Cast Ball and temprature photo

[necchi]

Someone yesterday asked for pic's of what cast ball look like if the lead temp is too hot. Today the topic is gone. I presume some made poor taste wise cracks and it got pulled.
So I'll put the photo up again for viewing.
On the left; 2 ball with die temp too cold (winkles)
Center; is 1 good cast ball.
Right; is 4 cast with lead too hot, and show a frosted apperance, you can look at the one sprue cut and see an almost crystalin like apperance.

I hope this helps someone, I did hafta go scrounge those ball just for the photo.

 

[4deer]

I thank you very much for your effort necchi. Now I know I got my lead to hot the other day.

I was wondering myself what happened to the post.

 

[DanChamberlain]

By the way, for my pistols, I don't remelt the frosty ones. I shoot'em up. For my rifles, I remelt the frosty ones and mold new ones. At pistol ranges and velocities, I don't care if they're frosty.

Dan

 

[4deer]

By the way, for my pistols, I don't remelt the frosty ones. I shoot'em up. For my rifles, I remelt the frosty ones and mold new ones. At pistol ranges and velocities, I don't care if they're frosty.

Dan

Is there a noticeable difference in weight if you weight them?

 

[1sgt]

Thats helpful information. I have seen some of each. Just what is the best casting temperature range?

 

[R.M.]

The frost, as far as I've been told, only occurs with alloyed lead, not pure, and yes, it is a sign of over-heating, but as far as I know, it makes no difference to accuracy.
I've done a lot of casting for RB and smokeless guns, and have only seen it with alloys. Pure lead will sometimes get a rainbow type of hue to it, and I think it has something to do with heat also.

 

[hanshi]

I think you're correct. I've cast countless thousands of lead alloy bullets for handguns and many thousands more pure lead rb. Never had a soft lead rb come out with frost but did have many alloy bullets come out that way. FWIW the frosty ones shot every bit as well as the non frosted ones.

 

[HellifIknow]

Thanks for the picture and info.

I'm having pretty good luck with a Lyman steel mould and a good old Lee Production pot.

 

[Norinco]

Does anyone know how frosted ones differ in hardness? Do they work well in cap and ball revolvers?

 

[necchi]

The frost, as far as I've been told, only occurs with alloyed lead, not pure, and yes, it is a sign of over-heating

I think your right too, that's actually why I found these, the lead came from questionable sources, and I didin't want it mixed with my pure.

I haven't seen frosty with the pure lead I have. Pure lead does get that rainbow skin on it around 750*>, but just stir it and it's been no trouble as far as the lead itself.
You get to that temp though and it's about watching/controling the mold temp

I just picked up a 45-70 cartridge gun, I'll be able to use the old alloy/lead for that, if and when I get a mold. Gee's another thing to try to figure out :surrender:

 

[Idaho Ron]

Thankyou again for the picture. I wonder what happened to the other post. Anyway, I can't add much to what has been said other than when lead like that is frosted I find that the hardness is about 12 BHN. That would be clamp on wheel weight. Ron

 

[ohio ramrod]

I noticed when I got some lead that was supposed to be pure ( It was definately softer than wheel weight lead) That it cast "frosty" Balls and mini's no matter what the temperature and the mini's suffered "skirt seperation" So I believe the alloy definately makes more differance than heat. The round balls did shoot well and where 5 grains lighter in a .445 ball.

 

[Idaho Ron]

If you have that lead in ingots drop one on the cement. It will ring if it is hard. It will make a thud if it is soft. ROn

 

[Dphar]

I cast everything hot. If if it takes too long for the sprue to "freeze" I usually just slow the process to allow the mould a little more time to cool.
Pure lead is unlikely to show the frosting problem. But its common in casting bullets with tin added to the alloy. I can't see a problem with the frosting except the sprues tend to break a hollow from the bullet since then do not cut but shatter.
This can also vary with the mould being used. Poor venting is a major cause of malformed bullets with any metal and may cause frosting of the bullet body as well.

Dan