Raining Boolits

[justindad]

I always got frustrated when people talk about their molds raining bullets. I’ve had to beat the fire out of my molds to get the boolits dropping - it’s the bottle neck in my casting. I just had my first experience raining boolits. I used a five cavity Al NOE-454-255-SWC mold, lead was around 780F, alloy was 50/50 COWW/SOWW that I fluxed with Root Kill (0.2oz per lb of lead). At first I was beating the mold, noting sticky cavities so I could polish off burrs, wondered if this would be a mold break-in session with little output, and then quite suddenly it started raining! I got 150 boolits in a hour (including the warm-up), and letting the spruce plate cool was my bottle neck. Hopefully this mold performs like this from here on out.

[Winger Ed.]

Molds are like Grandma's old cast Iron frying pan.
They have to season, and get better with use.

I've got a RCBS 2 hole for 190gr .45s.
I've probably dropped a 5 gallon bucket full of boolits out of it.
Now, I can see them turn loose of the mold when I just barely open the handles.

[Minerat]

I just got a Lee .452-200 6 cavity from a member here. He said it cast very well and it does. I took it out of the box, it looked clean so I set the PID at 720 and when it reached temp I started casting, no cleaning, just lubed the spur plate, pins and hinge points. I culled 17 out of a run of 162 before I had to go in for dinner. It just rains them too.. I have a number of 4 cavity NOE and Mihi that do the same thing but this one the boolits just drop out then you open it shake, close and fill. No tapping it at all. Orygun trained it well.

[Greg S]

Borrowed a brand new NOE 402-197 4C off a member here and there was no question when it had finally broken in. My first experience in a rain storm. ; )

[Springfield]

justindad: In my experience a 5 cavity should really put out more than 150 in an hour, more like 400. Try cutting the sprue sooner. With most of my LEE 6 cav and Accurate Molds 5 cavs I can do 5-600/hour on a normal basis.

[Land Owner]

Springfield is right. I get more than 150 from a single cavity mold in an hour, including a whack to the handle bolt to open. One every 15 seconds (or less), 3 to 4 per minute, for 60 minutes, is closer to 200.

[slim1836]

Y'all are killing me. I don't get near that many due to having to rehydrate often.

Slim

[John Guedry]

If you're going that fast,it ain't fun anymore.

[T-Bird]

Agreed!

[Dusty Bannister]

I don't agree, because when things are running right, and you can add an ingot once in a while and just keep running, it is hard to stop for any reason. That to me is fun. And your castings can be amazingly consistent.

[Finster101]

I don't agree, because when things are running right, and you can add an ingot once in a while and just keep running, it is hard to stop for any reason. That to me is fun. And your castings can be amazingly consistent.

I agree with this. I get in to a rhythm when it's going good and that is quite enjoyable.

[Rickf1985]

I don't agree, because when things are running right, and you can add an ingot once in a while and just keep running, it is hard to stop for any reason. That to me is fun. And your castings can be amazingly consistent.

I am guessing you don't have severe arthritis in your hands. I can go like hell for a little while but then my hands really start to hurt. I have found it is much better to pace myself and I can go all day that way. I even have a couple 6 cavity Lyman steel molds I can use if I take my time, I have learned to keep a piece of wood in front of the pot and I rest the edge of the mold on that when I knock the sprue and open it. The wood does not draw the heat out.

[Finster101]

I'm certainly not knocking anyone who enjoys a slower pace. This is supposed to be fun. Do what works for you. There are times I want to cast, get everything up to temp. and it becomes a battle to get decent boolits even with molds that normally cast beautifully. I just shut it all down and try again another day. If it is not fun it is not worth it. My livelihood does not depend on it, it's a hobby.

[charlie b]

Not arthritis but I do have some nerve issues in my arms. I'm one of the 'slow' casters. I can only keep up a pace for about 30min at a time, sometimes only 15min. Then set the mold on a hot plate and walk around a bit. So, yeah, 150-200 an hour even with a 4 cavity mold. With the 2 cavity it is a bit more than half that (the 2cavity doesn't weigh as much, and, yes, my arm can tell the difference).

My rifle shooting is only about 50rnds a week so this really isn't a big deal.

And, yes, I do this for fun :) I love shooting bullets that I made out to 500yd and seeing a 5inch plate swing (no, not every round :) ).

[mdi]

For me, speed, BPH (bullets per hour) or a "quota" removes the pleasure of casting. I don't count the boolits cast and I just stop when I feel like it. No sense in ruining a fun pastime...

[Bazoo]

I generally cast about 2 hours at a time and I generally get 200-400 bullets depending on t he mould and how good it’s running. I don’t cast in a hurry, but when it’s going good I might run a while longer and enjoy the building pile.

[Rich/WIS]

With Lee 6 or NOE 5 the production rate is pretty high but find that if every 200 or bullets putting the mold on the hotplate to keep warm and adding a few ingots is a good time for a short break. Wash hands and get a cup of coffee and a puff or two on my pipe re-energizes me. Have bad arthritis as well and this seems to keep the pain at bay. Re-lube the pins and sprue plate and run another 200 or so. Even at this pace can generally get 5-600 in an hour, and nice part can keep the pace up for several hours.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Raining Boolits, means to me, you don't even need to gently tap the handle/hinge...just open the sprue plate, open the handles and boolits fall out...NO TAPPING.

Honestly, of the 50+ molds I have, I only have one mold that does that, and that is a iron 4 cav Geo Hensley 38-150 WC (circa 1935). Funny thing, this old mold (and especially sprue plate) has many scars from previous owners hammering on it. Most of the corners of the mold blocks are rounded. BUT IT RAINS BOOLITS, right out of the gate (if it's preheated).

[bangerjim]

I use now mainly 5 & 6 cavity brass molds. They do rain boolits!!!!! I generally get 500-550 per hour. A few hours with 4 main molds & am set for several good plinking sessions!....:Fire:

Boolits sticking to your molds can be a ton of things wrong.

1. Alloy does not shrink enough due to bad/incorrect alloy mix.
2. Dirty cavities
3. Too fast a drop after pour
4. Burr in the mold
5. Too cold a mold or too cold an alloy
6. Too hot a mold or too hot an alloy
7. Not holding your mouth just right
8. Phase of the moon

I never expect a new mold to perform perfectly. I know it will "get in gear" after a couple hundred are cast.

ALWAYS....................preheat your molds to full casting temp on an electric hot plate!

After that, it is just like Morton salt................"When it rains, it pours!" :drinks:

banger

[gwpercle]

If you have to "beat" a mould to get it to drop boolits ... something somewhere is wrong .
Even Lee moulds should not require beating and with a little hand finishing and break in ... they don't .

Another little trick to use is a mould cavity release agent ... Liquid Wrench Dry Lubricant L504 - 4 ounce liquid bottle . Use a Q-Tip and apply a coat to mould cavities , top of blocks , underside and top of sprue plate ...dries in seconds and the cast boolits want to jump out the cavities , does not cause wrinkles and lead doesn't stick to treated surfaces ... and when coated steel mould sprue plate doesn't rust . I know this sounds crazy ... but the stuff works ...and works great on balky moulds .

I apply with Q-Tip while casting but have bought a spray can of LWDL to spray outside and sprue plate before storing mould . If you spray the insides of your pot and insides of ladle ...lead doesn't stick to these areas . The stuff is a big help in treating areas you want non-stick and it doesn't leave a thick black spray on mess like some spray on mould release agents .

Try it ... might just be the answer to a sticky problem !
Gary

[Polymath]

I had one Lee mold in fact that was tough to run. Picked up a spray can of Lyman's super moly and gave it a couple healthy sprays when warm and the problem disappeared I don't smoke the molds anymore.
I can put about 20 lbs through the Melter in a short afternoon, then my back starts to complain. I shoot mostly L2 alloy so I get a couple molds going so the bullets don't get too frosty. I quench everything for consistency.

[Taterhead]

Of the molds that I own or have owned, my 3 LBT 4 cav molds absolutely stand above the others when it comes to bullets releasing. They all dribble out. No tapping for me.

They are a joy to cast with.

[justindad]

The worst mold I had was bought used. It was described as having soot stains from being smoked with a lighter, which turned out to be false. Someone had applied a mold release, and a polishing stone is not aggressive enough to remove the mold release that is on the outside. I soaked cotton pads in isopropyl alcohol and let them sit inside the cavities over night - that made a big difference. It also needed a severe deburring session. It’s running much better, but still doesn’t rain. That has made me uninterested in mold release. Also, PTFE (dry wrench, kroil, rem oil, etc) breaks down into toxic chemicals when heated.

[fredj338]

For me, speed, BPH (bullets per hour) or a "quota" removes the pleasure of casting. I don't count the boolits cast and I just stop when I feel like it. No sense in ruining a fun pastime...
I am the same but lets be real, few will cast with a single cav mold for say handgun bullets. I have a Magma Caster, i do like it for longer casting sessions but i actually like running 4-6cav alum molds by hand.

[justindad]

I am the same but lets be real, few will cast with a single cav mold for say handgun bullets. I have a Magma Caster, i do like it for longer casting sessions but i actually like running 4-6cav alum molds by hand.

My baby ain’t so ugly :kidding:
301022

[Land Owner]

My "First Love" is a 38/357, single cavity, aluminum, Lee 358-150 WC, purchased inexpensively and specifically to learn this hobby, which still serves me. There are now HP and SWC bullet profiles I prefer to cast in this and other caliber, multi-cavity, steel, and brass molds over this Lee, but she still gets hot when I ask.

[trapper9260]

For how things are for me , with my hands and arms and hip. I cast 10lbs , I am doing good. I do not normally have problems with the boolits drop . I preheat the mold on the hot plate while I melt my alloy and when it is all melted . Then I start casting and at times depends on the mold that \some are good at first some are not , after it is where it needs to be for heat , then they just drop and forms nice. I need to get another bottom pour since I worn out my Lee 10lb one . I use the Lyman big dipper with a normal size ladle . It gose faster and get the mold to fill better then if I use the small ladle from lyman , it gose too slow . Mainly when you try to do 6 cavity. That is where the regular size ladle works the best . It is the same one I normally use for smelting. It works for me .

[WRideout]

I am the same but lets be real, few will cast with a single cav mold for say handgun bullets. I have a Magma Caster, i do like it for longer casting sessions but i actually like running 4-6cav alum molds by hand.

I love those old Lyman and Ideal one cavity molds. They are slow, but they just work.

Also, I am finding that when the mold gets too hot, the lead can take a while to cool and contract, which makes them stick in the cavity. Any more, I cool off my molds on a wet cloth whenever the boolits start to look frosty, and that helps reduce sticking.

Wayne

[dverna]

Do what works for you. That is the "right" answer. If it means 150/hr with a 4 cavity, so be it.

Like a few others, I cannot run large molds for hours anymore. I love to shoot and ended up getting a Master Caster so I can produce cast bullets with less effort. It is not ideal. Bullet selection is limited, and it cannot make HP bullets, but it beats the alternative.