Small moulds!

[NVScouter]

so is .223/.224 the smallest moulds out there?

I'm looking at downsizing my ground squirrel/coyote rig to a .204 ruger or .17Fireball.

a quick search showed nothing, any ideals on how a caliber smaller than .223 at 2K+ FPS would work?

[7-30 Waters]

Without going custom the answer is yes.

[shooting on a shoestring]

.22 is pretty darn small for casting. I've cast with 225415 and 225438. The boolit diameter is fairly close to the sprue hole diameter and its real easy to screw up the bases by tearing or smearing. I will guess that there is a lower limit to how small a hole you can pour lead through before surface tension brings in problems. If you do come up with a smaller caliber mould, I'd love to hear how you get along with it.

[NVScouter]

would swaging or plating help?

[Slowpoke]

On the recommendation of w30wcf I had a special sprue plate made for my 22 moulds with
.07 sprue holes, it works slick with ww+2%.

So maybe the lower limit would be .06 -.04 :)

good luck

[felix]

No, you got it right. About 06-07. ... felix

[pumpguy]

I have a hard time keeping those small moulds hot enough. I think smaller would be next to impossible.

[floodgate]

Lyman at one time made a double-cavity mould for 0.185" round balls (Lord knows what for!) I picked one up many years back and - once I got it warmed up - it cast OK from my 10-lb SAECO bottom-pour pot. So, it CAN be done. Most custom makers set a lower limit of .25 cal. on lathe-bored moulds. for obvious reasons.

floodgate

[Wayne Smith]

Aren't there moulds for air gun pellets, or all of those swaged?

[andrew375]

I've got moulds for .177 and .22 airgun pellets.