Got a 358156hp on the way

[waco]

This will be my first hp mold. Very excited to try it out!
Anyone have any tips for casting hp's they want to share?
Powders?
Alloy?
Will be used in both .38 & .357 wheelguns
thanks
Waco

[HORNET]

You're probably going to want to use a fairly soft alloy. run your melt temperatures toward the high side, and try to keep the pin hot to get good fill-out. There are a couple of good articles on this on the LASC site (link at bottom of page) by Glen Fryxell. Well worth reading before you start. That's a very good design, BTW. Congratulations and enjoy.

[fredj338]

Yeah, I like making my own LHP. A 25-1 alloy works well to 1200fps. You can alos go 50/50 ww/lead & get good results. The less antimony in the alloy the better. Liek Hornet said, keep the pin & mold hot. Casting at a good pace will do that. Your first dozen or so will not get good nose fill out, but once the pin gets upto temp, you can do 100/hr.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/452-268-1K.jpg

[Glen]

That bullet will do well when cast to a BHN of 10-13 or so, and then run at 1400 fps from a .357 Mag with 14.0 grains of 2400. Very accurate and expands very well. Great bullet!

[dubber123]

I like leaving a metal plate with a pin sized hole in it cooking on a hot plate. When I pull the pin, it goes in the plate, and it keeps the pin temp high enough to maintain good fillout. Don't leave it on too long if it has a wooden handle...

[HeavyMetal]

Yep!

A hot plate, $9.99 at Wal Gren's, with a steel plate on it having a piece of round stock with a pin diameter hole drilled in it welded to the steel plate is a gotta have!

This set up keeps the pin hot while you are casting and helps fillout in the HP cavity with no air holes or bubbles!

I will also suggest you dip the sprue plate itself, the part that you hit with a mallet, in the alloy until metal doesn't stick to it before you start casting.

This will make sure you get nice square sharp base's on those HP's.