Projectile Weight

[Wrbjr]

Lee 175 Grain 40S&W Flat Nose. 401.175-TC. Casting mostly between 177.0-180.0 grains after tumble lubing and sizing. First time casting this mold. I have eliminated the few that were lighter and a couple that were heavier. I have about 90 rounds total. Does this weight grouping sound consistent enough? 3 grain spread ....

[Hardcast416taylor]

Depending on what alloy you are casting with, boolet weight can vary in either direction. As to your weight, I would say that is normal.Robert

[Tatume]

My advice would be to load your rejects and shoot them too! If you can demonstrate that the weight differences caused an accuracy difference, then you're a champion shooter.

[Bucking the Tiger]

I have a 6 cavity version of this mold which I cast for my brother's SIG 229. With the alloy I use they end up around 180 grains+or-.
I size them at .401, use TAC 1 bullet lube($1.50 stick) and they shoot great. I hope you have similar results.

[Wrbjr]

I have a 6 cavity version of this mold which I cast for my brother's SIG 229. With the alloy I use they end up around 180 grains+or-.
I size them at .401, use TAC 1 bullet lube($1.50 stick) and they shoot great. I hope you have similar results.

Thanks... I plan on putting them through the chrony... and looking for decent groups... trying not to be anal about it.... but it's easy to get crazy

[Wrbjr]

My advice would be to load your rejects and shoot them too! If you can demonstrate that the weight differences caused an accuracy difference, then you're a champion shooter.

hmmm.... you might just have a point. I'm coming from the angle of wanting to avoid over pressure on the 40 due to big swings in weights...

[Tatume]

A few grains of weight isn't going to matter if your loads are reasonable to begin with.

[JSnover]

At a nominal 175 grains, 3 grains amount to less than 2%. Cast'm up and shoot'm. As you hone your technique, you will probably cut that in half.

[captaint]

I agree with tatume and Mr. Snover. A couple per cent diff in weight don't mean a thing. Go and shoot em up. I know with me, the problem is always ME... Mike

[Wrbjr]

As to technique, I have found I am doing much better now with the use of the Lyman ladle dipper. Had a lot better quality this way rather than using the bottom pour. And not so good with the ladle until I began using the rotate 90 degrees then pour method. Then I was casting some keepers right away. So it is a learning curve... from the ingot to the range.

[Tatume]

I don't like bottom-pour pots. The only reason I ever use one is when I cast pure lead muzzle-loader bullets, I like to cover the surface with pine sawdust because otherwise it oxidizes so badly. All the rest of my bullets are cast with a ladle.

[Shiloh]

My advice would be to load your rejects and shoot them too! If you can demonstrate that the weight differences caused an accuracy difference, then you're a champion shooter.

+1
This does not however, include deformed boolits. If mine have a good base and a decent nose, they get loaded.
I'm a little more picky with rifle boolits.

Shiloh

[Wrbjr]

+1
This does not however, include deformed boolits. If mine have a good base and a decent nose, they get loaded.
I'm a little more picky with rifle boolits.

Shiloh

Exactly my thoughts. I look at the nose and the base... and if there is a slight wrinkle or so... I let it pass. After adding Sn, the wrinkles have greatly reduced and the flow is excellent. I was a bit surprised at the temperatures required for the pour. I find myself at 725-750... and get frosting if it slips upwards of 800 before I have to regulate it downward. For some reason I was thinking closer to 650 would have been the sweet spot. Still trying to get a handle on the switch positon of the pot, but as the volume reduces I would have to say it probably will vary downward. I usually start out at 7 or so with a mostly full 4-20 Lee pot.

[Tatume]

Frosted bullets are good bullets. You should run your pot and mold temperatures such that light frosting occurs, and you'll be assured of good fill-out.

[Wrbjr]

Frosted bullets are good bullets. You should run your pot and mold temperatures such that light frosting occurs, and you'll be assured of good fill-out.

Never knew that. Will crank it up a bit and see if I can hold about 770 or so. Should be right on the edge of it.

[MtGun44]

The weight variation of 3 grains is less than two percent. This is not relevant to almost
all pistol ammo.

Bill

[Wrbjr]

The weight variation of 3 grains is less than two percent. This is not relevant to almost
all pistol ammo.

Bill
Good to hear. I cast 90 rounds and only culled out about 5 for weight, so most are right in the correct range so far. Thinking of loading up some BlueDot to start with.

[Tatume]

Never knew that. Will crank it up a bit and see if I can hold about 770 or so. Should be right on the edge of it.

Frosting is more related to mold temperature than pot temperature. To run the mold hotter cast faster, to run cooler cast slower. By cast faster I mean cut the sprues, dump the bullets and refill the mold more often per unit of time. Pot temperature plays a role too, but it is less important.

P.s., I learned this particular tidbit from CBrick. Thanks.

[Wrbjr]

Frosting is more related to mold temperature than pot temperature. To run the mold hotter cast faster, to run cooler cast slower. By cast faster I mean cut the sprues, dump the bullets and refill the mold more often per unit of time. Pot temperature plays a role too, but it is less important.

P.s., I learned this particular tidbit from CBrick. Thanks.

Ahhh... I get it. Seems like it would be a more efficent way to control the heat anyway. The pot potentiometer is very slow to move the thermometer up or down. Thanks. The more I learn the more I feel that there is a science to this but every bit as much is art or feel.

[tazman]

Ahhh... The more I learn the more I feel that there is a science to this but every bit as much is art or feel.

More than you would ever believe. Also a great deal of luck such that when you happen onto the perfect combination, you can actually recognize it, and repeat it. Consistency in this is often difficult. Too many variables.

[Wrbjr]

Test fired a round into a milk jug filled tightly with sand through the bottom. Recovered this from the top of the jug as soon as I pulled the cap off. 179 grains... now 135 grains. At least it didn't disintegrate. 7.2 grains BlueDot.



http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/40008_zps092adf80.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/40008_zps092adf80.jpg.html)

[Wrbjr]

A shot through a Tom Clancy novel. Again with starting load of 7.2 grains of Blue Dot.

Starting at 179 grains... ending again at 135 grains.

A bit of disintegration or small lead particles around the base of the round were found in the book.

Book 2.5" thick... hardback edition. Round found approx 1.5 " in.
http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/ClancyLead7_zps2cf5e596.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/ClancyLead7_zps2cf5e596.jpg.html)

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/CLANCYBOOK7_zps0c2abf9a.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/CLANCYBOOK7_zps0c2abf9a.jpg.html)

[whisler]

Was the Tom Clancy novel attacking you:kidding:

[Wrbjr]

Was the Tom Clancy novel attacking you:kidding:

Yes, he bored me in chapter 38. He paid the price. Now he has lead poisoning.... ha ha

[whisler]

He bored you so you bored him right back! I LOVE IT!

[quilbilly]

I am surprised they aren't a little heavier. Most of my Lee boolits run about 6-7% heavier. Not complaining since they shoot well. My 45 200 gr RNFP is consistently about 215 gr. and the 358 150 gr. RN is consistently around 157-8 gr.

[Wrbjr]

I am surprised they aren't a little heavier. Most of my Lee boolits run about 6-7% heavier. Not complaining since they shoot well. My 45 200 gr RNFP is consistently about 215 gr. and the 358 150 gr. RN is consistently around 157-8 gr.

They were heavier until I alloyed up this batch with Tin and Antimony. I think they were running low 180's before I added into the mix with the alloys. My 38 molds by Lee run heavy as well. But again that was pretty much with straight WW. Have not tried any with Antimony added in yet.

[tazman]

All my Lee molds run heavy except for one. It is a 358-150-rn that drops consistently at 147gr and a diameter of .357.

[Wrbjr]

Hit ole Tom Clancy again today with a 7.6 grain Blue Dot load. This time we went from almost 3/4 through the book to almost exiting the back hardcover. Some fragmentation. 179 grains in... recovered about 150 total.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/76013_zps8addaf81.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/76013_zps8addaf81.jpg.html)

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/76012_zps5ea94964.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/76012_zps5ea94964.jpg.html)

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/76010_zpsa8260958.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/76010_zpsa8260958.jpg.html)

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/76007_zps231dcd4a.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/76007_zps231dcd4a.jpg.html)

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y441/bryan578/76006_zps2159dbfe.jpg (http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/bryan578/media/76006_zps2159dbfe.jpg.html)

[Wrbjr]

Well we off to the range, chrony in hand. Gotta time these puppies for real time data. We shall see what we shall see.

:cbpour: