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I'm posting this here because I have a few observations questions and I don't want to clutter up the Library. Once I get the procedure right Ill update my post in the library with pictures etc.
I have done two chamber impact casts of the AIA 7.62x39 rifle. They are not very conclusive. I got chamber measurements from .3110 to .3330. I read the instruction and filled a fired case to just below the neck then chambered the case. I then poured lead chippings down the bore tapping them down gently with a brass cleaning rod. When I thought I had enough I pounded the lead with a stainless rod. Then ejected the case and cast and had a measure. I think the lead chippings were a mistake. What sort of lead do others use and how do you get it in the chamber before pounding.
The lead I used probably not a good idea. The result very poor. More research needed. So all in all a bit of a failure really. I have read on other forums other ways to do it. I think I need to be a bit more scientific take a few measurements etc. The filling of the case is easy enough. I think Ill cast a .308 soft lead boolit and drop that down the bore and try again maybe at the weekend. If I get it right Ill do a proper post in the Library.

Where the hell did you get the daft idea of lead chippings from?

Where in the instructions does it say pour lead lead chippings down the bore.

Yes, cast a pure lead boolit, or drill through an aluminium block to a suitable diameter and make a basic mould, or buy some lead wire.

If you aren't going to bother following the instructions why should people bother to help you?

Lead chippings FFS why on earth did you think that would work?

Have you ever tried golf?

Might be more your style that shooting and hand loading.

Always a word or two of encouragement from our Dromia...

Always a word or two of encouragement from our Dromia...


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Badger

Absolutely.
Iv got tonnes of the stuff I don't know what I'm going to do with it every time I go to work there is another boat load of it to get rid of. I give it a go it did not work So what.
To morrow Ill fire up the smelter and cast some lead boolits its no big deal.

What I did learn from this session is that its no big deal carrying out a chamber cast so don't let it put you off folks go for it. Ill have it sussed by the weekend I guarantee it.

I made a mould out of a block of aluminium I had lying about. I cut it in half stuck it in the four jaw chuck and faced it of. I then clamped both half's together and drilled a hole in the centre. Easy peasy. Round two coming up at last I can use up some of this lead swarf.

dromia wrote:Where the hell did you get the daft idea of lead chippings from?

Where in the instructions does it say pour lead lead chippings down the bore.

to be fair, it just says add an amount of lead. to be honest, when i first read it i was a little confused as to what it meant. like for instance if the lead was supposed to be molten even. its only when reading up a bit more i realised that the idea was to take an undersized boolit and crush / compact it into the availiable space.

so i can see where Alpha1 may have got confused....

Alpha1 wrote: Iv got tonnes of the stuff I don't know what I'm going to do with it every time I go to work there is another boat load of it to get rid of.

Let me know when you're in

Alpha1 wrote:

Iv got tonnes of the stuff I don't know what I'm going to do with it every time I go to work there is another boat load of it to get rid of.

Let me know when you're in

I made a mould out of a block of aluminium I had lying about. I cut it in half stuck it in the four jaw chuck and faced it of. I then clamped both half's together and drilled a hole in the centre. Easy peasy. Round two coming up at last I can use up some of this lead swarf.

I was not happy with my mould I wanted the cavity to be the right size. So I took it to work and showed them what I was trying to do. They cut me a mould using the milling machine and the lathe. Its lovely.
Shame I'm only going to use it once.

Oh and they got one of the apprentices to anneal some 7.62x39 fired cases for me to use. Hmm what's next.