Casting Bullets

I had the day off yesterday and I don't think it quite made it up to the 100+ temps it's been getting to lately.

Couldn't quite enable myself to do some casting though. I have the lead and molds and everything needed, but it's hot work and added onto the outside temps, it's just asking for trouble. You have to get the temp of the lead up to at least 650 degrees to melt the lead and a little more to completely fill out the mold (plus a little tin). Most wheelweights have more than enough antimony mixed in with the lead but are a little short on the amount of tin which is required to allow full flow to the mold. So you toss in the right amount of 50/50 bar solder and you're good to go.

I cast bullets because it's a cheap way to shoot, but the drawback is that you can't drive the slugs as fast as jacketed bullets. Which brings me to paper patching the cast bullet. Wrapping some thin, strong paper a couple of times around the cast bullet provides a jacket which reduces the effects of friction against the lead of the bullet. Therefore the cast bullet can be driven faster without leaving some lead in the barrel.

I have some ideas on using paper patched bullets that I really need to cast a bunch up for, so sooner or later I'm going to have to "bite the bullet" and do some casting no matter the ambient temperature Yesterday I took the more judicious road of simply doing repairs and improvements to the property. I still sweated like a race-horse, but I was able to hose myself down quite often.

We didn't get any real rain from Don, though a little cloud passed overhead and spattered us with a few drops. Just enough to say "What was that??". The whole area looks like a back drop to a spaghetti western and I keep expecting the Man With No Name to ride through. All this makes me consider the water situation and several ideas I need to implement to ensure water security. Lots to do there too.

See Ya,

YeOldFurt