Casting bullets: Like the pinball wizard

[michiganmike]

It just occurred to me that casting bullets is like the deaf, dumb and blind kid in the old song by The Who, "Pinball Wizard." Feel, intuition, becoming part of the process of casting good bullets is not unlike the pinball wizard of the song. Though I use a bottom pour Lee pot, I'm sure even a supple wrist is a necessary asset for those who like to ladle.

153872


He stands like a statue,
Becomes part of the machine.
Feeling all the bumpers
Always playing clean.
He plays by intuition,
The digit counters fall.

That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball!

He's a pinball wizard
There has to be a twist.
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist.

'How do you think he does it?
I don't know!
What makes him so good?'

Ain't got no distractions
Can't hear no buzzers and bells,
Don't see no lights a-flashin'
Plays by sense of smell.
Always gets a replay,
Never seen him fall.

[shredder]

Nice analogy! I love it. "casts by sense of smell" Hee Hee!

[Blackwater]

There's an element of that in any art, which is part of the casting process, but mostly, it's just about observing keenly, and then figuring out what could have caused any defects or deficiencies in our bullets, and also the loads you put together using them. It's ultimately a very objective process, but DOES have some elements of art and instinct involved in it as well. Kind'a takes the best of both worlds, really, and like all art, the more you do of it, the better you get at it. Just my 2 cents' worth, anyway.

[swamp]

I was showing a friend how to cast with a bottom pour. He was having a hard time developing a rhythm and asked why it looked so easy when I did it. I told him it was a matter of doing it a lot. After a million times? it is muscle memory, you don't think about. It is practice. Don't admire the pretty boolits while you cast.
swamp

[Bigslug]

HAR! The Who, as pertains to bullet casting! HAR!

I'm glad it's not just me; whenever I hear their "I Can See For Miles", I think of a sniper looking through his Leupold:


I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

If you think that I don't know about the little tricks you've played
And never see you when deliberately you put things in my way

Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Beacuse all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

You took advantage of my trust in you when I was so far away
I saw you holding lots of other guys and now you've got the nerve to say

That you still want me
Well, that's as may be
But you gotta stand trial
Because all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

The Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal are mine to see on clear days
You thought that I would need a crystal ball to see right through the haze

Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Beacuse all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
and miles and miles and miles and miles

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles

Gotta go rock out now. . .Later!