Largest Casting Session to Date

[1911KY]

Well I decided to see what I could do the other night in a couple of hours. Got everything setup and wiped my Lee 2 cavity H&G #68 clone clean of the lube and got after it! :lovebooli

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140901_023049_zpscxnymfyz.jpg

302 bullets later I decided to call it quits for the night. I ended up with 299 total bullets, as I had to remelt 3 of my casts. I got the mold a little to hot coming off my hotplate and it let some lead slip under the sprueplate and formed a thin shelf at the base on a pair and then I had a fill out issue on another when I tipped the sprue puddle off by accident.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140901_030344_zps8wov8log.jpg

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140901_030428_zpsc3yc8osc.jpg

I think I like casting more than I like reloading. There is just something cool about making something useful out of a hunk of metal. I am thinking about investing in a 6 cavity but it will have to wait as I dropped my mold funds on 3k primers this weekend! Couldn't pass up Cabela's having 20% off...[smilie=p:

[littlejack]

Those look very nice. Let the reloading begin.
Jack

[Tatume]

Good job! Keep up the good work.

[Garyshome]

Need to wait for it to get a bit cooler here in NC, It was 90 something today!

[1911KY]

Thanks fella's.

It was terribly warm here as well, but I started casting at midnight with a fan blowing, so it was manageable.

[RED333]

Yes it can
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac165/redintn/MiHec%20mold/MiHec402_zps663394af.jpg (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/redintn/media/MiHec%20mold/MiHec402_zps663394af.jpg.html)
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac165/redintn/MiHec%20mold/bigpileboolits_zps1a970df3.jpg (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/redintn/media/MiHec%20mold/bigpileboolits_zps1a970df3.jpg.html)

[txsnowman2k2]

them are some good lookin Boolits...congrats...tx.

[jonp]

3 rejects out of 302 is pretty darn good casting. Looks great

[OnceFired]

Those look awesome!

[jwber]

Very Nice! Just finished my largest single session myself.

Was able to cast about 9.75lbs of 130gr 358's in about an hour using my Lee 6 cavity.

Started out with some issues where I was getting some flashing on a couple of the cavities, wiped it down good, tightened the sprue plate screw a bit and re Bull Plated it and about 5 casts later was back in the swing.


No pics though :-?

Hope to PC them in a few days and then back to casting some more...I can't wait till it cools down more.

[bobthenailer]

Nice Job ! you are on your way! reminds me when i started casting about 45 years ago .

You will like the Lee 6 cavity mould ! its more user friendly and will increase your boolet production, so you can spend more time shooting.

I personaly have a Saeco 8 cavity mould for the 068 . usual production 1,200 to 1,400 bullets per hr actual casting time, and another hr spent L/S them with my star

I do not like using two moulds at a time , even if im only using a 2 cavity , too busy for me !

[osteodoc08]

It's definitley addicting. I ended up lubing and sizing about 500 boolits last night. Very soothing and repetitive. Allows for lots of inner thoughts and talking with my Father and My Father.

[1911KY]

I think a 20 lb pot and a couple 6 bangers are in my future! Now to scrounge some more lead...

[osteodoc08]

I think a 20 lb pot and a couple 6 bangers are in my future! Now to scrounge some more lead...

With 2 six bangers going, you'll drain that pot in short order. Better get more alloy for sure.

[McE1911]

They look amazing! you're killing it... Seeing you cast like that is so inspirational to have me started.
:lovebooli

[McE1911]

Yes it can
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac165/redintn/MiHec%20mold/MiHec402_zps663394af.jpg (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/redintn/media/MiHec%20mold/MiHec402_zps663394af.jpg.html)
http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac165/redintn/MiHec%20mold/bigpileboolits_zps1a970df3.jpg (http://s896.photobucket.com/user/redintn/media/MiHec%20mold/bigpileboolits_zps1a970df3.jpg.html)

Red333, what kind of mold is that? Seems like it gives you the option to produce HP & FP at the same time. is that right?

[jwber]

With 2 six bangers going, you'll drain that pot in short order. Better get more alloy for sure.

Seems like you'd have to be pretty quick to not let the sprues cool too much and the mold get cold. My sprues usually frost over in 5secs or less even running my melt and mold pretty hot.

[1911KY]

Seems like you'd have to be pretty quick to not let the sprues cool too much and the mold get cold. My sprues usually frost over in 5secs or less even running my melt and mold pretty hot.

It would be a dance for sure! Pour the first, set it down, pour the second set it down, grab the first and dump and set it on the hot plate. Grab the second and dump and set it on the hot plate. Grab the first and repeat process!

20 lbs would go fast for sure...a hot plate is a must for that kind of process.

[prs]

It would be a dance for sure! Pour the first, set it down, pour the second set it down, grab the first and dump and set it on the hot plate. Grab the second and dump and set it on the hot plate. Grab the first and repeat process!

20 lbs would go fast for sure...a hot plate is a must for that kind of process.

I often cast with two 6 bangers. I run two 20# pots. One as a bottom pour and the other can be plain open pot. When the bottom pour nears empty I ladle hot clean lead from the reserve pot, then ingots into the reserve pot. Works great. Your sequence is close to right, just make sure you fill the first mould, open the spru plate and then sit it on wood. Repeat with second mould, then empty the first. Begin second cycle and so on. By half time you will have more boolits than you can carry in one trip.

prs

[bangerjim]

With 6 bangers, I start pouring and B4 I know it I have 350+ all ready to PC! I just wish Lee made ALL their designs in 6 cav. After using them, the 2 bangers just are not that fast! But still casts a lot of boolits.

Lots of fun.....I tell the wife it keeps me out of the bars and warehouses! HA.......ha.

banger

[osteodoc08]

Lots of fun.....I tell the wife it keeps me out of the bars and warehouses! HA.......ha.

banger


Exactly what I tell my wife.

[jwber]

Your sequence is close to right, just make sure you fill the first mould, open the spru plate and then sit it on wood. Repeat with second mould, then empty the first. Begin second cycle and so on.

To me it seems like the only time savings there would be giving the mold several secs to cool before opening as you still are waiting for the sprue to harden before you cut.

Once you factor in the time to swap molds around I'm not sure. I guess if I saw a video it might make more sense. I'm a big visual person.

[RED333]

Red333, what kind of mold is that? Seems like it gives you the option to produce HP & FP at the same time. is that right?

It has 3 way to cast, small HP, large HP and solid, it is a Mihec 10mm - 200gr WFN / .40s&w - 180gr HP, 4-cavity, Brass mold.
A group buy from the past, I like it so much I have 3 diff weights, 180, 170 and 160 gr.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?171093-Mihec-10mm-200gr-WFN-40s-amp-w-180gr-HP-4-cavity-Brass
We have 7 Glock 40S&W and all of them like it a lot.

[Vinne]

You got it together 1911KY. Got you some great looking refills. And I feel the same way...cast to reload and shoot more or shoot and reload to cast more???

[1911KY]

I speckled a few of them with some DTPC last night.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p628/jamesearnett/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140903_234904_zps3lexmhic.jpg

[rsrocket1]

You definitely want that 4-20 and 6 banger. I did this last month on a nice evening after dinner
115456

I made an even bigger pile last weekend in 2.5 hours of casting. 30 pounds of .40 cal bullets. I should have taken a picture of that, but I have already powder coated half of them and loaded and shot a bunch of those!

[dragon813gt]

Nice work, that's an extremely small cull rate so you were doing everything right. Now get back to us when you produce a batch that numbers in the thousands ;)

[DeputyDog25]

I haven't cast any either as it has been near a hundred here during the day and only drops to the 80's in the evening, got to get cooler for me to before I heat the pot up.

[TXGunNut]

I think a 20 lb pot and a couple 6 bangers are in my future! Now to scrounge some more lead...

Good job! I ordered the TL version of that mould for a trial run, then bought the six banger and cast a REALLY big pile after I decided my Colts liked it. I pulled brass out of everywhere and in short order my 550 had come out of retirement and I had 2K rounds loaded. I don't generally mess with pistol ammo but after spending almost $50 for a short practice session with factory ammo I reached my limit.

[62chevy]

I only do 250 -300 per session and it takes longer than a couple of hours too. Some are saying it's to hot but if the rain would stop then getting 'er done would be easy. Is what it is and can't do anything about the weather.

[TXGunNut]

It would be a dance for sure! Pour the first, set it down, pour the second set it down, grab the first and dump and set it on the hot plate. Grab the second and dump and set it on the hot plate. Grab the first and repeat process!

20 lbs would go fast for sure...a hot plate is a must for that kind of process.

It actually works pretty smooth, just have to establish the sequence and a rhythm. All you're doing is utilizing the downtime you'd spend waiting for the alloy to cool when running a single six-banger. I find it produces better boolits because I'd get impatient and overheat the mould when using a single six-banger.

[Moonie]

Need to wait for it to get a bit cooler here in NC, It was 90 something today!

I'm with you, I'm in need of a bunch of cast, not interested in doing it in my non-airconditioned man cave when it's this hot outside...