Doing some casting

[Walt]

I cast mostly when the weather isn't inviting. I normally cast with two molds and while I don't enjoy marathon casting sessions, I'm done after at most a couple of hundred bullets. I love Accurate Molds aluminum molds for their light weight and perfect mold cavities but I use both RCBS and Lyman molds as well.
I make my own bullet lube from beeswax and an automotive wheel bearing grease containing moly, lithium and graphite and although it's a bit soft and messy, it practically eliminates leading.
What a great way to spend a cold and windy day!

[fordwannabe]

I am about to start enjoying my retirement and a few Therapy sessions are in order for me soon. I Got a new Johnston and Dow mod yesterday and I am out of 44-40 bullets.

[Walt]

Therapy sessions indeed!

[earlmck]

Aaah -- nothing like a nice pile of fresh-cast bullets to make a feller feel fine about the world!

[Bronco]

A pile of freshly cast bullets is like the pot of gold at the leprechauns hide

[Bill in Oregon]

Good for you, Walt. What a pleasant and productive way to spend a couple of hours in less than lovely weather.

[Griff]

Good on ya Walt. I certainly enjoy my casting as a separate hobby from shooting. The only part of reloading I don't care for is sizing/lubing... If only I could get my son to do that for me!

[Twodot]

I'm not sure if you have enough powder there to shot all those bullets
..

[Walt]

Twodot, there are 17 or 18 thousand machine cast bullets in coffee cans on the shelf to the left. Not the same as hand-cast but usable just the same.

[marlinman93]

I have a long list of bullets I want to get cast, but still not good enough weather to open the shop and cast in the doorway. I need to cast some RCBS CSA 300 gr. for my .40-50SS, and a bunch of 480 gr. and 290 gr. .45's for a couple other rifles.

[Griff]

RCBS CSA 300 gr. for my .40-50SS

I have their 330 & 350 versions for my .40-90SBN and have often thought about getting the 300 grain version. But, the 330 is already clocking over 1600 fps with 85 grains of 1-½ Swiss...

[marlinman93]

RCBS CSA 300 gr. for my .40-50SS

I have their 330 & 350 versions for my .40-90SBN and have often thought about getting the 300 grain version. But, the 330 is already clocking over 1600 fps with 85 grains of 1-½ Swiss...

I have all four sizes. The 300, 330, 350, and 400 all CSA.

[Griff]

RCBS CSA 300 gr. for my .40-50SS

I have their 330 & 350 versions for my .40-90SBN and have often thought about getting the 300 grain version. But, the 330 is already clocking over 1600 fps with 85 grains of 1-½ Swiss...

I have all four sizes. The 300, 330, 350, and 400 all CSA.

My Sharps is a Long Range Express Shiloh, with a 1:18 twist and doesn't stabilize the one 400 grain Mold I have or... if it does, I haven't found a range yet. It barely tolerates the 370 out to about 500 meters. The only time I've shot further was at the Friends of Billy Dixon shoot in 2008, but I didn't have the 330 grain mold then, and my rear sight didn't have the height to even shoot to 1,000 yards, let alone the 1,538 goal. Our gun club only has a 200 yard range and my eyes are no longer as good with iron sights (even peeps) as they once were.

[LeverGunner]

It's been good casting weather round here. Getting a few samples.

[marlinman93]

RCBS CSA 300 gr. for my .40-50SS

I have their 330 & 350 versions for my .40-90SBN and have often thought about getting the 300 grain version. But, the 330 is already clocking over 1600 fps with 85 grains of 1-½ Swiss...

I have all four sizes. The 300, 330, 350, and 400 all CSA.

My Sharps is a Long Range Express Shiloh, with a 1:18 twist and doesn't stabilize the one 400 grain Mold I have or... if it does, I haven't found a range yet. It barely tolerates the 370 out to about 500 meters. The only time I've shot further was at the Friends of Billy Dixon shoot in 2008, but I didn't have the 330 grain mold then, and my rear sight didn't have the height to even shoot to 1,000 yards, let alone the 1,538 goal. Our gun club only has a 200 yard range and my eyes are no longer as good with iron sights (even peeps) as they once were.

Interesting. I shoot a couple .40-65 rifles in a Rolling Block with Green Mountain 1:16" twist, and a Ballard with Douglas Premium 1:18" twist and both shoot a 410 gr. Lyman Snover very well to 1000 yds. I have a Ballard Pacific in .40-85 Everlasting/.40-90 Ballard that is a 1:21" twist and it also shoots the same Snover 410 gr. well out to 1000 yds. I'm loading with 4198 and my loads are around 1375 fps.

[marlinman93]

It's been good casting weather round here. Getting a few samples.

Looks like a gas check bullet?

[LeverGunner]

It's been good casting weather round here. Getting a few samples.

Looks like a gas check bullet?

Yes, both are gas checked bullets.

[fordwannabe]

First session I did a pile of Johnston and Dow bullets for paper cartridges in my 1860 cap and ball, and a significant pile of 44-40 bullets for my 1889, !860 Henry (that was previously owned by John Taffin), and a Uberti 1873 SAA clone. Now to PC and fire up my 550C

[rock-steady]

Beautiful spring weather yesterday. I cast 8lbs of .358 Lee 158gr SWC out of wheel weight alloy and 4lbs each of 00 Buck & #4 Buck out of pure lead.

I powder-coated the .358 boolits. What is a good lube to use on them before running through the sizer die?

I was thinking a light spray of WD-40, some case lube or maybe some soapy water.

I also powder-coated about 5lbs of .430" lead round ball. Worked like a charm.

[Griff]

What is a good lube to use on them before running through the sizer die?

I use Hornady One Shot Case lube. Non-sticky and doesn't contaminate powder or primers. There is also a "One Shot" gun cleaner. The lube has a black cap and the cleaner a red cap. Just a spray or two in the bucket I keep my ready to reload cases in does the trick. For all my pistol cartridge reloading I usually just rely on the carbide sizing dies, but rifle cases get always get lubed.

[Walt]

Although I have a good number of rifles with bottle-necked cartridges, the only one I frequently reload is .30-30. I use Hornady UNIQUE Case Lube which is a paste and comes in a small tub. I have used the spray lubes but I don't like the dimples it puts into the cartridge shoulders. I can apply the paste lube without getting any on the shoulders and since the loaded cartridges need to be wiped down regardless of the lube, I use the paste. I apply it with my fingers; a swipe on one cartridge does about 4 more and I scrape a tiny bit on the case mouths so that the cases are easier to pull off the expander ball.

[marlinman93]

What is a good lube to use on them before running through the sizer die?

I use Hornady One Shot Case lube. Non-sticky and doesn't contaminate powder or primers. There is also a "One Shot" gun cleaner. The lube has a black cap and the cleaner a red cap. Just a spray or two in the bucket I keep my ready to reload cases in does the trick. For all my pistol cartridge reloading I usually just rely on the carbide sizing dies, but rifle cases get always get lubed.

I love Hornady One Shot and have used it ever since it first hit the market. I still use Imperial Sizing Wax for those tougher reforming tasks, but not for regular resizing needs.