Today's casting session

[novalty]

Well the weather wasn't the best this morning, and windy this afternoon. So I decided to finish casting from 45's for a family member that traded me some lead for some cast boolits. Decided to take some pictures today. The boolits were cast using a M-P 452-200 4 cavity brass mold, which is dropping 215gr. FN with COWW's.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0751_zpsf013664b.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0751_zpsf013664b.jpg.html)
Preheat the mold on a cheap hot-plate.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0753_zps564274ff.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0753_zps564274ff.jpg.html)
Here is my water-drop setup. Not really for any additional hardness benefit, just to keep them on one place--plus I don't see how many I've cast until I'm ready to call it quits.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0754_zps0e163a05.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0754_zps0e163a05.jpg.html)
Found the boolits cast nicely from these Mihec molds at around 700-725° (almost there.)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0755_zps7b6d414b.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0755_zps7b6d414b.jpg.html)
Sorry for the fuzzy picture of the sprue
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0756_zps3c981f2e.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0756_zps3c981f2e.jpg.html)
Better picture of the cut sprue.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0758_zpsf10a103f.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0758_zpsf10a103f.jpg.html)
Finished product
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0759_zpsb58f24df.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0759_zpsb58f24df.jpg.html)
Sorted out any that didn't pass inspection, and lined up the rest next to my RCBS LAMII for sizing and lubing (Total of 636). Not too bad for a couple hours.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/novalty1970/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0762_zps24f1d830.jpg (http://s100.photobucket.com/user/novalty1970/media/Reloading/Casting/DSCN0762_zps24f1d830.jpg.html)

[osteodoc08]

Those look real nice. How do you like your RCBS pro melt?

[novalty]

I love my RCBS Pro-melt, it is a great working unit. The large capacity makes it nice casting these 200+ gr. Boolits in a 4 cavity mold.

[Calamity Jake]

You need to get some Bullshop sprue plate lube it will get rid of the lead smears on top of your mold blocks.

[Walter Laich]

great mold but just a bit heavy for me after carpal tunnel surgery in left wrist. Still, I get quite a few cast before have to stop

[Pb2au]

That is some productivity!
I like the towel coffee can arraignment, consider that idea stolen. :D

[BruceB]

Do a Google search for "BruceB Speed Casting". .

A 4-cavity Lyman typically gives me 800-1000 bullets per hour, with no loss of quality.

Two-cavity moulds normally yield 400-500 per hour.

[novalty]

Hello BruceB,

This was only my fifth or sixth casting session. I tried to speed up my process awhile back, which is part of the reason I ended up with the lead smearing on the top of the mold and the bottom of my sprue plate--as I cut the sprue before the melt had solidified enough. I have found with these Mihec molds, I really have to stick with 1 mold per casting session. I don't really shoot a lot, and don't mind taking my time casting, and my rheumatoid arthritis usually tells me when I need to quit.

Pb2au, honored that someone else likes one of my half-fast techniques. My improv fender washer clearance for the pins on the M-P mold work pretty good too, just wish they didn't scratch up the bottom of the mold. But then again, I bought the mold to use it.

After this past session I have found my Lee mold handles have decided to part ways like I have read about. Not sure if it will work or not, but I used some Gorilla glue, and put some on the metal inserts, and slid them back in, and put a bead around the top after they were fully seated. Time will tell if the glue can stand up to the heat and wrapping on the cross bolt.

[Calamity Jake]

"After this past session I have found my Lee mold handles have decided to part ways like I have read about. Not sure if it will work or not, but I used some Gorilla glue, and put some on the metal inserts, and slid them back in, and put a bead around the top after they were fully seated. Time will tell if the glue can stand up to the heat and wrapping on the cross bolt."

Go to the hardware store and get some 1/16" roll/spring pins and a 1/16 drill bit, drill thru the wood and metal then pin
them on.