Just how bad is frosty?

[fanner 50]

:Fire: I am having a lot of fun casting my own. I am curently fighting the big C and find that the time I spend preparing to cast and all takes my mind off all other things. I am going to build a 303 Brit Scout rifle for my grandson(don't have a grandson yet) in case I don't ever get to show him how to shoot and hunt his dad can tell him his grandpa made him this rifle and ammo. Anyway I have noticed that when my castings come out shiney they are not sharp and when they come out a little frosty they are sharp and clean. I have my own version of hardness testing, I set a ready to shoot sample on an anvel and hit it as hard as possible with a 2# sledge. I go for no more than 50% compression and no seperation. If they stand up to that I figure they will work. So far so good and I didn't have to spend any money on a tester I already had the sledge. I am using Lee molds and spray them with "drop out" before a casting session. I don't mind the frosty look but I would like to know what might be the cause. I am mixing wheel weights with a piece of 95.5 solder and like I said the bullets work just fine. Inquireing minds want to know! Thanks in advance and for all the other help I have received in getting started. -

Sincerly - F50

[Freightman]

A little to hot is why they are frostie! I do not care that mine are frostie as long as they hit where I aim. I judge a boolit by the fill out and the sharpness of the base, I believe that the base is the most critical part of a boolit if it fills out properley the rest will more than lickley be ok.

[454PB]

I purposely keep the temperature high enough to produce light frosting on my WW alloy boolits, it assures me that they fill out well. It doesn't hurt a thing, and if you want them shiny, the frosting can be polished off after they are seated in the case.

Good luck with your health problems!

[Dale53]

MY experience is if the bullet is "frosty" all over it doesn't hurt a thing. However, if it is frosty in a localized area it generally indicates a "low spot" - not good.

Frosty all over just tells you that the temp is a bit too high. I generally aim for just below that condition. Keep in mind that the alloy will determine what temp that "frosty" will occur. Different alloys get frosty at different temperatures.

Dale53

[bishopgrandpa]

Frosty hurts nothing as has been said and I think they look better than shiny. Each to his own. They will shoot fine.

[Andy_P]

Adding 2% tin would probably give you the fill-out you need at a temperature that won't frost the bullet, but as said, the frosting doesn't hurt anything but their appearance.

[jonk]

Could also be the mold release agent; too much of it will coat the mold with graphite resulting in a frosted appearence as well, and lack of sharpness. Which is why I HATE the stuff.

[1Shirt]

Paco Kelly seems to think that frosting in the grooves helps lub to adhere to the blt. I tend to agree. Not very scientific, but think it is somewhat logical.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[wills]

Bad Frosty
http://www.prawnsoda.co.uk/illustration/images/frosty1.gif

[ron brooks]

Wills, :-)