Boolit Weight as cast

[oscarflytyer]

I cast my very first bullets the other night. Mold was the Lee 2 cavity 429-200-RF. Supposed to throw a 200 grn 44 slug.

All mine are weighing out at 215-216. I am assuming this means that my mix is lead heavy. I mixed 13lbs of WW with 1/2 lb of 50/50 bar solder to get some tin. The resulting boolits also are somewhat soft (can scratch with fingernail). The WWs were a mix, but mostly larger, and some behemoth (12 oz/+) truck WW.

Is the weight overage normal? Is it because the truck WWs are nearly pure lead, more so than say smaller car WWs? I am just trying to figure out why I am dropping such heavy bullets.

[mooman76]

Mould weights(especially Lee) are commonly off. Even a slightly hard lead you can still scratch with a fingernail, it is just a little harder to do so. The Lee moulds seam to be running a little larger lately which would result in heavier boolits. Hopefully it is a sign and Lee continues this as it's easier to deal with a boolit a little to large rather than a little too small.

[waksupi]

Most molds will make bullets that weigh heavier than stated weight.

[oscarflytyer]

Great feedback. THANX guys! This is kinda what I wanted to hear. The 215-217 is much preferable for me. I really didn't want the 200, but wanted a cheap starter mold until my 250 comes from MiHec. THe 215+ will be perfect.

[311-200]

I have the same question, but my boolits have difference each other - from one pot of WW/lead I cast 10 Lyman 311284 - 210gr. boolits with 3 different weights 210; 211.1;212.5
What is the normal tolerance?

[1Shirt]

I'll take oversize as they drop from the mold anyday because they can be sized down. Conversly, if they drop undersize, tain't no way you can size them up. As to weight tolerances, 10 will probably not tell you much. If you run a hundred or so, and seperate them by weight, and your casting technique is consistant, you will more than likely have a bell curve weight wise. The majority will probably be center of the bell, the lite and heavies will be on the lower sides of the curve. At least that is the way most of mine work out.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[jmsj]

I believe that Lee states they use a 10-1(lead-tin) alloy for their boolits.

[prs]

I suggest you check the diameter of the boolits as dropped. May be .432+.

prs

[Shiloh]

Mould weights(especially Lee) are commonly off. Even a slightly hard lead you can still scratch with a fingernail, it is just a little harder to do so. The Lee moulds seam to be running a little larger lately which would result in heavier boolits. Hopefully it is a sign and Lee continues this as it's easier to deal with a boolit a little to large rather than a little too small.

I hope you are right. It is frustrating to have undersized boolits.

Shiloh

[oscarflytyer]

I suggest you check the diameter of the boolits as dropped. May be .432+.

prs

I did... They are... Fe I checked were b/n .432-434.

Now my next problem... Don't have a lube sizer. Planned to use Lee sizers if I needed them at all. Looks like I do.

Slugged my 44 Spc BH. Throats slug .432 and bbl .431. I planned to size to .432. But largest Lee 44 sizer is .430 - too small for my BH.

How hard is it to 'beagle' out a sizer die to .432?!?

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
You don't beagle a die.
You hone it out , emery cloth wrapped on a short split hardwood dowel in a electric drill will do it.:Fire::Fire:

[oscarflytyer]

OK - ALL this is a mute point! I just went back and gave a bunch of the bullets the once over - hard - with the Mic. They are def out of round!

I get measurements b/n .432 and .435. I can roll the bullet in the mic and find the .432 sweet spot, but most of the rest of it is .434/.435.

Looks like this one goes back to Lee...