BruceB
02-28-2010, 06:51 PM
The 4-cavity 316299 arrived last week. Today was the first chance to wring it out.
The only preparation was the NOE-recommended cycling of the mould three times from room temp to 425 degrees and back.
Over 75 minutes, I cast something over 1,000 bullets. One mould-full, four bullets, was set aside from the middle of the casting run. Examination of these four shows:
Weight (in my straight wheelweight alloy): 208.1, 207.6, 208.0, 207.8.... one-half of one grain spread.
Nose diameter: .302 for all four bullets
Base-band diameter: .315, .3145, .3145, .315
Measurements were done with a Mitutoyo digital caliper which only reads to .0005".
These are very consistent results. In addition, the vast majority of the bullets dropped freely from the mould when it was opened. This mould is worth every penny, and the waiting period was worth it as well.
Now to see how my .303s like the bullets...!
The only preparation was the NOE-recommended cycling of the mould three times from room temp to 425 degrees and back.
Over 75 minutes, I cast something over 1,000 bullets. One mould-full, four bullets, was set aside from the middle of the casting run. Examination of these four shows:
Weight (in my straight wheelweight alloy): 208.1, 207.6, 208.0, 207.8.... one-half of one grain spread.
Nose diameter: .302 for all four bullets
Base-band diameter: .315, .3145, .3145, .315
Measurements were done with a Mitutoyo digital caliper which only reads to .0005".
These are very consistent results. In addition, the vast majority of the bullets dropped freely from the mould when it was opened. This mould is worth every penny, and the waiting period was worth it as well.
Now to see how my .303s like the bullets...!