My First Accurate Mold! .401

[Tpb10505]

Well, my first mold ever really as I'm brand new to casting. Its a 200gr for my Glock 22 w/ Bar-sto barrel. It looks amazing and I cant wait to try'er out. Tom, thanks for putting up with me lol, it definitely wont be my last AM!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a244/Tpb10505/IMG_0281r.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a244/Tpb10505/IMG_0283r.jpg

I'd planned to replicate Lyman #2 for my boolits, but I'd sure like some advice on my decision. Thanks!

-Tanner

[JeffinNZ]

That is a very purty mould!

[ShootNSteel]

I for one am interested in your load development. I have been playing with my .40 cal Glock but haven't had the "Ah Ha!" golden light bulb in the head moment yet.

[knifemaker]

I got one from Tom for my 41 mag. 3 cavity brass for a "Keith" style 220 gr. SWC. I love the way it casts and it drops perfect boolits at the dia I requested. As for your alloy, if you need to stretch your alloys, I am using 50/50 clip on wheel weights/pure lead with 2% tin added and they are very accurate and no leading in the barrel at a velocity of 1350 fps in my Ruger Blackhawk. They are 10 bn after setting 2 weeks.
I use the same mix for my 45 ACP 1911 and again excellant accuracy and no problems feeding on a 200 gr. trunacated cone type boolit.

I preheat the mold on a lab type ceramic hot plate and get perfect boolits from the first cast with my pot running at 700 degrees. When sorting I only have to throw out about 2% as long as I am paying attention to my casting and making sure I get a good puddle on the cut off plate for perfect base fillout. Most of the ones I throw out is due to me cutting the sprue too soon and pulling metal out of the base. I am sure you will love that mold and will have fun with it making your own boolits.

[Tpb10505]

Here we are!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a244/Tpb10505/IMG_0290c.jpg

Mirror shiney. They drop at .402-3 which is what I requested and are coming right in at 195gr. I figured it'd be better to be over and run them through the sizer than to order it right at .401. Now the real load development can get started. I'll be using N340, and will either be using 4.3 or 4.4grs depending on the velocities I can get.

[Oreo]

They look real nice!

[bigboredad]

those are good looking bullets and your design looks like it should be a good shooter

[Tpb10505]

Does anyone else hate how sticky the Lee Liquid Alox is? and is it really necessary for the Lee Sizer?

[warf73]

Does anyone else hate how sticky the Lee Liquid Alox is? and is it really necessary for the Lee Sizer?

I'm guessing so here goes.
You are putting too much Alox on at once, very lite coats goes along ways with that stuff.
Lee sizer just needs some lube on the boolits to keep from galling up the die, and also it takes less pressure to run thru the die when lubed.
No you don’t have to use Alox as the lube you can use any lube you like. Just make sure what you use wont deteriorate powder or primers aka. WD40 is bad, a light coat of case lube works.

Look at pan lubing or even use 45/45/10 for your new boolits. I would pan lube since that boolit has a big honking lube grove.

If you pan lube, lube first then run thru the die and your ready to load. Going the 45/45/10 route lube with it first then run thru the die and then apply it again (light coats each time) then load.

Side note for Alox and 45/45/10 make sure its dry before you try running the boolits threw the sizing die.

[Tpb10505]

Well my first go at pan lubing sucked. I thought I was making too much and ended up being not enough to cover the lube grove b/c the pan was so large. I was using 51% beeswax, 45% Alox 350, and 4% Carnauba flakes that didnt melt. Makes me want to run out and get a lube/sizer immediately but ill probably give it another go first lol.

[Elkins45]

I knew you didn't own a lubrisizer as soon as I saw the picture of your mold. Most people I know who lube with an "in-out" sizer wouldn't design a boolet with a bevel base. I have the RCBS 200 grain .40 and it has a bevel base---I have a heck of a time keeping lube off the base.

[popper]

Thin the Alox or use recluse and tumble. 98/2/0 works in my 40.