Newbie to reloading cast for smokeless loads - advice wanted

[flamoudi]

Would it be suitable to use some pewter as a cheap source of tin? It does have up to 5% antimony and maybe 2% copper?

[dromia]

Pewter used sparingly will work as a sweetner, the antimony will harden the alloy but make it brittle, copper is an excellent addition to an alloy as it toughens it (my high velocity alloys, up to 2,600 fps are all copper bearing) however you don't want more than 1/2%.

For low velocities up to 1800 fps alloys don't need to be too sophisticated, just keep them soft along with good bullet fit (the key to successful cast shooting) and all will be well.

So treat pewter as you would pure tin, in the small quantities needed the other elements in the pewter alloy will be in such small proportions as to be neither here nor there but the copper in small quantities can help enormously in toughening, as opposed to hardening, the alloy.

[dirtbag]

Hi all and thanks for your help.
Not sure what I am doing wrong, but the mould is aluminium, and I smoke it following methods on yourtube with matches.
The pot is really hot, the mould I heat up and lubed, yet the bullets are still coming out frosty and with some meander like wrinkles.
I have also added the ration of tin.

Am i missing something ?

[dromia]

Firstly smoking the mould is not a good idea, you should never put anything in the cavity other than alloy.

A very light smoking can help if you don't want to take the time to break your mould in by giving it at least three heat and cooling cycles, I put my moulds onto the cast iron stove in the living room for a week, that breaks them in nicely. However smoking can cause problems latter as the carbon has to go somewhere and tends to puddle in the cavity over time.

Frosty bullets means that there is antimony in the alloy and you are casting too hot, I would turn down the pot temperature and let mould cool down a bit longer tween casts.

Consistent frosting is no bad thing in itself but the wrinkles could also be temperature related combined with a smoked cavity.

[dirtbag]

Hi thanks for your help.
I turned down the pot, and when poured as soon as it was filled I moved the mould in small circular movements, the frosting has gone and the bullets are coming out good.
Many thanks.. I guess its just getting the knack

[dromia]

Yes, no two moulds will cast the same you just need to experiment with different approaches 'till you find what works for that mould and that alloy.

I have a note book beside my furnace's in which I record each moulds like and dislikes, it is now an invaluable reference, with over 700 moulds in my collection and a memory that has now become a forgetory. it means that I am not having to re-invent the wheel every time I pull a mould out to cast with.

Also the more experience you have the better you get at "reading sign" to identify specific issues and remedies.