What temp??

[Vance in Ak]

I've never had a casting thermometer before but intend to start playing with the new one from RCBS that I have.
Jusr curious, when casting large boolits (400gr) from WW alloy what temp do you guys shot for?

[243winxb]

780* for alloy. Mold temp 450*

[That'll Do]

The largest boolits I cast are 250gr ones for my 44 Special, and I find that 700F works fine. I don't have a way to measure my mold temperature, but I do preheat them on a portable electric burner set to "medium", whatever that may be.

I cast with WW w/ tin added.

[RobS]

Alot depends on what your mold is made of.............iron, aluminum, brass, etc. It also depends on your casting technique and if you are ladle pouring or casting from a bottom pour.

A bit more info can help us give you a better temperature range for your intended purpose.

[LAH]

This changes from mould type, alloy & casting method. These below from another thread were cast using a bottom pour pot & three 4 cavity moulds at 800 degrees.

[Humbo]

650-700 degrees works for me.

[LAH]

Which mould is that Humbo?...........Creeker

[excavman]

Nice castings LAH and Humbo, looks like 429421. Like many other things we do in the shooting sport use moderation and play it by ear, too hot gets frosty, too cold won't pour. The temperature depends on what you're casting at the time and the alloy and how fast you are working.

Larry

[MtGun44]

No, I think that is the 454424, Elmer's .45 Colt boolit.

Bill

[RobS]

Yep I think Humbo's is the 454424 GB designed by one of our forum members

[Humbo]

It's the one and only RCBS 45-270 SAA. Alloys was between 650 and 700 degrees, I was casting fast and cooling mold just a little on a wet sponge after every 3 pours.

[RobS]

I have cast the 45-270-SAA and it's a nice bullet and I had pretty good results from it. I know have moved to LFN bullet design and have had more versitility. Good cast pics Creeker and Humbo.

[Wayne Smith]

To get back to the original question, I'm ladle casting and the big 45-70 and 500 S&W molds do best between about 780-820. I don't have near the temp control I'd like and mine often fluctuates about that much anyway.

[RobS]

Yes back to the question..............as a general here...............iron molds will cast with a bit cooler alloy temp as iron holds heat better than aluminum. That is why Humbo was casting at 650 to 700 degrees with an RCBS 45-270-SAA Iron mold. I bottom pour cast 300 + grain 45 cal bullets at 800 ish degrees with aluminum molds. We don't know what Vance in AK is working with exactly except big bullets (400 grains) and WW alloy. When we hear more from Vance in AK then we can all chime in on what may help him.

[Humbo]

That is true, iron molds are more forgiving as far as temperature is concerned. When casting with aluminum molds I usually ramp it up 50 to 100 degrees compared to iron molds, but I still try to keep the temp as low as possible. I don't like frosted boolits, I get smaller variations in weight when they're all shiny.

[jimmeyjack]

I haven't been casting long, but I noticed the things Humbo says is right on with what I have found.

[LAH]

It's the one and only RCBS 45-270 SAA. Alloys was between 650 and 700 degrees, I was casting fast and cooling mold just a little on a wet sponge after every 3 pours.

Been a while since I cast with mine, guess I forgot how good they looked.

[KYCaster]

I thought I cast some pretty nice boolits till I saw these pix, now I'm embarrassed.

Great looking boolits, guys.

Jerry

[Vance in Ak]

Thanks for the input guys.
Pretty wide range of temps here. 650-820.
My mold is a LEE double cavity.

[Marlin Junky]

760F is a good place to start if you are using an RCBS ladle and a single DC Al mold.

MJ