bullet weight shortage

[pahandgunhunter]

I had my second session casting session today.
I'm using a Lee mold. and UNKNOWN lead alloy.

I'm casting 407-408 gr consistantly with my mold. It's a 440 gr mold though. Can my alloy be that far off? Or my mold that far off?

I'm looking on line to see what the density is of the different lead-alloys. I'm going to assume that pure lead weighs the most per cubic inch, and the alloys would weigh less.

Just some newby questions........
I would like to be assured the the mold is correct, I dont want to be chasing an alloy if the mold will never produce a 440 gr to begin with.

Thanks,

Bill

[HABCAN]

Bill, what is the LEE mold # stamped on the side of the blocks? What caliber are you casting?

[mooman76]

It could possibly be off that far but like the others said need more info. The mould coul be of a little and if it is a mould intended for use of soft lead allot are rated by the weight of pure lead which will make the bullet heavier also. Off hand I can't think of a mould by Lee that is rated at that but there are some out of production and I may not be thinking of what you have.

[wiljen]

only current Lee mold with a nominal weight of 440gr is the 500 S&W. C501-440-RF

I don't have one so can't attest to what weight they cast.

[pahandgunhunter]

500 S&W. C501-440-RF
is absolutly correct

[454PB]

Yes, pure lead casts heaviest, the more antimony and tin, the lighter. For a 440 gr. mold to cast that light, it would have to have quite a bit of antimony. Most of my Lee moulds cast very close to advertised weigh using wheelweight alloy.

[GLL]

The differential between pure lead and linotype for a bullet that size could be in the 35-40 grain range !

Jerry

[pahandgunhunter]

I had another casting session this am with the 500 S&W. C501-440-RF. Went to tire shop and got wheel weights. The bullets casted out at 439 or 440. What a difference! I never would have believed that it could be that much off based on alloy alone. GLL hit it on the head. Don't know what alloy I had but I dicarded it.

It was a little discouraging, starting out like that.

Thank you all for your input.

Regards,

Bill

[Calamity Jake]

"Don't know what alloy I had but I dicarded it."

You should keep this alloy , it will make a good enrichment metal to make your WW harder.

[Echo]

+1 for don't discard! Get it back! Lino (if that is what it is) is great for enriching WW's or pure lead. Don't worry - your store of alloy will grow naturally, and a supply of lino/whatever will come in handy.

[454PB]

As an example for comparison, I cast a few hundred Lee .457-340-RF today. The alloy was 50/50 pure lead and monotype. They weigh 315 grains, measure .459" to .460", and measured 19 BHN. In straight WW alloy, the same boolit weighs 340 gr., mics .457, and the BHN is 14.

[bandit7.5]

lead with zinc casts lite boolits

[Bob Krack]

I'm using a Lee mold. and UNKNOWN lead alloy.
I'm casting 407-408 gr consistantly with my mold. It's a 440 gr mold though. Can my alloy be that far off? Or my mold that far off?
I'm looking on line to see what the density is of the different lead-alloys. I'm going to assume that pure lead weighs the most per cubic inch, and the alloys would weigh less.
I would like to be assured the the mold is correct, I dont want to be chasing an alloy if the mold will never produce a 440 gr to begin with.
Thanks,
BillBill,
Good question and many good answers. You answered your own question very well.

On another note, I cast five boolits from the same pot of alloy with the following results from Lee moulds...
C429-240-SWC -- cast at 247gr instead of 240
C430-310-RF -- cast at 307 gr instead of 310
C452-300-RF -- cast at 306 gr instead of 300
TL452-230-TC -- cast at 242 gr instead of 230
452-255-RF -- cast at 247 gr instead of 255

Not complain'n (at least not much) but gives credence and interest in your question.

Vic