What did you do today in the world of reloading?

[xdmikey]

@DubiousDan

How would suggest I get the temp read and how important is this really?

 

[mad88minute]

Start with a Lee bottom pour furnace with a twenty pound capacity. It will get the job done and not that expensive so if you decide casting is not for you, you're not out too much. If you stick with it you might invest in a Lyman or find a good used one.

Next get the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook better yet get this first and read it before starting. It also has load data for cast bullets.

Check out the Cast Boolits forum. Lost of good info and knowledgeable people there.

I've been lurking there for years. Never really contributed but have wanted to cast for some time.

Sent from my moto e6 using Tapatalk

 

[DubiousDan]

@DubiousDan

How would suggest I get the temp read and how important is this really?

If it's too low the alloys won't mix and the mold won't fill properly. If it's too hot the mold will over heat and the bullets will have a frosty appearance.

They make thermometers but trial and error worked for me.

If the furnace is hot enough to melt the lead, tin and antimony so that they mix you may still have impurities floating on the top. Scoop them out and you're good

 

[DubiousDan]

I've been lurking there for years. Never really contributed but have wanted to cast for some time.

Sent from my moto e6 using Tapatalk

I know the feeling. For 9mm it's pretty easy. Personally I have no experience in using cast bullets in a semi auto rifle. Check the cast bullet forum. I found the people there very helpful.

 

[DubiousDan]

@DubiousDan

How would suggest I get the temp read and how important is this really?

I forgot fluxing is very important. I helps clean the alloy. They sell stuff to flux it that doesn't smoke or stink but you can use most anything with carbon that will burn like candle wax. When my brother was doing a large volume of lead he used a branch to stir it and that did the trick.

 

[xdmikey]

I just scoop the funky looking stuff off the top and put it in a pea can but now that’s full so I need to eat more peas I guess!

 

[sanspeu1r]

Never used a thermometer, how it looks, how the cast looks is ok in my book. Also, it is best to stick part of your mold and part of the sprue in the molten lead for a moment so they are the same temp as the lead.
380 95 gr swc
9mm 124 gr rnl
308 120 gr rnl
45 ACP 230 gr rnl

 

[CodyK]

Gonna head to Carters in the AM and see how some 150 grain Hornady Interlocks shoot out of my Savage Axis .308. It likes a lighter bullet, so I’m hoping I can find a decent hunting load for it. Plus I just installed a “stock stiffening” kit from MCarbo. Some 3D printed plastic blocks that glue into the cheap polymer stock. Seems like it has a lot less flex for sure. May end up giving it to my daughter, her boyfriend hunts and she’s mentioned she may go out with him this year. Poor bastard!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Deavis]

Interesting find

 

[rp-]

Interesting find

I was talked into buying some of those a couple decades ago after being told how rare Nazi ammo was. Can't remember what round they were for. Maybe 8x56r? Sold them off later for what I paid for them at least.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[mad88minute]

I was talked into buying some of those a couple decades ago after being told how rare Nazi ammo was. Can't remember what round they were for. Maybe 8x56r? Sold them off later for what I paid for them at least.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

Yeah, it looks like 8x56r.

I have one box of the ammo on display on top of my gun safe.

I really regret selling my M95 Steyr carbine with the straight pull bolt.

Sent from my moto e6 using Tapatalk

 

[deemus]

I was talked into buying some of those a couple decades ago after being told how rare Nazi ammo was. Can't remember what round they were for. Maybe 8x56r? Sold them off later for what I paid for them at least.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

i bought some of that when the market was flooded a few years ago.

a piece of history for sure.

 

[Txmark]

Gonna head to Carters in the AM and see how some 150 grain Hornady Interlocks shoot out of my Savage Axis .308. It likes a lighter bullet, so I’m hoping I can find a decent hunting load for it. Plus I just installed a “stock stiffening” kit from MCarbo. Some 3D printed plastic blocks that glue into the cheap polymer stock. Seems like it has a lot less flex for sure. May end up giving it to my daughter, her boyfriend hunts and she’s mentioned she may go out with him this year. Poor bastard!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine seemed to like the 168’s, but that was before I had a brake installed. Haven’t been to the range with it since then.
Was going to stiffen my stock, going with a Revolution stock instead


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[country_boy]

I was talked into buying some of those a couple decades ago after being told how rare Nazi ammo was. Can't remember what round they were for. Maybe 8x56r? Sold them off later for what I paid for them at least.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

Maybe in 2014? Can’t remember exactly wha year.. There was a influx on 8x56r rifles and ammo on j&g etc. some even for 80 bucks.

 

[schmellba99]

I've been on a kick of gathering components again after taking a few years off from things. Picked up several thousand .224 62gr BTHP Hornady's for the AR, would be nice if Sierra would get their Gamechanger line back in production as I'm almost out of those, but looks like it won't be anytime soon, so the Hornady's are my go-to AR projectile now. They shoot pretty well, well enough to be minute of pig or whatever I need them to be.

 

[deemus]

I've been on a kick of gathering components again after taking a few years off from things. Picked up several thousand .224 62gr BTHP Hornady's for the AR, would be nice if Sierra would get their Gamechanger line back in production as I'm almost out of those, but looks like it won't be anytime soon, so the Hornady's are my go-to AR projectile now. They shoot pretty well, well enough to be minute of pig or whatever I need them to be.

I've been pretty happy with Hornady stuff. Been using SSTs in all my hunting rounds. And the 55g BTs yielded a 3/8" group during a ladder test.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Loaded up more of the two best test groups for my custom 223 in 80gr ELD-M's. Going to see if they repeat group sizes, and chronograph them.
I'm to blame for the thrown shot on this group, the other 4 shots went right where they were supposed to.

I can probably tighten this group up with some adjustments, just need to check the velocity.

Fed-Ex just dropped off 200 more pieces of Lapua 223 Match brass. Now I have to find a powder for the 75gr ELD-M's for this rifle that it likes. It didn't care much for the Power Pro 2k powder that the 80gr bullets liked. I think I'll load up some with Reloader 16 and 17 and see what they do.

 

[TexMex247]

I bet varget would do great with those heavies txhillbilly...if you could find any.

 

[Txhillbilly]

I bet varget would do great with those heavies txhillbilly...if you could find any.

Varget just doesn't have good velocities with 75gr or bigger bullets. I've got over a case of it.

 

[TexMex247]

Looking at the Sierra AR load data they only show 2520 pushing them faster or maybe TAC if you're staying under 80gr. It's good data but probably a bit dated.