Got a Devastator mould

[armoredman]

Hi, long time no yak at, too hot to cast, etc.Well, it's FINALLY cooling off, and I was able to spring for a new Lyman 124gr .356 Devastator hollow point mould. Anyone ever use one of these? Expensive little buggers! Any tips for casting hollow point boolits? I'll get to actual casting in a week or so, schedule change from hades at work.

[MT Gianni]

I've got one. I had trouble getting fill out with the large pin and had Buckshot make me a couple more. I didn't like the expansion with the smaller diameter pins. I have only shot it in a 9. Get the pin hot and keep it hot to keep filling the boolits front edges, especially with WW. Gianni

[GLL]

I cast them VERY hot with extra Sn and at a very rapid pace ! :)

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/EB2EEFBED537F5E/standard.jpg

[armoredman]

Dumb question - Sn = tin? Also, how does this dadgum thingie WORK? They sent just the generic mould instructions.

[HeavyMetal]

Using the devastor can be a challange, I use two when I cast one for the 9 and one for my 45.

The handle set up is pretty much standard Lyman single cavity. However once you start casting you'll find that pin in the bottom a pain to deal with.

I set up a small "wishbone" arrangement that each mold would fit into when turned sideways this way I could fill one set it down to cool and fill the other. You will have to watch the sprue plate more closely as you don't want to trun the mold while it's still liquid.

The next thing you'll want to deal with is keeping the pin hot and clean! Some coat hanger wire bent in a loop over the pot will allow the pin the set in the alloy while dumping your boolit. Be aware this means you will have to cast with a fairly full pot to keep the pin in contact with the alloy.

Because these are single cavity molds and require a lot of handling I use a dipper pot when I make hollow points.

You'll also find that you'll need to run a bit hotter than usual to get these molds to fill correctly.

[crabo]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=25156

[jameslovesjammie]

GLL,

What diameter do yours drop at? I would like to try some in the .357, but I don't want a .356 boolit.

[nighthunter]

I have the 44 caliber version. I cast at a higher temperature and cast at a higher rate of speed. Casting fast I sometimes have to clean the top of the mold and the bottom of the sprue plate of alloy that accumulates from cutting the sprue too soon. These bullets are worth the extra effort and work. They shoot well and they expand as well as j bullets. I cast mine of a 50/50 mix of WW and range scrap. I have no leading problems useing Felix lube at 1300 to 1400 fps. I've wacked a few PA groundhogs with this bullet and performance is great. I hope to try it on a whitetail soon.

Nighthunter

[GLL]

The bullet illustrated is also a 44 GC version. The Devastator series moulds are some of the most difficult HPs to work with because of the large HP cavity and thin edges to fill out. It takes a dozen or so cycles to get things working well and everything up to temperature. I agree with heavymetal that they are most conducive to ladle casting. Pressure filling helps as well.

Jerry

[armoredman]

Just got a regular lead pot, may try ladle casting, then. Thanks!

[wills]

Dumb question - Sn = tin?

Yes

http://www.rfcafe.com/references/general/periodic_table.htm

[Alchemist]

Have only cast a few HPs so far...but I had good luck putting the pin over a sterno flame to keep it hot while dumping the boolit. I followed the suggestion of casting as fast as possible, which seemed to help.

Good luck.

[armoredman]

Thanks, wills, high school chemistry was a loooong time ago.:)

[beagle]

I know that when I fire mine, I can hear a distaing very faint "whistle" from them as they head down range. Don't know what's with that./beagle

[shotman]

If you have a bottom drop pot [mine is a lee 20] the mold with the HP er installed will set on the base of the furnace that leaves about an in for metal to drop into the mold. On the 44 it took 10 drops to get mold hot cast next 200 not a miss . 200 is about 3/4 of the pot, with the furnace you can control the temp. I cast remove pin open -drop - install pin- cast and repeat . If you get a set of Lee 6 banger handles it will make things much better. They are longer and that keeps the handles cool. I use the Lee lube and dip mine. rick

[Lloyd Smale]

killed a buffalo with the 44 version. It wasnt my gun of choise for doing that but its what i had when the opertunity arose. I did perform well though but i dont know that i would test it again on an animal that big.

[Leadforbrains]

I have the Lyman .45ACP Devastator mold. I get good bullets by running the melt a little over 700 degrees. I preheat the mold and pin before I start casting. You need to keep the pin hot. Once the mold and pin get up to temp, and I start getting good bullets I don't stop casting until I feel that I have to. Once you get into that zone of everything coming together you can get some really good looking hollowpoints. I ladle cast using half WW and Range lead with enough lead free solder for good fill out.

[IcerUSA]

My hollow point moulds are the only ones I ladle cast for , mould and pin are heated on a hot plate while the lead gets to temp , then I will run the ladle empty per cast letting the hot lead run over the side of the mould and back into the pot , after your timeing gets going and good boolits start droping I can back off on how much lead I let run off the mould . If I feel the pin is getting cold I put the mould and pin back on the hot plate and refill the casting pot , get a drink , have a smoke , ect. , lead back to temp and start again . By no means is it high volume but the boolits are good with few rejects .

Just the way it works for me .

Keith

[armoredman]

Hmm, also interesting, don't have a hotplate, though.

[GLL]

You not have to have the hot plate if you keep up a quick pace and do not pause for any reason!

For me HOT alloy and speed are the key to decent hollowpoints. I find that after a couple hundred I am ready for a break though !

I do love making and shooting HPs ! :) :)

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/D675BFCC841687F/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/006C129A9EBBBB0/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/764FE0DF38E319D/standard.jpg

[jameslovesjammie]

+1 on heat and speed. I've had EXCELLENT results with another Lyman HP mould doing just that. Infact, I had just the fewest rejects with that mould than I have with the non-hp moulds.

Keep the mould and pin hot enough and you won't have any trouble.

[jthomastreadwell]

fine looking boolits GLL, how do they shoot? i bet they shoot as good as they look.

[armoredman]

I won't get a chance to try out my shiney new mould for a while, work schedule is INSANE. Dagnabbit.

[6pt-sika]

I cast and load the 429640HP "Devastater" for a 444 Marlin !

In years past I had used it in the 44 MAG .

Here's a picture of the 429640HP "Devastator bullet after size abd lube ! I cast my from WW's only and aircool .

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0290-1.jpg

As said earlier note the size of the HP in this thing ! I run the mould as hot as I can get it when I cast these ! And then it fills the nose out pretty well ! Usually a 100-150 at a sitting are about all I want to do !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0292-1.jpg



Here's a group I shot with the Lyman 429640HP "Devastator bullet !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0310.jpg

[JIMinPHX]

I won't get a chance to try out my shiney new mould for a while, work schedule is INSANE. Dagnabbit.

That's a good problem to have in light of the current economic situation. I'm fortunate enough to have that same problem right now & I'm thankful for it. Crazy work is why I've been on the board so little in the last few months. Ya've got to make hay while the sun shines...