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View Full Version : Examples of bullet blemishes and their causes.

freakshow10mm
03-09-2008, 07:10 PM
This is a few examples of things that might be wrong with your bullets and how to fix it.

Here are some "finned" bullets. This is caused by not having the mold blocks closed all the way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03172.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03177.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03178.jpg
freakshow10mm
03-09-2008, 07:11 PM
Here is what a sprue looks like.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03174.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03175.jpg

Warped sprue plate.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03181.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03180.jpg

This is how the bullets look. Note the "mini-fins" or "tails" on the bullet bases.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Boolit%20Casting/DSC03179.jpg
freakshow10mm
03-09-2008, 07:13 PM
Tagged.
freakshow10mm
03-09-2008, 07:15 PM
Tagged for later.
yammerschooner
03-09-2008, 08:17 PM
how'd you warp the sprue plate?
lcarreau
03-09-2008, 08:18 PM
Good post freak!
Shadowdog500
03-10-2008, 12:31 AM
Freak,

These types of photos are very educational for all of us. Perhaps you could do a how-to series on casting.

Your Star video was very good, have you thought about doing a "how to cast your own" video?

Chris
freakshow10mm
03-10-2008, 12:43 AM
Yes. I know a guy locally that had broadcast quality digital cameras and ****. He owned/ran a video production company for a few years. I am seriously thinking of doing it, then selling the DVD on my site.

I'd cover equipment selection, different methods, different alloys, some technical aspects, as well as how to setup your area for efficiency. I'd also cover "advanced" topics such as water dropping and heat treating. Would also include samples like these to show what not to do. I would cast from a number of molds so you could see how different molds, temps, designs affect the time to wait until you cut the sprue. I'll contact my guy and see what he thinks.
freakshow10mm
03-10-2008, 12:47 AM
how'd you warp the sprue plate?
This mold has been rode hard. From my notes, this mold cast about 40K bullets so far. Still casts excellent bullets, just the plate is messed. Gotta get a new plate from Lee. This mold is about 6 months old so it should be covered under warranty.
Shadowdog500
03-10-2008, 01:31 AM
Freak,

A full blown production video would be excellent. I bet you could easily fill a two hour video with good casting info. But I was thinking of something more like a short you tube video that would be enough to get people started in casting. This would just cover the basics and maybe some safety tips. You could show how to use your basic casting setup then have a link on how to buy it. Kind of like an educational infomercial. Slick is setting up a way to host videos here, perhaps he would put it up.

I’m sure the Star video you made last week will sell allot of Star lubesizers.

Chris
freakshow10mm
03-10-2008, 01:40 AM
I copied it here too.

For the DVD I was thinking more along the lines of 30 minutes or so. Definately less than an hour.
Anvil
03-10-2008, 03:47 AM
Freak, your videos and pictures would be a helluva resource for GP! We should probably have a sub forum for video and photo training.
Anvil
03-10-2008, 02:40 PM
Freak, I'm about to dive off into heavy casting .. 300-405 grain 45-70 bullets. Ive read somewhere that the heavier bullets are tougher to cast well. What's your experience on this?
sparky241
03-10-2008, 05:11 PM
Yes. I know a guy locally that had broadcast quality digital cameras and ****. He owned/ran a video production company for a few years. I am seriously thinking of doing it, then selling the DVD on my site.

I'd cover equipment selection, different methods, different alloys, some technical aspects, as well as how to setup your area for efficiency. I'd also cover "advanced" topics such as water dropping and heat treating. Would also include samples like these to show what not to do. I would cast from a number of molds so you could see how different molds, temps, designs affect the time to wait until you cut the sprue. I'll contact my guy and see what he thinks.
Post it here when/if you do i'll take a dvd or book
yammerschooner
03-10-2008, 05:46 PM
Freak, I'm about to dive off into heavy casting .. 300-405 grain 45-70 bullets. Ive read somewhere that the heavier bullets are tougher to cast well. What's your experience on this?

I casted up several hundred lbs of 415 grain 45/70 bullets this weekend, enough that I couldn't put them all in my trunk to bring them home without bottoming out my car in the low spots. It is my experience that I have to run the lead hotter or it gets caught up on the sprue plate and doesn't fill the mold out.

I was using 2 cavity ballisticast molds, and they heated up pretty quickly, which makes it easy to keep wrinkles out. In order for a good, consistent bullet I had to run the lead at between 675 and 690 degrees. In comparison, I run my 9mm boolits at about 640 degrees for a consistently uniform boolit.

The main balance it took me a bit to find was that between how long they needed for the sprue plate to cool for cutting and how cool I could get without the sprue hole filling prematurely as the lead hit it and cooled.
yammerschooner
03-10-2008, 05:53 PM
This mold has been rode hard. From my notes, this mold cast about 40K bullets so far. Still casts excellent bullets, just the plate is messed. Gotta get a new plate from Lee. This mold is about 6 months old so it should be covered under warranty.

I've got well over that on my 6 cavity lee .40 175 tc and it hasn't budged at all. Any ideas on any specifics that may have caused that?
Anvil
03-10-2008, 06:39 PM
Freak, you've cast 40,000 bullets in 6 months?
sparky241
03-10-2008, 08:14 PM
Freak, you've cast 40,000 bullets in 6 months?

probable has casted that many, he sells them
freakshow10mm
03-10-2008, 10:46 PM
It is my experience that I have to run the lead hotter or it gets caught up on the sprue plate and doesn't fill the mold out.
True. Big bullets=hot.

In order for a good, consistent bullet I had to run the lead at between 675 and 690 degrees. In comparison, I run my 9mm boolits at about 640 degrees for a consistently uniform boolit.
My pistol bullets are cast between 625-675°. The 500gr 45/70 bullet I cast is dropped at 800° and the .375s are cast at 750°. Most of my rifle bullets are just to the frosty stage. I'm having Mountain Molds cut a 530gr FN for the 45/70. Will be interesting.


Any ideas on any specifics that may have caused that?
No clue, man. I use Bullplate lube on every mold like normal. I'm going to see if Lee will send a new one. I shoud get a bunch of wood handles too. They are fairly fragile for being "hardwood" handles.

Freak, you've cast 40,000 bullets in 6 months?
That's not all that much. The 45-230-TC is my most popular bullet. Go figure the one I was reluctant to list is the money maker.