Bullet casting - CBE goodies have landed

[Gadge]

G'day folks,
As it's become a little difficult to get hold of Black Widow or HRBC cast boolits down here, I've sold off some jacketed projies to fund a foray into casting my own. This is just for my Win 94 .44/40, to start with.

I've had a fair bit of past experience with lead casting, having cast my own fishing sinkers when I was in secondary school, then later on dive weights. I've decided to upgrade my heat source from the old Primus kero stove I used back then, though!

So I put in an order to Cast Bullet Engineering for a .431" 230gr GC 3-cavity mould, and a couple of other items;

Lee mould handles and a stick of Chamber Casting Alloy [same composition as Cerrosafe TM ];
also 1000 .44 cal Gator Checks gas checks [not shown]. David had these in the post the day after my phone C/C payment was done!

Then I made a casting ladle from a spent soda syphon bulb;
Bulb prepped

With brazed on handle

Think I'll re-do this with another bulb, and place the hole at the centre of the body, for greater lead capacity. Should be able to do all three in a single pour, that way. And yes, this is a lefty version.

[Seddo]

Let me know when you want projies, the old man organizes bulk purchases of black widow projies for the guys at the club, it happens 2-3 times a year.

I've got casting gear but im not very good at it but then ive only had a few attempts.

[Gadge]

Ta for that Seddo,
But at the moment, I'm much longer on available time than money!

To the point that I'll pan lube the boolits, then size/seat GC's through a .429" Lee hand sizer die that I have on hand.

A home brew lube recipe from the LASC website is looking good; equal weights beeswax and moly/graphite EP grease, which are both already on hand.

[trevort]

you have an anvil.

Do you make knives?

Because I'm not a very practical person I was thinking the ladle looks awkward to fill, why would you use one of those and then I worked out how you would use it, the nozzle end to pour. Yes it all makes sense, well done!

[Gadge]

Nope, haven't tackled knives as yet.
Might do so after I eventually put a gas forge together, but at the moment I use a small riveters/farriers forge fuelled by charcoal. Fine for making tools, but not so much for long items like blades.

Yep, you got it re the ladle.

A bigger ladle can be made from a larger CO2 cartridge, such as those used for inflatable buoyancy vests, and divers buoyancy compensators. Must drop into my local dive shop, to see what I can scrounge - I know the owner well, and he's always up for a few swapsies.

[The Raven]

Nope, haven't tackled knives as yet.
Might do so after I eventually put a gas forge together, but at the moment I use a small riveters/farriers forge fuelled by charcoal. Fine for making tools, but not so much for long items like blades.

Yep, you got it re the ladle.

A bigger ladle can be made from a larger CO2 cartridge, such as those used for inflatable buoyancy vests, and divers buoyancy compensators. Must drop into my local dive shop, to see what I can scrounge - I know the owner well, and he's always up for a few swapsies.

Don't forget the cylinders for air rifles. Not sure they are designed for that level of heat, but it's only for pouring etc. not stirring a soup for hours on end.

[trevort]

Pretty expensive ladle


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[Gadge]

Don't forget the cylinders for air rifles. Not sure they are designed for that level of heat, but it's only for pouring etc. not stirring a soup for hours on end.

So long as they are made of steel, they'll work fine. CO2 bulbs are one-piece plated steel, these days.

[Camel]

On the pouring ladle topic, I made mine out of a 1 inch length of 1inch I.D. gal pipe and welded a flat piece on the bottom and a 3/8th nut on the side, then made a small lip to pour out of by bashing a dent in one side with a small hammer, works well not that I case much these days and then only zastavas.

I used a CBE mould when the original fella made them for my 375 Win BB made fantastic bullets.

[Gadge]

Pretty expensive ladle

Nowt wrong wi' thrift, lad. Reuse/recycle!

Like when I was converted to home espresso coffee machines. Liked the functionality of 'knock-boxes', but looked at the commercial options, and thought 'these critters are nuts, paying $30+ for one of these'.

Out to the mancave; made one in <15min with materials on hand.
Short bit of 90mm PVC stormwater pipe, push-on pipe cap, bit of 1/2" OD stainless tube, piece of garden hose; job done!

[trevort]

I meant it would be expensive to pull a cylinder out of an air rifle to make a ladle


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[The Raven]

I meant it would be expensive to pull a cylinder out of an air rifle to make a ladle


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Ahh, I meant those with disposable tanks.

[220]

I use a bottom pour pot for most of my casting, did make a ladle from 40mm rhs as I wanted a large capacity one for pouring ingots when smelting over gas. Welded the handle to a corner so I could use one of the 90 degree corners as the spout.

I would give that one a run before making the second generation model, a bit of use will highlight any modifications that might be needed.

[Gadge]

I meant it would be expensive to pull a cylinder out of an air rifle to make a ladle

Ahh, I meant those with disposable tanks.

Yep, like these; http://www.ezychargers.com.au/index.php ... 2-16g-c-22

[The Raven]

I meant it would be expensive to pull a cylinder out of an air rifle to make a ladle

Ahh, I meant those with disposable tanks.

Yep, like these; http://www.ezychargers.com.au/index.php ... 2-16g-c-22

Yep, Gamo etc....