WW cast weight variation

[rroberts]

I am a newbie caster, and have a question. I am using a straight ww alloy. I am using an RCBS 45-270-SAA mould. Now as I understand it, that mould should cast a bullet whose weight is in the area of 270 grains. Mine are weighing in at 284-286 grains. Am I screwing the pooch or is this normal?

[TedH]

It's not uncommon. In fact, I don't think I have ever cast a bullet that weighs what the mold makers state.

[rroberts]

I just got a bit concerned when the weight was 15 or so grains over the stated weight.

[**oneshot**]

Unless your using that specific alloy, molded under those specific conditions(ie: air temp, mold temp, alloy temp, etc) there will be variations.

[Cherokee]

My RCBS 45-250 cast out at 268 gr with WW's, the harder the alloy the lighter it will be because of the tin and antimony.

[HORNET]

rroberts,
IIRC, RCBS specs out thier pissola molds from 1:10 tin/lead. WW usually have a much lower percentage of tin so will usually run a little heavier, in your case about 5%. This will vary some depending on the exact composition of your wheel weights, casting technique, and phase of the moon (or something). Nothing to worry about unless the weight difference from an earlier batch is bothersome. Then you get into big batch blending techniques.

[NVcurmudgeon]

Hornet, guessing from your location, is your avatar a woodchuck? Looks a lot like California ground squirrels found in a lot of California and Nevada. They are also found around and under my house. When found in the open, these sage rats often find out just how accurate a CZ .22 LR is.

[Sundogg1911]

each mold manufacturer uses a different alloy for their molds. My boolits have never been the same as what the mold company says. This is normal.

[HORNET]

NVcurmudgeon,
Yep, woodchuck it is. I saw a couple out running about a couple weeks ago but I think they're hiding out until it stops snowing again. I usually try to wait until later in the spring before shooting any so the young ones can survive on their own, but sometimes have to stop then from digging in problem areas.
As a side note, my Grandma says they're delicious if you get them before they get old and tough. She raised 7 kids through the Depression so she'd know.

[Scrounger]

NVcurmudgeon,
Yep, woodchuck it is. I saw a couple out running about a couple weeks ago but I think they're hiding out until it stops snowing again. I usually try to wait until later in the spring before shooting any so the young ones can survive on their own, but sometimes have to stop then from digging in problem areas.
As a side note, my Grandma says they're delicious if you get them before they get old and tough. She raised 7 kids through the Depression so she'd know.

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

[jhalcott]

scrounger
, A woodchuck would chuck about as much as a wood chuck could chuck IF a wood chuck could chuck wood!
got it?

[Dan308]

The April issue of Handloader mag has an article on this very mold. The author mentioned that his bullets came out at about 284grains also.

[pdawg_shooter]

So what's wrong with 284grs anyway? Im a firm believer that bigger is better !

[rroberts]

I tried them in my Ruger Blackhawk over 8 grains of 231, and they were fine. Didn't have my chrono with me, but no flattened primers or sticky cases. Thanks for the help guys.

Rusty