Great casting session

[stubert]

I just cast a couple of hundred bullets with my new mold, an RCBS 35-200fn for my new to me 35 marlin. I started weighing them ,the lightest 204.6 grains the heavyest was 205.2 after weighing over 30 I stopped. every bullet was within 1/2 grain. What a nice mold , Now to load them up.

[piwo]

That is nice consistency.

I can't get that precise with my pure lead and big conical/ ball moulds. I get the overwhelming majority within 2 grains of each other, but will always have a few on either extreme by 2 or 4 grains. I don't know if those are the first cast with a mould that's not up to temp or what, but I've never cast 50+ boollits without at least a couple grain spread from high to low.........

[Bigscot]

Stubert,

What is your alloy? Did you air cool or quench? I just received the same mould this week (for the same gun/caliber) and am waiting to try it out. The weather is not cooporating. I use straight ww and sometimes put in some tin.

Bigscot

[GrizzLeeBear]

Stubert, that's the first bullet I started casting with for a 35 Rem. Marlin and 357 Herrett Contender. Great mold!
Bigscot, I cast it out of air cooled WW with a little tin (lead free solder) to aid fill out. Its very important to slug the bore on the Marlins. Some of them can be .359 or even .360. Size the boolits to bore size or a hair bigger. I was lucky, my bore is slightly smaller than .358. I size to .358 and I get NO leading with a full charge of H4895 and about 1 1/2" groups at 100 yds.
Also, the Marlins tend to have short throats. I have to seat the bullets so case mouth is just below the top of the driving band and use a Lee factory crimp die to crimp it there. Do some searches, lots of good info. here on the 35 Rem. and Marlins.

[stubert]

I am using #2 alloy, or close to it. 9lbs ww + 1lb 50/50 soldier. bhn is about 16. I use the same alloy for my 458 Lott. and get no leading at 1950 with a 475 gr. gc. They are air cooled.