How many boolits does a 10 lb Lee hold?

[Catshooter]

Not very many! :)

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/Catshooter45/Boolits001.jpg

The mould started life as a Lyman 462560. But I didn't want a gas check, so I milled 'er off.

Now the boolits weigh in a 506 grains in 50/50 (Pb/WW). I love that big flat meplat. Could be a decent deer boolit? :)


Cat

[nonferrous]

Cat,
506 Gr's, A decent deer boolit? What are you going to do, throw it at the poor critter?

[Le Loup Solitaire]

There are 7000 grains in a pound so if you multiply that by 10 you get 70,000 grains in the pot. Divide that by the weight of your bullet and you'll have the answer. If, for the sake of argument and to keep the math simpler, your bullet weights an even 500 grains.....then you'ld get around 140 bullets. LLS

[Catshooter]

Of course you are correct Le Loup, the math is the math. But veiwing the reality is a little differant!

I'm not sure where Lee comes up with their ten pound idea. I actually cast about eight and a half pounds worth of boolits. When I started, the lead was about a half, maybe five eigths of an inch from the top of the pot. Ten pounds would have to be right full up!

There's 116 boolits in the pic.


Cat

[Catshooter]

Yes, nonferrous, I think I just may throw it a the critter. At about 1300 fps. It should do. :)


Cat

[ghh3rd]

For your alley cats, Catshooter?

[lwknight]

That would get you thinking about a 20 pound pot LOL

[blikseme300]

I have 2 of the teeny Lee pots. Casting 230grn .452 boolits using six-bangers was a pain because I had to stop so often to refill. The mold temps would go down etc...[smilie=b:

So I built my own electric pot. Did research first - gasp! Noticed that Magma uses a band heater. Hmmm. Ended up with a pot that is 6.75od x 8h. This sucker holds 75lbs comfortably and I still have lots of melt after an evenings casting. Total cost, excluding my time, $35.:redneck:

For those interested, do a search on evilbay for this: New Tempco Band Heater, 333M3912. These are the band heaters I am using.

I will be building another more refined one this weekend and post the pics etc in the Special projects area.

Bliksem

[fredj338]

Of course you are correct Le Loup, the math is the math. But veiwing the reality is a little differant!

I'm not sure where Lee comes up with their ten pound idea. I actually cast about eight and a half pounds worth of boolits. When I started, the lead was about a half, maybe five eigths of an inch from the top of the pot. Ten pounds would have to be right full up!

There's 116 boolits in the pic.


Cat
I'm sure all of the pot volumns are measured to the top. I gave up on the 10# long ago for high production or large bullets. I use a 20# now for volumn casting & the 10# stays filled w/ 25-1 alloy for HP molds.

[dhansen]

I have 2 of the teeny Lee pots. Casting 230grn .452 boolits using six-bangers was a pain because I had to stop so often to refill. The mold temps would go down etc...[smilie=b:

So I built my own electric pot. Did research first - gasp! Noticed that Magma uses a band heater. Hmmm. Ended up with a pot that is 6.75od x 8h. This sucker holds 75lbs comfortably and I still have lots of melt after an evenings casting. Total cost, excluding my time, $35.:redneck:

For those interested, do a search on evilbay for this: New Tempco Band Heater, 333M3912. These are the band heaters I am using.

I will be building another more refined one this weekend and post the pics etc in the Special projects area.

Bliksem

Wow! Excellent idea. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

[runfiverun]

you'll get bored with 75 lbs of lead.
i use the magma 40 lb pot and get tired long before i run out of lead.
it's mainly used for 4 cavs and the 20 lber for 2 cavs and the 10 lber for 22's and 1 holers.
i can sit ingots on the edge of the 40 lb pot but have to be careful or they will melt.

[Catshooter]

Yea the ten pounders are small. I use mine for small runs, testing. Determining what alloy I want for a particular use. I hate casting a bunch of boolits only to fine they don't work.

To cast a bunch of those or other big ones I too have a home made pot. Mine sits on the gas stove in the pic and holds right about 100 pounds.

With that sucker, there are no worries about running out of lead, not in one casting session. You can also add ten or 15 pounds and the temp just barely moves. Doesn't stop you from casting at all.


Cat

[sheepdog]

Heres what me and a fellow member used Saturday to cast with 6 cavities. Think it holds about 150 pounds ;)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14206&thumb=1&d=1251128103

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I can't restrain myself: ten pounds worth!!!

Rich

[Echo]

My answer to the original question - 437.