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Thread: Ran a little roundball today

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Ran a little roundball today

    I made it out into the yard today and poured a few .440 roundballs for the Seneca. I thought I had almost a lifetime of roundballs poured up and then I go and add a new caliber. But it's a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Here's a couple of snaps as I was getting started.



    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  2. #2
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    pretty much my setup, too. love running balls as much as shootin' 'em.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy

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    Cast over 1500 .457 rb for my ROA revolvers last week. Something to do inside in the basement when weather is nasty outside. Weather has been really wet during Feb. Just need to shoot more.

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    Boolit Grand Master
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    owejia - What kind of ventilation system do you use?

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    great way to be able to cast indoors during the winter doldrums, here's mine ...

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
    Boolit Bub
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    Everyone I know that pours, has a rusty coffee can in their "tools".

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Regular Joe View Post
    Everyone I know that pours, has a rusty coffee can in their "tools".
    True! That rusty coffee can is actually for the dross and scum that forms. But there is a newer, only slightly rusty, coffee can just off the edge of the photo that has my pliers, sprue plate lube, Q-tips, allen wrenches and spare ladle in it. I'm a "two coffee can" man.
    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  9. #9
    Boolit Bub Nit Wit's Avatar
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    Casting sure helps to keep the cost of shooting down!
    Nit Wit

  10. #10
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    Unless you have to order the pure lead!

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Most who have cast for a long while know where to buy their lead at reasonable prices. And too know what hardening alloys to be on the scout for. As many of those alloys are found in unusual items & places.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master

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    This particular lead was from a couple of roof vents that somebody gave me because they knew I cast. They found em in an old shed on their property and were going to toss them, but the woman said "Wait, I know a guy who shoots one of them old guns and he uses lead like this".
    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  13. #13
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    I ran some 0.535's today. My first go at round ball, what a hoot, cut sprue, and ball fell out of mould did this 60 times. Really nice with pure lead, also did some split shot while I was at it.

    Off topic question. How do you clean up the ball to get the nubbie off the ball from where the sprue was cut?
    Steve,

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  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I like your ventilation system

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Minerat View Post
    I ran some 0.535's today. My first go at round ball.......
    off topic question. How do you clean up the ball to get the nubbie off the ball from where the sprue was cut?
    Most just load it sprue facing up. There are some who will put them in their tumbler to smooth them out, but I think nearly all just shoot it sprue first. I haven't read any test that showed that it affected the ball's flight at all.
    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  16. #16
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    Thanks Beagle I have only used commercial till now so had not run across this. Boy I wasn't looking forward to cleaning them up.
    Steve,

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  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Put them in a shoe box and keep them in the trunk of your car for a couple weeks. They'll be round!
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Wayne Smith View Post
    Put them in a shoe box and keep them in the trunk of your car for a couple weeks. They'll be round!
    Better yet, put em in a box in the back of your wife's car. (if she accelerates and brakes like mine, it'll only take two days!) LOL


    (This really does work. But pick a box big enough that your round balls only cover about 1/3 of the bottom, so they can roll freely and bump against each other)
    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Update on the testing.....

    Okay, I put my money where my mouth was and gave em a tumble in my little 3# Lortone tumbler for an hour. And I stand corrected.... these little balls do NOT smash themselves flat like the bigger .540 balls that I'm used to. They do smooth out a lot, but they don't get store-bought ball smooth. They just aren't heavy enough to bang out the high spots.
    I still just shoot mine with the sprue up as cast, but if you wanted em to be smoother, you could probably tumble them in with some heavier balls, say .580-.620 and get the results you want. But just to put a pile of .440s in a tumbler, I don't know if they'd do better if they tumbled longer, but here's an hour's worth.
    First pic...
    As cast:


    And second pic, as tumbled:
    KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.

  20. #20
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    QUOTE=Beagle333;4317745]Better yet, put em in a box in the back of your wife's car. (if she accelerates and brakes like mine, it'll only take two days!) LOL[/QUOTE]

    You're trying to get me killed. Or cost me a bunch of money when she takes it to the shop for repairs.

    and yes she has 2 modes of travel drag race acceleration or panic stop. Oh I forgot and slalom course turns in between. Hope SWAMBO doesn't see this or I may not be back.
    Steve,

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