Cast a few bullets...Cast about 18 pounds of those 125 grain round nose 38 / 9mm bullets for me and about the same for my brother in law while he was over. He wanted to use his new mold and LEE pot. When he had enough, I brought out my Lyman pot and ran some of these with my own lead alloy. Actual weights were 129 grain. The Lyman Pro 20 Furnace was much more comfortable to cast from.
Now to size and lube them. Sizing some @ 0.358" and some for 9mm @ 0.3565"
(https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-0/p180x540/180044377_6058114414202451_4281049052017892807_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=_SzU4lOH3fQAX_U0zzj&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&tp=6&oh=5df2fee298dea98875e07e9aa21316f6&oe=60B27F7B)
Those are pretty boolits.
I was going to cast some 158 grain WFN bullets for 38/357. I am down to about 50 left. And....I can't find the mold. In fact there are about four of my molds. Two of them were two cavity molds that have since been replaced by six cavity versions, so not so worried about them. But the other two are missed. I guess i get to do a deep dive in the garage and other storage areas this weekend to try to find them.
sqlbullet, good luck finding you mold. I need to go shoot some of the 200 grain 308's I cased that make 2400 fps as tested. I want to get ou on a longer range and retest to see if they remain stable out at about 300 yards and not keyhole...
Depending what goes on tomorrow I might cast more of those Round Nose while I still have my BIL's mold! I measured them and they are 0.359" as cast so that would work for the 38spl and 357 mag along with 9mm too. I'll have to test the COAL with the 9x25 Dillon and 357SIG cartridges just to see if they would work or not.
Just need my hands to get better after all the brass prep of the 223 brass...1200+ of mine and 1000 for my nephew. Since I finished that project my hands haven't had much of a break doing other chores... LOL
Haven't found the molds yet...
But I found a couple hundred bullets of each type, so the short term need is met.
New NOE mold arrived yesterday. Model 360-152-SWC-V5. Cast up about two hundred to test out the mold:
(http://fellingfamily.net/images/NOE_160_152.jpg)
Cast from isotope lead out of a 750°F pot they fall 0.362" and 153 grains and every so slightly frosty under magnification. They size down easily to 158 and look great for both 357 mag and 38 Super.
I have tested a dummy round in 38 super in my Witness Stock III and seated 1.270 it fits the magazine and passes a plunk test. Next step is to work up some data, probably using AA#7, AA#9, Blue Dot, BE-86 and maybe CFE Pistol.
Very nice looking Keith style bullet.
Way nice looking, great job!
On a side note.....
While I was heating the pot I got in a conversation with my son and mom and wasn't paying attention. The mold, which I was warming on the top of the pot, got very hot. As a result the first pour took several minutes for the sprue to cool and the bullets were heavily frosted. I set them aside to take some measurements.
Those bullets are measuring out .0005" larger than the average for the rest of the pot. I had always heard that frosty bullets were larger, but had never tested it myself.
I like to see a slight frost the temps being up help fill out.
I'm in the process of loading 500 223 Speer 75 grain Bonded FMJ Boat Tail with CFE223 powder
Being in FB jail for a few more hours I'll likely finish the remaining 300 during the down time
Managed to finish the loading had 4 extra bullets total was 504 done! ;D
Stupid big Tech Companies, it's like what the heck 😡
Good looking bullets there guys!
My pot is warming now as we speak! I have some 454424's ta cast for a friend. He wants to try some.
CW
I just set out a few Lyman 185 gr cast HP Devastators for a friend to try in his 45 Long Colt...
(https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/183517626_193375245938396_2594478087359085828_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=vITjfLrgtZ0AX-fYHYE&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=789fa68889b3a63147fa4cf29b95896c&oe=60BE0ED5)
The actual bullet sitting in the 45 Long Colt case...
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-0/s206x206/183628505_2844991895767178_1774838053792517284_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=58c789&_nc_ohc=YX_jQFGdWUUAX8r_v3Q&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&_nc_ht=scontent.xx&tp=7&oh=2a6dad3b1d0c40f5bd6c3b57869a1aac&oe=60BE7EAF)
Its a nice mold for sure. I have been watching for the 150 ish 10mm version. I have a NOE 181 that gives me a 165 ish deep HP and a 175 ish cup point. It shoots well.
I have used the devestator on coyotes in my mec tec was was astoundingly impressed.
CW