Casting soft cast bullets

[Marshal Deadwood]

For you casters that have cast 'soft cast' bullets,,,could you share some experience on how you get more 'good quality' bullets in a session ?  I have to drop so many back in the pot because of voids wrinkles divots etc and etc that it's disheartening. I flux often, try to keep things at a constant temp (although I do not have a thermometer  to be exactly sure) ,,,and I try to keep the mold hot.  All equip is clean. The mold cavity is smoked good.
Just any help would be appreciated at this point.

MD

[Sagebrush Burns]

Two thoughts:  1-maybe you need to run your pot a bit hotter; 2-try adding a bit of tin to your melt, that should help fill the mold and clean up the pour.

[Rebel Dave]

Marshall

You need to keep your pot temp very hot for pure/soft lead. I cast pure lead .58 cal minnies @ 750-800* I use two thermometers. If your casting temp is  much below that you will have the problems you state. I use a Lee 20lb pot, and I ladle dip/pour into the mould. The surface colour of my lead when I cast is kind of bluish. I never put my mould down when I cast, I have a leather hammer, and the ladle in my right hand, and the mould in my left, the sprue goes right back into the pot. I get a good rythem going, like that.

You might have a pot that is not heating up properly, so I would get a T-stat or two. You can also try turning up your reo-stat to something higher, on dial try 10, or 11 on it. See what happens.If it turns a bluish colour, it should work. Also work fast, get a rythem going. knock your sprues back into the pot ( where good gloves, and a long sleve shirt). Pre-heat any lead you put in the pot as you are casting.

A litlle tin will help also, as in a few hunks of solder.  Hope this helps, Don't give up.

Rebel Dave

[hp246]

I noticed that the majority of my retreads occur when the mold hasn't quite gotten up to temperature or if I have to step away for a potty break and the mold is allowed to cool a bit.  I started using a hot plate to help get my mold up to temperature and keep it at temperature when I have to step away for a minute.

Seems once I get going though, everything runs smoothly.  I then have a quench tank I set up to quickly cool the bullets once they come out of the mold.

[wildman1]

Marshall

You need to keep your pot temp very hot for pure/soft lead. I cast pure lead .58 cal minnies @ 750-800* I use two thermometers. If your casting temp is  much below that you will have the problems you state. I use a Lee 20lb pot, and I ladle dip/pour into the mould. The surface colour of my lead when I cast is kind of bluish. I never put my mould down when I cast, I have a leather hammer, and the ladle in my right hand, and the mould in my left, the sprue goes right back into the pot. I get a good rythem going, like that.

You might have a pot that is not heating up properly, so I would get a T-stat or two. You can also try turning up your reo-stat to something higher, on dial try 10, or 11 on it. See what happens.If it turns a bluish colour, it should work. Also work fast, get a rythem going. knock your sprues back into the pot ( where good gloves, and a long sleve shirt). Pre-heat any lead you put in the pot as you are casting.

A litlle tin will help also, as in a few hunks of solder.  Hope this helps, Don't give up.

Rebel Dave

This is good advice although I've found that you can be a little more temperate with the heat.

I noticed that the majority of my retreads occur when the mold hasn't quite gotten up to temperature or if I have to step away for a potty break and the mold is allowed to cool a bit.  I started using a hot plate to help get my mold up to temperature and keep it at temperature when I have to step away for a minute.

Seems once I get going though, everything runs smoothly.  I then have a quench tank I set up to quickly cool the bullets once they come out of the mold.

If you quench your bullets you will harden them. I refer you to the LASC website which has more information about cast bullets and mixes of lead and hardening materials than you could possibly use.
wM1

[Navy Six]

A big help would be a book entitled "Ruminations of a Life Long Bullet Caster" by Robert Ballowe. This was published within the last two years so should be readily available. Lots of information about casting temperatures for types of alloys, fluxing etc. For instance, the author recommends a hotter temperature(800+) for pure lead which might apply to your question about softer alloys. Get yourself a thermometer as guessing at the temp is not enough.
Sometimes it seems the old casting pot is out to get you. There is a big difference between ladle casting and using a bottom pour pot.  I have a couple of custom molds(beautifully made) for 38/40 and 44/40 that cast perfect bullets with a bottom pour and are stubborn devils with a ladle. I am probably at fault but it is puzzling as most of my other molds don't seem to care which method I use. You didn't specify which type of pot you use but the most common is bottom pour. If this is what you are using, your results can vary simply by how far away you hold the mold from the spout, letting the lead stream hit the center of the sprue hole or off to the side a bit. Some pots will vary the stream flow depending on how much lead is in the pot as a full pot is heavier and forces the stream to flow faster. You also didn't mention the caliber of your mold. If for heavier bullets, say 350grs and up for 45/70, etc., most experienced casters will recommend ladle casting only for the heavier stuff.
Whatever you do, hang in there as you will find a solution to your particular situation. Over the years I've cast at least 75,000 bullets and stuff still happens!!  Good Luck

[hp246]

WIldman1, Yes I am aware that the quench hardens the bullet.  I've been adding very little if any alloy to my lead.  Using fairly pure lead.  Seems to be working for me.  No leading, and getting good accuracy.

[wildman1]

If the OP was casting soft lead or pure lead bullets I'm pretty sure he would not want hardened bullets. I also doubt that he would know that quenching them would harden them.
wM1

[mehavey]

I cast pure lead .58 cal minnies @ 750-800*
^^^ This ^^^

NOTE: 30:1 is really SOFT for BCPR purposes: