Knowledge Level "0" Need in Need of Information

[cbrick]

Yep, a cookie cutter in a cake of lube will work fine for pistol boolits.

I just read your post #11, did you order a .357" diameter sizing die? A minimum .358" would be better, cast boolits aren't like jacketed and you'll want/need .001"-.002" over groove diameter and if a revolver you'll need to size to the throats.

Rick

[Jr.]

Yeah I haven't ordered it yet but I did size my revolvers the other day one came out at .356 and the other at .357 so I will change that sizing die out to a .358 I just haven't been able to find a Lee that size yet just about everything is on back order so I've been collecting lead and reading as much as I can get my hands on in the mean time.

[guncheese]

also you dont waste lube pan lubing
as you remelt everything thats left over after you cut the cake
its suprising how little lube the boolits take and how much you remelt

[Jr.]

So I have another newbie question I sorted all my wheel weights got the zinc out and began melting them down in my cast iron pot I started slow on the temperature just in case anything slipped by in the sorting skimmed all the steel and crud off then fluxed twice with sawdust but when I was pouring my ingots I noticed there was still crud in the mix also when I put the pot back on the burner it went almost immediately to glowing so my question is if I get my pot too hot is there any possibility of having iron come off in the melt

[Wayne Smith]

Take it from me, if you are using a cast iron pot you will get some rust in your melt. It is inevitable. Your are burning off anything that will stop the oxidation. It's not a big issue for ladle casting, most of it stays at the bottom of the pot. When you stir it up you take it out with the sawdust. Not a big deal.

[MtGun44]

Welcome!

1. Read Glen Fryxell's book.

2. Read the stickies.

3. Buy your equipment

4. Start casting.

5. Ask questions here.

Bill

[Greg B.]

Can't add much to the above postings except that it is not always necessary to size and you can hand lube. While I usually use an RCBS lubrasizer, my Lee 45/70 boolits come from the mold the correct size (or at least a size that my rifle likes) so I use them as cast. To lube I take some 50/50 beeswax/alox lube (old NRA formula) and work it into the lube grooves without getting any on the bottom of the bullet. Works OK for small batches of bullets if the bullets cast in the right size and will fit in the cases.

[Jr.]

So I finally got out to test my first boolits today cast from a Lee two cavity 158 swc mold alloy is straight air cooled ww dropped at about 160 grns sized with a Lee .358 sizing die lubed with 50/50 beeswax liquid allox placed in front of 3.6 grns of P38

Based on my offhand accuracy they did pretty well at 25 feet the spread from both my revolvers was 2 to 3 inches like I said I'm not much for offhand but was pleased with the results

[Wayne Smith]

More importantly for your first use of cast, what did your barrel look like after shooting? If you have a clean barrel and are moderately satisfied with your accuracy you are well ahead of the game! Finding the best load for these boolits may be your next challenge. Their process in the barrel is very different than the condom bullets and the best load for them may not be the best load for your boolits.

[Jr.]

Yeah after checking the bores on both there is very minimal leading but some deposits that look like small chunks of lube left over is this common?

[Bzcraig]

Take heed of all suggestions, find a good shrink and a 12 step program.

[Jr.]

[DLCTEX]

A good lube for sizing in the Lee push through is Dawn dish soap. It washes off easily and you will have really clean boolits to start pan lubing with.

[Charlie Two Tracks]

I use a cake lube for my .358's and I also use LLA from lee. Using the Lee stuff, just put a very little in a baggy and once you squish them around for awhile, then throw them on a piece of aluminum foil and let dry. There is a sticky about using 45-45-10 lube that some like and some hate. I think it is very quick way to lube but I also use carnuba red on some of my speedy boolits. Have fun, experiment and enjoy a very good hobby. Be careful of melted lead. It is usually at about 700 degrees and that is twice as hot as something coming out of your kitchen oven. It will burn fast and deep.

[Jr.]

Be careful of melted lead. It is usually at about 700 degrees and that is twice as hot as something coming out of your kitchen oven. It will burn fast and deep.

Yes I have learned this while pouring ingots I had my pot too cold and the lead hardened on my ladle before it could be poured so as I went to dip the ladle back into the pot to remove the clinger it slipped off into the pot splashing lead all over.... Glad I had my welding equipment and a face shield on.