Egg Shaped Sized Boolits

[farmer66]

I've been messing with a short OAL needed to pass the Plunk test using the Lee 230 TC boolit. I should have returned the mold, but I've been bull headed and refuse to give up. The mold started out dropping boolits that measured .448 to .455 diameter as measured just above and below the parting line. I tried to realignment the halves by scraping, them lapping the cavities and got it down to .451 to .454 diameter. I cast 50/50 WW/PB, water quench, waiting a month to size. Using a .452 sizer die (diameter confirmed by plug gage) I get a .451 to .4535 boolit. Using a .451 sizer, I get a .451 to .4525 boolit. It appears the boolit is strong enough to egg shape the sizer by slightly more than .0015 inch. Using the .451 sized boolits, I can increase the OAL to 1.20 from 1.16 inch and pass the Plunk test.

I think the lesson is to cast rounder boolits, or size right after casting, maybe even not water quenching?

Hopefully someone will fine this interesting, or correct my conclusions.

Ken

[Calamity Jake]

Try sizing right after casting or drop the water quench. If you need them hard, oven heat treat after sizing.

[44man]

I had some egg shaped from one of my molds and found a locating pin moved in and the blocks wiggled to cast off center. Hammer and punch fixed it.

[JohnFM]

Got way more patience than me.
If the usual checks and adjustments didn't get the mold casting right, I think I would have asked to return it.