greenjoytj
06-02-2019, 01:20 PM
What diameter does the RCBS mould 45-270-SAA drop at?
I know the fresh out of the mold diameter is dependent on alloy used and the casting temperature, but maybe some members can give some examples of the diameter they got with the alloy and casting temperature they used with this mold.
Here’s what I’ve been doing:
I’m casting for my Ruger New Vaquero’s and have used a LEE 452-255-RF-DC and a SAECO #955.
The LEE mold cast with 20:1 and sized in my Redding Lubri-sizer, it shot very well.
I liked the LEE mold/bullet so much I bought the 6 cavity version but haven’t had time to cast with it yet.
I just received a Lyman 4 cavity #452664 RNF mold that I am looking forward to casting with.
Last summer, using some free mystery metal with the SAECO #955.
It dropped good example bullets at .4562” that weighed 265 grains.
I got a lot of rounded base edges and frosting.
Frosting is supposed to be a sign the melt is too hot and or the mold.
I thought the high heat would not create rounded base edges just the opposite.
The large bullet diameter was not fun to push into the .452” sizer die.
It was very hard to to get the bullet started straight to avoid smearing out the crimp groove on one side of the bullet.
The mystery metal didn’t help with mold fill out and my LEE hardness tester measured 7.8 to 8 BHN.
Maybe it needs a little tin added?
I may have to size the 955 down in 2 steps with the H&I dies.
My LEE push sizer didn’t work very well because a lot of lead would get smeared past the bullet base edge.
The uneven curtain of lead hanging from the base is not easy to slice off and not damage the base edge.
Next time I cast all the SAECO 955 are going back into the furnace for a do over.
I’ll cast just a few hundred examples to test measure and try sizing them again.
I think the 955 bullets are for pre-war Colts with large bores.
I know the fresh out of the mold diameter is dependent on alloy used and the casting temperature, but maybe some members can give some examples of the diameter they got with the alloy and casting temperature they used with this mold.
Here’s what I’ve been doing:
I’m casting for my Ruger New Vaquero’s and have used a LEE 452-255-RF-DC and a SAECO #955.
The LEE mold cast with 20:1 and sized in my Redding Lubri-sizer, it shot very well.
I liked the LEE mold/bullet so much I bought the 6 cavity version but haven’t had time to cast with it yet.
I just received a Lyman 4 cavity #452664 RNF mold that I am looking forward to casting with.
Last summer, using some free mystery metal with the SAECO #955.
It dropped good example bullets at .4562” that weighed 265 grains.
I got a lot of rounded base edges and frosting.
Frosting is supposed to be a sign the melt is too hot and or the mold.
I thought the high heat would not create rounded base edges just the opposite.
The large bullet diameter was not fun to push into the .452” sizer die.
It was very hard to to get the bullet started straight to avoid smearing out the crimp groove on one side of the bullet.
The mystery metal didn’t help with mold fill out and my LEE hardness tester measured 7.8 to 8 BHN.
Maybe it needs a little tin added?
I may have to size the 955 down in 2 steps with the H&I dies.
My LEE push sizer didn’t work very well because a lot of lead would get smeared past the bullet base edge.
The uneven curtain of lead hanging from the base is not easy to slice off and not damage the base edge.
Next time I cast all the SAECO 955 are going back into the furnace for a do over.
I’ll cast just a few hundred examples to test measure and try sizing them again.
I think the 955 bullets are for pre-war Colts with large bores.