Round ball sprue removal

[GregLaROCHE]

Has anyone tried putting round balls in a vibrating tumbler to remove the sprues?

[rancher1913]

use a tumbler not a vibrator, you can not even see the sprue mark.

[mooman76]

I have also heard of people putting them in a big flat metal tin like cookies come in sometimes. Put them in your vehicle and drive around like for a week. The rolling around in the tin will get rid of the sprue. The sprue by the way doesn't make a noticeable difference when firing. Just load sprue up.

[cwlongshot]

Why not just seat them spire up??

257576

This is one of my snake loads. But even in a smoker it’s the same deal. Spure UP.

CW

[rfd]

there's absolutely no need to get anal about ball sprues - just cut the sprue as flush as possible and put it up or down in the patch.

[Beagle333]

I have tumbled mine until it wasn't noticeable, but found it made zero difference in my accuracy. I didn't think it would, but I really love my tumbler. :wink:

[dondiego]

I just read a thread here that said that if there are any minor voids in the ball they are usually up around the sprue. That is a good reason to keep the sprue visible to ensure that you load it up and keep any void centered to help accuracy.

[rodwha]

If it’s in a revolver set the spruce sideways and the chamber will take care of it.

The nearly sprueless Lee is why I like their molds.

But I have also read of people tossing them in a tumbler to good effect. Oh, as rancher said, skip the vibrator, it takes too long. Tedious that way... :mrgreen:

[Golfswithwolves]

It has been pointed out that you should leave the sprue alone, otherwise you do not know for sure which is the front of the bullet.

[LAGS]

When my Ball Mill from HF is not being used for milling my BP , I tumble the lead balls that I cast.
It removes the Sprue or should I say , it rounds it over.
But the nice thing is,
If there are any Voids , they show up as dimples.
The balls sometimes come out a couple thousands smaller than when cast.
But seem to be almost true round balls.
Guys at the range thought I was shooting Swadged lead balls.
Accuracy did seem consistent , and faster to load , since I didn't have to look for the Sprue.

[TCLouis]

My RB molds are Lee and there is little to no sprue.

[rfd]

i've had many high dollar custom ball moulds of iron, brass and aluminum, and for me the best moulds (and the cheapest) are still from lee.

[Edward]

i've had many high dollar custom ball moulds of iron, brass and aluminum, and for me the best moulds (and the cheapest) are still from lee.

2nd what Rob said cheap can be good :drinks:

[hylander]

Just load Sprue up.
Tumbling to remove the sprue will make no difference in accuracy.

[indian joe]

Just load Sprue up.
Tumbling to remove the sprue will make no difference in accuracy.

the whole point of tumbling (or whatever) to remove the sprue - is to remove the need for loading sprue up (and to still keep the accuracy level) loading is much quicker and easier if ya can just forget about the sprue (or - some blokes get around that by using a ball block that they preload with patches and spru up ball.)

[toot]

sprue's can get anal-just as said put em in up or down. not rocket science. that is the only two choices that one has? it is a fact of casting, goes with the turf.

[bob208]

been shooting muzzleloaders since 85 have always loaded sprue up. I also use a lot of lee molds.

[megasupermagnum]

Has anyone tried putting round balls in a vibrating tumbler to remove the sprues?

I've been putting my buckshot in a HF rock tumbler. It does a pretty good job of concealing any bump. I have no idea if it helps accuracy/consistency or whatever, but it allows them to stack in a shotgun shell easier.

[LAGS]

I also tumble my Buckshot cast in a Lee mold.
I seems to load better , and you don't have to rattle it around in the shell to get all the shot to settle.
besides , the bag of shot looks better and not like a clump of mis shaped hunks of lead.

[T-Bird]

+1 for the Lee, my .530 mold that I just got leaves more of a smudge than a sprue.

[longcruise]

Tumbler not needed. The vibrator works fine if it's one layer mi us a few balls.

[Squeeze]

I dont think it matters either way. Ive done both, and cant tell a difference. I figure if theres a void at the sprue, during tumbling, that sprue nub goes somewhere. Its either peaned into any void, or plated all around the sphere.

[725]

Sprue up and setting the ball (ball starter / ram rod) resolves any sprue issues.

[rfd]

Sprue up and setting the ball (ball starter / ram rod) resolves any sprue issues.

OR better yet, get a Lee ball mould and not have any sprue. Honestly, so far there is no better ball mould than a Lee, just cast, cool, load.

[indian joe]

OR better yet, get a Lee ball mould and not have any sprue. Honestly, so far there is no better ball mould than a Lee, just cast, cool, load.

yes to that !!!

Pedersoli comes close but five times the price - cast iron - not near as easy to use - The lightweight of the LEE is very kind to my wrists.