies guys, looks like I wasn't doing all that bad after all...

Leo

Shooting Leo · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2006, 01:27:58 PM »

Sorry guys just realized Castaway was looking for the sabots and not Dusty Miller. Anyway there is the link, I am surprised it actually worked.

Thanks, Leo

454PB · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2006, 07:22:56 AM »

Perhaps one cause of varying weight is the temperature variations. Try to start after the lead has fully heated, preheat the mould, then leave the temperature alone. Minor slow changes in temperature are OK, but the key is consistency.

Over the years using three different Lee pots, I've found that the "sweet spot" setting for wheelweight based alloy is 7 to 7.5. Since you are using pure lead, that temperature will be slightly lower.....I'm guessing around 6 to 6.5.