From: bobd@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Bob DeBula)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: bullet casting residue
Date: 10 Sep 92 12:29:08 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

In article <9209041848.AA29405@dog.ee.lbl.gov> biocca@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Alan K Biocca) writes:
#In article <1306@pdxvme.pdx.csd.mot.com> brian@pdx.csd.mot.com (Brian Vandewettering) writes:
#
#...
#
##1. Furnace - Bottom pour or scooper?  Is the cheapie from Lee Precision
##   any good?
#
#The Lee furnace is extremely serviceable.  Definitely a 'best buy'.
#

Agreement here for certain. One caveat,
make sure to get the taller of the Lee bottom pour lead pots.
I believe this model is known as the "Production Pot IV".
For the price, it would be very hard to beat the Lee PP IV.

##2. Lube sizers - Is there any difference between the brands?  What about
##   the lube heaters that I've seen advertized in Midway's catalog?  Looks
##   like a hot plate which you bolt your lube sizer to.  Will the Lee sizer
##   and liquid allox work with conventional style bullets or do they only 
##   work with their micro-groove design.
#
#The best lube-sizer is none.  Obtain molds that cast the correct size and
#use tumble-on lube for the least cost and best accuracy.
#

Hmmm, I do things the old fashioned way & size the bullets.
I use a Lyman (450?) Lubrisizer. G,H,&I dies are available
for this in a large variety of diameters and nose shapes.
I've never had too much problem with Alox lube flowing, so I've
never used a "lube heater". Then again, I tend to cast in the summer 
during nice weather, so presumeably the lube resistance wouldn't
be as great. One nice reason to have a lubri-sizer is for older
moulds (molds?) which don't cast exact diameter. Also, a lot
of moulds for casting .32 (.312, .313, .314) might be very useful
for casting for things like .30 Luger or .30 Mauser (Tokerov),
but will definitely need to be resized. I would imagine that
the RCBS lubrisizer is a fine product also, but might suspect
that all the sizing options available for Lyman might not
be available for RCBS. Compare die prices too before you
decide on one or the other if you get a lubrisizer.

##3. Moulds - nose pour?  Who's are best?  Aluminum or Iron?
#
#Lee molds are serviceable.  Aluminum molds are easy to use, light, and 
#get up to temperature quickly.  They can be scratched easily, but don't
#rust.  Cast Iron molds are finicky to get going and heat slowly, but are
#basically indestructible short of rust.  I use aluminum Lee molds for
#low quantity bullets and cast iron RCBS' or Lymans for high volume uses.
#

Saeco moulds are also very popular and I believe they can be
had in Aluminum, Brass, or Cast Iron. Definitely, Saeco is
a much more deluxe way to go than Lee for Aluminum moulds.
I'd like to try a brass mould some time for comparison.
As pointed out above, iron moulds *rust* at the slightest hint
of moisture. A friend of mine seals his in a gasketed .50 caliber
ammo can with VPI crystals & swears that this is the only way to 
store iron moulds. My experience is all with iron moulds &
both Lyman and RCBS seem to make a quality product. Older
Lyman moulds may be had occassionally (at gun shows) in some
very interesting (and long discontinued) designs. I have a mould
for a 200 grain full wadcutter in .410 which allows me to cast
midrange target bullets for .41 Mag. Unfortunately, this is a 
single cavity mould :-(. I would definitely get a two cavity
mould to start (some rifle casting might be tolerable with
a single cavity). One of my friends casts two moulds alternately
when he casts single cavity to keep production up.

I acquired a whole herd of "interesting" old Lyman moulds when they were 
discontinuing them and "blowing out" their inventory about
12 years ago. I seem to remember paying $7.00 - $8.00 apiece
for these moulds new (and no, none of them is for sale :-).

##5. Output - Let's say you have a 2 cavity mould.  How many good quality
##   bullets would you produce in an hour?  I realize that sizing is a 
##   seperate operation AFTER THE BULLETS COOL.
#
#I generally get about 200 excellent bullets per hour at a moderate rate.
#I'm pretty picky - I think that number could be doubled if I rushed and
#accepted some iffy castings.
#

I basically agree with this estimate. I too reject a lot of bullets.
200 per hour seems a reasonable estimate for a two cavity mould in
full swing (the first several bullets out of the mould are usually
ratty & have to be sacrificed -- due to the mould warming up, and
residual oil in the mould (even after scrubbing)).

##6. Ventilation - Would a fan placed in a window next to the casting
##   pot provide enough ventilation?
#

I don't cast indoors at all. One reason is the possibility of a pot
explosion (see my previous detailed posting on the issue in this
thread). The other reason is ventilation (no greater ventilation can 
usually be had than the great outdoors). 

Of course, my standard disclaimers apply to this post (see previous
post for details if you wish).
-- 
==========================================================================
              Disclaimer: These are my views, not the U's

        "If it's in the paper it must be true!" --- D. Doright