700-750 degrees for pure lead works great for me!
700-750 degrees for pure lead works great for me!
I have my new PID set at 735º. This works well for most of my molds but is a little hot for the 2 cavity 255 grain 45 mold. All of my molds are steel.
PID controllers aren't all the same. Mine is off about 185 degrees F. So when I set mine to 830 degrees, my lead thermometer reads 645 degrees F. I wouldn't doubt that my lead thermometer is off a few degrees too. Admittedly, my PID controller is probably the cheapest built device cobbled together out of China. Therefore, I would strongly suggest using a lead thermometer as well to see any differences in accuracy with a PID controller.
at what elevation?
"At sea level, water boils at 212 °F. With each 500-feet increase in elevation, the boiling point of water is lowered by just under 1 °F. At 7,500 feet, for example, water boils at about 198 °F. Because water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevations."
per FSIS.USDA.GOV
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“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001
My PID readout pretty much agrees with two different thermometers. It also reads about 96 degrees when I hold it in my fist for a few minutes.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |