Cast boolit weight question

[Targa]

Hi all, I recently picked up a Lee 2 cavity 400 grain 476 mold. I am very happy with the mold but would like an idea on how to up the weight on my boolits, they are dropping between 382 and 384 grains instead of the 400 Lee has it listed as. My alloy is close to Linotype with 15 lbs of wheel weights and 5lbs of Foundry type alloy and I am running my lead between 700 and 720 degrees in my pot.
It’s really not a big deal I guess but if I could get it closer to that 400 grains I would do it.

[Ozark mike]

All ya can do is put more pure pb in the mix but your casting temps might need to come up to compensate

[Targa]

Sounds good, you confirmed what I was kind of thinking.

[Ozark mike]

I guess you could center drill it and put a tungston core but thats alot of hassle:bigsmyl2:

[Conditor22]

targa How fast are you going to puch these boolits that you need linotype?

https://i.imgur.com/XJyXxfE.png

the softer (purer the lead the heavier the boolit, also the lower the casting temperature the less boolit shrinkage after casting

adding a little tin/pewter and having the mold preheated to 400 ° before you start can help with getting good fill out at lower temperatures

[Winger Ed.]

Those weights are made with exactly their alloy recipe, in their labratory-ish conditions.

"Your mileage may vary".

[charlie b]

I seem to remember that Lee molds were made for COWW alloy to get the specified weight. Adding the foundry metal is making the bullet lighter.

[Targa]

Honestly Conditor22, its the exact alloy that I decided on for my .454Casull which I am running at 1750 FPS with a 240 grain boolit. The .475 Linebaugh (that’s what I am loading for) I look at pushing in the neighborhood of 1350ish FPS. I also forgot to mention that I am water dropping the boolits as well, I figure I am just over 18 BHN with my boolits.

Edit: Thanks Charlie B

[Ozark mike]

Ya can run pure lead if ya want at 1300 fps the only problem will be more expansion on impact. I have ran ww @ 1900+ fps without issue in 45-70s just size smartly and ya will be fine with coww

[Targa]

Sounds good Mike thank you, I really didn’t realize I could do that without problems, I am fairly new to casting so any help is always appreciated. As for more expansion, its a non issue with me, I just like plinking around.

[Ozark mike]

I guess i should mention some powders burn hotter than others i dont know if it is related to pressure or if it is the nitro content supposedly lilgun is famous for gas cutting along with other powders i dont own to many high pressure guns most of my stuff is blackpowder compatable

[Targa]

My .454, .475 and full throttle .44mag only get H110/296. My light to low end .44mag rounds get Universal.

[onelight]

I don't think I have any molds that the finished ready to load bullets are the exact weight the mold maker listed. some are a little heavy some a little light , I have not found it make any practical difference .

[Cast_outlaw]

I run mostly lee molds and they drop within one or two gr of the list weights with coww +a bit of tin