Cag40Navy
08-17-2013, 11:46 PM
I am always amazed by this forum. Even since I joined earlier this year, I have been able to learn new things. Today was my chance to actually learn the basics in how to cast under BrassMagnet. (Im only 18 with no parent to do this with.) We first met just last Thursday at a food drying class after finding out about it from him. We planned for Friday but it ended up being today. (Plus, I promised I would write this up.) So the adventure started at 0930 today by driving the maybe 3-4 miles to his house from mine. I brought with me my 30-06 brass in which he serviced for me so I cant thank him enough. When I got there, he fixed me a cup of coffee. So after bs'ing for a while, he got things set up and showed me the first couple times with all the pointers, then he set me off while he was working on my 30-06 brass. Before I was set off, he taught me how to put lead into the pot and how to flux it. Pretty simple process once you've seen it. Then, I was set off on the molds making boolits.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2463.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2463.jpg.html)
BrassMagnet's set-up I worked over for a few hours. Molds from left to right: 7mm, 100-year old 32 cal, another 32 cal, 4 cav 30 carbine mold.
I was able to get great results with the 32 cal molds but the dang 7mm was being a PITA. With the single cavity molds, I did pretty good once the things heated up. I even got to work with a 100-year old single cav mold. It was just awesome to be able to do what my great-grandfathers and grandfather have done before and to be able to work with a piece of history was amazing.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2456.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2456.jpg.html)
7mm Boolits with the 4 types together below them. Don't think my mold was warm enough. (L to R: 30 Carbine, 100-year old 32 cal, other 32 cal, 7mm monster...)
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2458.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2458.jpg.html)
These are the 100-year old 32 cal boolits. Had some trouble with it but it was still fun to work with.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2457.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2457.jpg.html)
These are the other 32 cal boolits. These came out the best of all the 1 cav boolits I worked with.
So after working with the single cav molds, BrassMagnet came out and asked if I was ready for the 4 cav 30 Carbine mold. I said yes as I wanted to give that one a spin. Now this was "much" heavy than the 1 cav molds (for a few minutes anyways.) After some more instruction from Brass, I was pumping out 30 Carbine boolits at a very quick rate once I was in pace with the mold and the pot. I hope whoever may be receiving these boolits likes them and they are useable. This was a much easier mold to knock the Spru plate off and made more boolits more consistently than the 1 cav's.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2459.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2459.jpg.html)
Whoever you are getting these, I hope you like them as much I like the 4 cav mold. These came out the best of the ones I did today for the most part. Love the shape and man I could pump these puppies out once I got in rhythm with the mold.
So after a few hours of casting, me and Ms. Brass talked for a little while and I also got to talk with Brass as well. I am very glad they had ice and water as it made things much better. Afterwards, I got to pick some free produce and not only did I get to walk away with 30-06 brass and fresh food, the 32 cal boolits will be used in my grandfathers gun this December. He owned a 32 Win Spl. This December when I get back home, he will teach me how to lube and size boolits. Till then and probably for a while, I will not be able to get anything to be able to cast on my own because I cant afford it so being able to cast with Brass will be the only way I can do it for now.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2453.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2453.jpg.html)
More up-close picture of the 4 types of boolits I casted today.
He taught me all the in's and out's of basic casting and how to tweak and lube the molds. He even gave me tour of his place which is pretty cool and has inspired me and given me ideas as to what I need to do. BrassMagnet is one of the nicest guys I have met period. I hope we continue to work together for the years to come. Im evening going to take him up in Marksmanship lessons. (God knows I can use some help in the area.) All in all, im going to stay in contact with him for the years to come and hope to develop a friendship for as long as well.
All in all, I freaking love to cast. Even though it was hot, I sweated, it took my mind of the total clusterf**k right now and refocused me, relaxed me, and I had way to much fun doing it! It has made my life better and made me refocus and clear my mind. It was just as enjoyable as shooting. I am now sitting here in my nightware, after one of the best days I have had in a long time to compliment an already good weekend. I want to personally thank BrassMagnet for taking me under his wing and teaching me how to cast, and many thank you's to this forum. I honestly can not thank him enough for what he did for me and look forward to December.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2463.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2463.jpg.html)
BrassMagnet's set-up I worked over for a few hours. Molds from left to right: 7mm, 100-year old 32 cal, another 32 cal, 4 cav 30 carbine mold.
I was able to get great results with the 32 cal molds but the dang 7mm was being a PITA. With the single cavity molds, I did pretty good once the things heated up. I even got to work with a 100-year old single cav mold. It was just awesome to be able to do what my great-grandfathers and grandfather have done before and to be able to work with a piece of history was amazing.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2456.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2456.jpg.html)
7mm Boolits with the 4 types together below them. Don't think my mold was warm enough. (L to R: 30 Carbine, 100-year old 32 cal, other 32 cal, 7mm monster...)
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2458.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2458.jpg.html)
These are the 100-year old 32 cal boolits. Had some trouble with it but it was still fun to work with.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2457.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2457.jpg.html)
These are the other 32 cal boolits. These came out the best of all the 1 cav boolits I worked with.
So after working with the single cav molds, BrassMagnet came out and asked if I was ready for the 4 cav 30 Carbine mold. I said yes as I wanted to give that one a spin. Now this was "much" heavy than the 1 cav molds (for a few minutes anyways.) After some more instruction from Brass, I was pumping out 30 Carbine boolits at a very quick rate once I was in pace with the mold and the pot. I hope whoever may be receiving these boolits likes them and they are useable. This was a much easier mold to knock the Spru plate off and made more boolits more consistently than the 1 cav's.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2459.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2459.jpg.html)
Whoever you are getting these, I hope you like them as much I like the 4 cav mold. These came out the best of the ones I did today for the most part. Love the shape and man I could pump these puppies out once I got in rhythm with the mold.
So after a few hours of casting, me and Ms. Brass talked for a little while and I also got to talk with Brass as well. I am very glad they had ice and water as it made things much better. Afterwards, I got to pick some free produce and not only did I get to walk away with 30-06 brass and fresh food, the 32 cal boolits will be used in my grandfathers gun this December. He owned a 32 Win Spl. This December when I get back home, he will teach me how to lube and size boolits. Till then and probably for a while, I will not be able to get anything to be able to cast on my own because I cant afford it so being able to cast with Brass will be the only way I can do it for now.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/raptoreaglephotos/100_2453.jpg (http://s591.photobucket.com/user/raptoreaglephotos/media/100_2453.jpg.html)
More up-close picture of the 4 types of boolits I casted today.
He taught me all the in's and out's of basic casting and how to tweak and lube the molds. He even gave me tour of his place which is pretty cool and has inspired me and given me ideas as to what I need to do. BrassMagnet is one of the nicest guys I have met period. I hope we continue to work together for the years to come. Im evening going to take him up in Marksmanship lessons. (God knows I can use some help in the area.) All in all, im going to stay in contact with him for the years to come and hope to develop a friendship for as long as well.
All in all, I freaking love to cast. Even though it was hot, I sweated, it took my mind of the total clusterf**k right now and refocused me, relaxed me, and I had way to much fun doing it! It has made my life better and made me refocus and clear my mind. It was just as enjoyable as shooting. I am now sitting here in my nightware, after one of the best days I have had in a long time to compliment an already good weekend. I want to personally thank BrassMagnet for taking me under his wing and teaching me how to cast, and many thank you's to this forum. I honestly can not thank him enough for what he did for me and look forward to December.