BillyBoolit
01-18-2019, 03:45 PM
Background-
I've been casting pistol boolits since I was a kid, roughly well... a fed decades. I have been using lee 6 cavity molds and crank them out in large numbers. I'm not super anal about my boolits, I usually cast for quantity over quality. That said I've always been pleased with my end product. After casting, I powder coat them with a shake and bake method and then run them through my Star Sizer. The only limitation is how tired my arm gets as they fly through the sizer. I've casted 9mm, .40 and .45. The last few years it has been range scrap cleaned into ingots, then into the 20lbs drip o matic.
The problem-
I recently purchased a NOE 5 cavity, aluminum 402-181-RN. I cast about 1800 and walked away. When time allowed I cam back and tried to run them through the sizer and ****! They were TIGHT, so TIGHT I slugged a few in the sizer. Ok, so I read and learn they get harder for a few days after casting. So I cast a few and as soon as I can handle them I try them in the sizer, and while they go through, they are only slightly less tight. They are measuring around 4035 404ish and I'm trying to get them down to the 401 sizing die I have. Keep in mind this is W/out powder coat. ALL my other lee bullets get coated and then sized like **** through a goose.
Can anyone tell me what is going on with this new mold and why they are throwing so large? I have not changed the temp/aloy/or the casting socks I wear. I would simply go back to my lee mold but that is a TC and I want the RN (and I spent a c note on the NOE.
I apologize if this has been covered, I know it probably has, but I've read and read and read and can't figure this mold out. Any help would be appreciated.
I've been casting pistol boolits since I was a kid, roughly well... a fed decades. I have been using lee 6 cavity molds and crank them out in large numbers. I'm not super anal about my boolits, I usually cast for quantity over quality. That said I've always been pleased with my end product. After casting, I powder coat them with a shake and bake method and then run them through my Star Sizer. The only limitation is how tired my arm gets as they fly through the sizer. I've casted 9mm, .40 and .45. The last few years it has been range scrap cleaned into ingots, then into the 20lbs drip o matic.
The problem-
I recently purchased a NOE 5 cavity, aluminum 402-181-RN. I cast about 1800 and walked away. When time allowed I cam back and tried to run them through the sizer and ****! They were TIGHT, so TIGHT I slugged a few in the sizer. Ok, so I read and learn they get harder for a few days after casting. So I cast a few and as soon as I can handle them I try them in the sizer, and while they go through, they are only slightly less tight. They are measuring around 4035 404ish and I'm trying to get them down to the 401 sizing die I have. Keep in mind this is W/out powder coat. ALL my other lee bullets get coated and then sized like **** through a goose.
Can anyone tell me what is going on with this new mold and why they are throwing so large? I have not changed the temp/aloy/or the casting socks I wear. I would simply go back to my lee mold but that is a TC and I want the RN (and I spent a c note on the NOE.
I apologize if this has been covered, I know it probably has, but I've read and read and read and can't figure this mold out. Any help would be appreciated.