First casting session

[BlackIce05]

So, I've been reading various books, websites, forums etc. for about a year to make sure I got a decent start to casting boolits. Well, the time finally got here that I could actually melt some alloy and see what kind of damage I could do. All in all I think it went fairly well, I realized the temp control on my little Lyman pot is a joke, and for some reason I require a hotter alloy temp than some others have mentioned, 700 seemed to work perfectly(when I could get the pot to hold it there). I only had to throw back the first 4 boolits, after that they straightened right up. I do need to work on my ladle skills some, I seem to get some off and on with holes in them, from what I can find that's due to turbulent pouring? But, in an hour or two I had 112 boolits that look usable to me. But, being my first time, I was hoping some of you more experienced casters can look at the pics and see if there's an obvious problem that I don't know to look for. So, I'm actually open to and hoping for a little helpful criticism, aside from my lack of photography skills, I just could not get any pics without a glare, I'll try again after bit when the sun starts down. I believe that at the very least, I'm off to a very good start and it's all due to the knowledge and information I've been able to find through this forum.

http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m575/BlackIce05/Cast%20Bullets/9mm%20LEE%20first%20cast/20170212_130233.jpg

(http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/BlackIce05/media/Cast%20Bullets/9mm%20LEE%20first%20cast/20170212_130233.jpg.html)http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m575/BlackIce05/Cast%20Bullets/9mm%20LEE%20first%20cast/20170212_130340.jpg (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/BlackIce05/media/Cast%20Bullets/9mm%20LEE%20first%20cast/20170212_130340.jpg.html)

(http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/BlackIce05/media/Cast%20Bullets/9mm%20LEE%20first%20cast/20170212_130233.jpg.html)

[TexasGrunt]

Let the mold set a little longer before you cut the sprue. Or cool the mold on a wet cloth. Your sprue cut should look shiney.

[slohunter]

Looking good, now your hooked like the rest of us. Enjoy!

[RickinTN]

They look good. The only thing I think I can say, and I hope some folks sharper than myself respond, Is it appears you may be cutting the sprues a little soon and they are tearing instead of cutting. I have problems with this myself and find it difficult to cut them at just the right time with different molds. Your bullets look good! Let us know how they shoot.
Take care,
Rick

[BlackIce05]

Thanks for the tips on cutting the sprue, honestly that doesn't surprise me a lot, I know I've read here that getting a rhythm is important, and I couldn't stop watching the thermometer. I know on a few I waited too long because I couldn't cut the sprue by hand, had to tap on the sprue plate with a mallet. As for shooting them, unfortunately that'll be a couple more weeks I'm afraid, have some PC coming from smoke, then I still have to get something to size them. I just couldn't wait any longer, had to get out there and make something.

[runfiverun]

a little tear like that means nothing.
you could wait another second or two but your opening them by hand and feeling the same cut pressure means your going the same speed.
going the same speed means your mold is hanging out in the same temp zone.
finding a comfortable tempo will pay off a lot more than worrying about a little tear in the base of a pistol boolit.