New Mold Design/BIG BOOLIT!!

[olafhardt]

Earlier this evening I expplained to a new guy how I use a four pound pot for all of my casting. I told him that with this hobby you can go as small or as big as you like. I guess I didn't lie.

[Capn Jack]

Have you ever tried zinc instead of lead?

Here in Wet-stern Washington we do a lot of boating and
we use a lot of zinc anodes. One of the guys I used to shoot
with cast zinc balls and there appeared to be quire a difference
in velocity. His shots would cut clean holes in the targets, where
as my lead balls would leave a ring around the holes.
Besides the zinc was free

Jack...

[John in PA]

We use zinc diecast alloy to make the full size boolits for the long range shooting. If there was a reasonably easy way to cast a zinc projectile with three lugs on it that would meet weight requirements for the N-SSA , we'd try it. Just a hassle to work with zinc. Need another huge pot and handling implements, iron mold a must due to higher casting heat required. Easier to do machined aluminum projectiles, but then substantially increased costs for materials.

[Cap'n Morgan]

Have you looked into having the projectiles cast by a foundry in grey iron? If the batch was large enough the price shouldn't be too bad, especially if you could supply the casting models yourself. The projectiles could then be machined in a lathe to fit the lands of the barrel and a groove or step would be cut near the base. A driving band, cast from lead or zinc, could then be crimped in on - or perhaps cast directly on the shell, using a special mold.

Just for grin you could drill a small hole in the base and fill it with hard stamped scrapings from star sparklers. This should add a nice tracer-effect (and maybe a grassfire as well)

[John in PA]

N-SSA competition rules demand non-ferrous projectiles. That's why competitors are always designing new things made from lead, aluminum, and zinc. There are a couple well-heeled shooters using machined aluminum Hotchkiss rounds with a lead band around the center. The usually shoot well with the reduced loads we're forced to use for N-SSA shooting, but they're about $60 a piece. Machined aluminum with lugs at the rear for a mechanical fit also work well. Also quite costly.

I like the idea of shooting something I designed and cast myself.

[Cap'n Morgan]

N-SSA competition rules demand non-ferrous projectiles.

Bummer! Any good reasons for that rule?

My dad use to sail DN iceboat races. The rules called for the boat to be made from wood only. No fiberglass or aluminum. This well-meant idea was to keep the costs down so even those on a tight budget could participate. Well, dad and the other enthusiasts build their boat from exotic, lightweight African wood, much more expensive than fiberglass. Go figure...

[StrawHat]

Who's in for a GB on the boolit mold??? And can you inagine a multicavity mold????

Some serious R&D has gone on just to create what you have accomplished already. Thanks for sharing your efforts and results. And I think my 50-70 uses a lot of lead!

[Baryngyl]

Hey, if we can get a muzzle brake that will cut the kick down to the same level as the 458 Win Mag, I want one in a hand held shoulder fired rifle. LOL


Michael Grace

[JSnover]

Un-believable. I am a transplant from back east. Looks like you and I are neighbors. I sure would love to see that gun in action, if you have any plans to fire it locally.

[Lizard333]

I have a buddy that fashioned a canon out of some boiler pipe tubing, we work at a power plant and have an endless supply. Anyhow I used some of the zinc WW's I have sorted aside and poured that into a cannon ball mold at 12 oz a pop. He likes the zinc way better than lead because he can shoot them again, even after shooting them threw cars!! Plus, I couldn't think of a better way to use the zinc WW's than in a cannon.

[1Shirt]

Would sure like to shoot that gun!
1Shirt!

[John in PA]

N-SSA National Matches are held at the Fort Shenandoah national range just north of Winchester VA. The artillery match is always Saturday all afternoon. 3rd weekend in May and first weekend in October. This is 200 yard target matches with reduced loads. http://n-ssa.org/index.php for more info.

Once a year we go to a military base in northern Michigan (Camp Grayling) and shoot full military loads at targets 3/4 mile distant (1200 yards. This match is *usually* (pending Army scheduling) the last weekend in July. See here http://museumandcollector.com/index....d=48&Itemid=57 for more info.

Here we are at Grayling a couple years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL13quhcUMw

[dkf]

Ever try a design similar to the Crosman Premier? They are very popular and accurate pellets.

[Frank46]

I've said this on many different forums but the inventiveness and abilities here on this forum simply amaze me. This coming from a guy that needs a straight edge guide to cut a straight line on a piece of wood. Way to go. If anyone asks what they are just tell them they are suppositories that'll get their attention. Frank

[338RemUltraMag]

I am 20 miles south of you John, down in Bedford, I would like to volunteer my services to help cast a batch just for the experience! That just blows my mind!

[John in PA]

You're more than welcome to join in the fun!! (Tom Sawyer here... )

[reddoggm]

Awwwwwwwwsome big boooooolit

[338RemUltraMag]

You're more than welcome to join in the fun!! (Tom Sawyer here... )

Shoot me a pm the next time you are going to cast those monsters, I would love to help!

[arjacobson]

What do you use to tumble lube those things??? A cement mixer? LOL seriously though if you ever want to sell an unfired one I would like to get in line to buy it. That would look great on my loading bench!!!

[Bigslug]

You upscaled an airgun pellet. . .

I'm pretty sure Ralphie would trade in his Red Ryder for your approach.