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casting?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:58 am
by swampy
Hi Guys,
Does anyone cast bullets for smokeless centrefire application here?

I am thinking of it and i could do with some pointers.

Thanks

Steve

Re: casting?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:15 am
by saddler
try DROMIA

Re: casting?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:33 pm
by Alpha1
Adam (DROMIA) is your man for any thing to do with cast boolits.

But if you want to have a go the first thing you need to do is slug your bore. What calibers are you looking to cast for.
Or if you want to have a go before forking out any money on bits you could buy some of Dodgyrog,s cast boolits and see how they perform in your rifle that will give you a feel for it.
Just ask questions I am sure Adam will answer them best he can when he drops in.

Re: casting?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:57 pm
by dodgyrog
What do you want to know?
I cast quite a lot of boolits

Re: casting?

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:30 pm
by dromia
Take a chamber/throat/bore/groove slug of your chosen rifle, instructions by Texas Mac are in the Library. I recommend the impact method.

What applications, velocity, calibre and rifle/barrel are you wanting to shoot cast?

With that information I can constructively try and help you.

Re: casting?

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:01 am
by swampy
Hi Guys,
I am looking to cast 7mm bullets. I have had a snoop about the cast boolits website, very informative. I have ordered a lee 130 gr soupcan mold.. which i am anxious to recieve!

I wondered what type of lube to use on the bullets. I have all the ingredients for felix lube and that is the plan at the minute.

I also intent to use about 22 gr of N140 as a start load.

i have gas checks on order as well

Thanks

Re: casting?

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:10 am
by dromia
Have you done the slug of your throat/barrel groove?

Is it the 7 x 57 cartridge?

If so a faster powder like VV N120 or N110would serve you better than the N140 in this velocity range.

50/50 xlox is more than adequate for this load.

Re: casting?

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:16 am
by dromia
BTW Felix's WFL is an excellent lube but a bit if a bugger to make.

There are very good off the shelf lubes out there at very good prices that make cooking up your own lube hardly worth the effort unless lube making is an enjoyable past time for you and a hobby in itself. I used to make Felixes WFL till I found the range of lubes I use now, I was that impressed I sell the stuff. I couldn't make Felixes as cheaply, I only make my BP lube now.

Re: casting?

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:42 pm
by swampy
Hi Dromia,
It is to be used in a 7mm08 rifle.

I have all the ingredients for felix's lube now. Things like castor oil are a little more dificult to find than i had anticipated! I wondered if some mineral oil or lithium grease might make a replacement? what do you think? I read that it polymerises... i dont really know what that means.... i dont know if i need to know.... but do the other mineral based oils become polymers? Do they have to be ploymers?

I like the look of the pan lubing using them silicone baking vessels. I am going to slug my barrel in a bit. I watched a few guys doing it using some excessive muppetry. i wont be using a steel rod to hammer it down and i wont hammer it into the crown using a ball piegn hammer !!!!! i couldnt believe what i was seeing!

steve, aka swampy, interlock

Re: casting?

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:02 am
by dromia
So are you looking for velocities in excess of 2,000 fps?

If so I would recommend 2500 lube or BAC.

Castor oil is easy enough to get over the netty.

A steel rod is all I use for bore work have done for many years and have no issues, do not use wood dowels in any length it will eventually end in tears. I do use a soft face hammer as a starter though.

What alloy and BHN?

How will you size the bullets if needed?

What mould will you be using.

Its not just the barrel that needs slugging the throat does as well.