Use pressure or not from bottom pour pot

[Castboolitpreacher]

Hello All, Glad to be a new member here. Started casting in '72 with a Lee bottom pour pot. NOW, At the time Lee advised to hold the mould up to the pour spout and hold a few seconds. This supposedly puts pressure on the lead in the cavity so as to form a better boolit. Later on I read in several articles (CBA maybe) that the proper way was almost touching and let some run over. Using the first method, I get good boolits. Using the second method I get good boolits. Whats a soul to do??? Now that I've started a good argument, I'll leave the room.

[waksupi]

Ah, a timeless question. Chicken or the egg?

I like to pool the alloy on top, personally. That way, the sprue cuts clean, with enough weight to fall free from the mold.

That's just my way, though. If we all liked the same thing, we'd all be married to the same woman.

[carpetman]

Castboolitpreacher---Well Reverend I cast .22 cals and if I hold the mold to the nozzle,I get a pin head size sprue and one or both will stick to the sprue plate. Only takes a small touch to free it up--but thats an extra step. If I allow a little space between the mold and the nozzle I get a bigger heavier sprue that will let loose on it's own. I do find it easier to make the contact and pick off the pin head sprue. Normally,I'd just pass that along free but you might want to pass the collection plate to help feed old folks here at the old folks home in San Angelo.

[floodgate]

When I use my ancient bottom-pour 10-lb. SAECO pot (about 1/3 of the time, more often I use my 20-lb. SAECO dip pot) I split the difference: start with the sprue-hole against the nozzle, and when the mould "clicks" full, drop it just an inch or so to build a dime-size "puddle"; wait for it to freeze, count "one thousand one, one thousand two" and knock the sprue-plate open with the rawhide mallet. Works for me. Except on Thursdays, or even-numbered Saturdays. floodgate

[9.3X62AL]

Welcome to the board, sir!

The contact-pour, drop-pour, or combination of both methods is mold-dependant to me. Many of my molds do their best work using Floodgate's combo regimen, some like drop-pour only.

[Buckshot]

............I've found for me that holding the mould away from the spout at least a half inch does the best all round job. When the cavity fills I like to see the alloy 'bounce' back up out and then add a bit more.

..............Buckshot

[Castboolitpreacher]

Hello again, THANKS to all for the info. You're right, when held up tight to the spout, the sprue is small and sometimes wants to stick in the hole. This does slow me down a bit, but sometimes comes off when I whack the center pin. And then sometimes it doesn't. I am going to go with the dime size sprue on top and try that for awhile. Castboolitpreacher ps. Thanks also for the friendly kidding about me being a preacher. HA!

[carpetman]

castboolitpreacher---Kidding? Wheres the money? Read that you are a Honda 4 wheeler mechanic. I have one a 230cc with electric shift. You are to the day 4 months older than me.

[Castboolitpreacher]

Hey Carpetman, Glad there are some other "seasoned" boolit casters here. At my age I don't even buy green tomatos. Yes, I really am a preacher. THE LORD called me to preach on October 2 of last year. I'll be preaching a night service this coming Sunday at the church my wife and I attend. Thought about sending you a round bale of $100 bills, but realized I would be responsible for polluting a fellow caster with "filthy lucre". Instead, I'll pray for perfect cast reloads, pleasent weather, no wind, dead on aim, and a steady squeeze on all your shoots. Also if we all get together for a big meal after an all day shoot, you guys will want someone to return thanks. Right? Castboolitpreacher

[David R]

I have been using a bottom pour RCBS and the mold guide that comes with it. It works great about an inch down from the spout. Never could get the hold it tight thing to work well for me. At one time when I had a mold that wouldn't fill out, I held the ladel right on it. I don't even use a ladel any more. Once the mold is hot, no problems. Some start better than others, but all of em work after 10 or so pours.

[shooter2]

Yes, I really am a preacher. THE LORD called me to preach on October 2 of last year. Castboolitpreacher

Welcome preacher. Fine folks here with decent manners and a wealth of knowledge. Count me as a brother in Christ. BTW, I am from Bella Vista, AR. in the extreme NW corner. Felix, one of the guru's, is from Fort Smith. Sundog is from around Tulsa, OK.

[Castboolitpreacher]

THANKS shooter2 for introducing yourself. Always glad to hear from a Christian shooter. Yes, the people here are very friendly. I used to spend some time on the AR-15.com website (since I shoot an AR frequently) but the language was bad and the members were abusive to each other. Whew! Too much for me. Was I ever glad to stumble onto this website. The climate here is relaxed with tons of good info. Normally shoot Lee 8mms, in a sporterized 1943 K98 (19gr. of 4759), and 311291's in an original 03A3. Who knows, if there is any interest in meeting in a semi-central location someday we can have ourselves a range day. Hopefully in cooler weather. Castboolit- preacher

[357tex]

I guess I do it wrong but it works I hold the mold just to the side touching the sprue plate and let it puddle on top.It's the only way I could get it to work,and when it did I just stayed with it.
I to am a preacher for the last 17 years.

[Castboolitpreacher]

ANOTHER PREACHER!!!!!!! Thank you brother for the reply. Oftentimes we think we are all alone just like Elijah thought. Who says Christianity stops you from enjoying life. It actually makes it much better. Am I ever glad I found this website!!! Another Christian brother replyed also. Praise THE LORD and pass the ammunition ( uh cast boolits that is). Kind of hot to cast now, but can usually get an hour or so early in the morning. HOT and dry here. One and one half inchs of rain in the last 9 weeks. If the unsaved think it's hot now, they ain't seen 'nuttin yet. Hey, just a thought, how would a Mauser postal match go over? In cooler weather, of course. Hmmm. Castboolitpreacher

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I'm a believer too! JUST HOPE I LIVE LONG ENOUGH TOO REPENT. It's 95 F. here daily now so I try to get shooten by 9am latest.

[Castboolitpreacher]

THANKS Boom Boom for the reply. Yes, it's 95 PLUS here during the days, so I try to get to my neighbors 100 yd. range by 6:30. I hate to shoot and sweat at the same time. Glad to hear you are a fellow beleiver. Don't see how folks don't believe, but many don't. I have so many sins I have to repent daily. Whew! Just getting back into casting after about a 13 year lapse. All my equipment was still in good unrusted condition. Ready to try some cast boolits in my old flat bolt .243 Ruger. See ya, Castboolitpreacher

[9.3X62AL]

CB Preacher--

243, eh? Carpetman helped me a GREAT DEAL with that caliber by sending along some of his RCBS 95 grainers of that persuasion. Having USED UP my supply of same--and owing some to another poster here--I will be pouring some of these on Saturday for both distribution as promised and for my own use. Would you be interested in a sample pack?

12.0 grains of 2400 seems to be the go-to load in my Rem 788, and this load has won the NCBS 2004 and 2005 scoped/group match. The RCBS Cast Bullet Manual shows a range of 13.0-15.0 grains of 2400, FWIW. This year's was 1.02" @ 100 yards in a mild Washoe Zephyr. I'm guessing these run about 1650-1700 FPS, because I'm too lazy to chrono the loads. They tip rats over right well to 100 yards or more, which is why I arrived at NCBS this year with barely enough to compete with.

Lemme know, sir.

[BlueMoon]

For the .243, I've had good accuratcy with the Ly. 85grn gc bullet and 21.5grns H4198 for around 2200fps. Load would hit to about what the scope was set at for jkt bullets at 50yds.

Bill

[Castboolitpreacher]

Hi Deputy Al, Yessir I would like a sample pack, but want to pay you for this kindness. I have no idea what the bore dia. is so use your best judgement. Send your address and I will immediately send a check or POMO. THANKS ps. Send the address and $amount by private email, if you wish. mmlester@magnolia-net.com I will J-B the bore and get the rifle ready. Castboolitpreacher

[Castboolitpreacher]

Thanks for the info Bluemoon. I am writing it down (I don't trust this computer storage file stuff) for future use. Another Arkie huh? Thats great. I've noticed several users from Arkansas and Louisana. Castboolitpreacher

[Gunload Master]

Thanks for the info Bluemoon. I am writing it down (I don't trust this computer storage file stuff) for future use. Another Arkie huh? Thats great. I've noticed several users from Arkansas and Louisana. Castboolitpreacher

Actually this is really secure. Backups are automated about twice a week from the database itself, and I do a full database backup about once a week. Also, if the database ever gets somewhat corrupt, it can usually be repaired within minutes. So overall the information that you post here is very good. If anything extremely bad happens, at most we will loose maybe 2 days of posts. But that is very rare.

Sorry, just had to throw in my 2 cents and a half eatin potato chip.

[Castboolitpreacher]

Gunload Master, Sorry I didn't clarify my statement. I do trust the board file system, but was speaking of my own computer. My hardrive got wiped out a couple of years ago by a worm and I lost everything. I do thank you for the comeback and will delve into the archives when time permits. Castboolitpreacher