Q re alloy and diameter

[long_arm]

Here's the situation, I have a mold that drops at .430" and I want .433".
My current alloy is 3:1 lead:lino (+tin).
Is it possible for me to gain .003" with this mold ? If so, specifically how would I alter the alloy?
Thanks gents!

[Outpost75]

You might gain another 0.001 using straight linotype, but in your position I would Beagle the mold.

[centershot]

Yup! Altering your alloy to try to get another .003" will be frustrating, at best. Beagle it!

[charlie b]

powder coat

[405grain]

Before you alter the mold try increasing the boolit's diameter with powder coating. Smoke's signal blue seems to put on the heaviest coat of any of the powders that I've tried. Eastwood "Ford light blue" is a close second.

[long_arm]

I do currently powder coat using Smoke's powder. I gain maybe .001" with the coating, so not enough.
I've read a little re beagling a mold.. I can't see how the process results in a bullet that is round. It seems to me the end result would have to be somewhat egg-shaped as you are only expanding in one direction. What am I missing?

[oley55]

yes slightly out of round, but that's what sizing dies are for.

Don't know what temp you are casting at but it is my understanding hot alloy shrinks more when cooling, so if you can cast good bullets at 675-700 degrees you may gain a thousand or so over casting at 750+.

[long_arm]

Hey oley, thanks I'll give it a shot at slightly lower temp and see how it goes!

[charlie b]

Is it an Al mold? You could lap it? I did that with a Lee mold and it worked out ok.

[Bigslug]

Time for a new mold from Accurate!

[long_arm]

Charlie
It's a 4 cavity iron mold from Lyman.

Bigslug,
I'm coming to the same conclusion.

[243winxb]

Cast a few with 100% linotype from Rotometals. Then you will have your answer.

Higher % of Antimony, makes bullets larger in diameter.

[Bigslug]

Charlie
It's a 4 cavity iron mold from Lyman.

Bigslug,
I'm coming to the same conclusion.

It's certainly worth pouring some straight lino to see what you get, but (a.) like Outpost75, I'd be surprised if you can pull off much more than .001", and (b.) even if you do, it's only helpful if you want bullets made of lino.

There's been much venting here over the years about Lyman's molds casting small, or in the case of the Keiths, departing unacceptably from the original blueprint. You wouldn't be the first to have moved on from them to Accurate, MP, and NOE.

www.hollowpointmold.com has a service which can enlarge the bands on your mold. I'll grant that a well behaved iron mold is a real joy, but the task of modifying would have you well on your way to a brass Accurate, which is money better spent, IMO.

[long_arm]

Bigslug,
Solid info/advice and I thank you again, sir.
Casting pure lino is impractical for me as I only have the one pot. Additionally I have no intention of shooting pure lino.
So I've come up with a different solution that I think some of my fellow casters may well endorse.. That is of course to buy another revolver! Here's to hoping it's a cylinder throats are .430 or less. A 24-3 should be here in a week.

[243winxb]

I size to groove diameter. Standard .430" for 44 mags. Accuracy is good.

I did a test using different alloys. I do not test for BHN.

[243winxb]

Lyman molds are regulated for there Alloy. Lyman No. 2

Lee uses 10-1 pure - tin. No antimony