Casting Minie’s Help Needed

[ChadVance]

Fired up the new pot with pure lead, temp is about 700 +-20, cleaned moulds with acetone. Casting .58 rounds for the Springfield. Are my standards too high or is this normal?

 

[LawrenceA]

They are no good.
That says to me that the mold and maybe the lead is still too cold or the pour is too slow. You may need to open up the sprue plate a little to get it filling quick

 

[ord sgt]

Your mold isn't up to temperature. Steel or aluminum mold? Steel takes longer to reach a good casting temp but once there, holds the heat better. Run about 20 minies and they will begin to look smoother.
Is this from a bottom pour lead pot or are you pouring from a ladle? Bottom pour pots will leave air pockets in your castings.
Remelt those ball. And usually, toss the first ten or so cast back into the pot.

 

[jsb30]

Casting pure lead I run my temperature up to 845.

 

[jcs266]

Another member here mentored me ref these same .58 Minies and it sure helped me get started with casting. His advice was HOT and pour it fast. I think he runs his furnace at 850* and sets his pour speed as quick as he can. I run mine (an RCBS ProMelt2) at about 835* and they come out nicely.

As said above you need to get the mold up to temp, so just consider the first 15-20 bullets as "warm-ups" (I put them back in the pot later).

Report back with your findings.

 

[ChadVance]

Casting from a 10lb Lee, these were from a steel Lee mold.

Setup is still out in the garage, I’m on a union break so I’ll hit it again in a few, had to walk away.

First time ever casting. I’ll try heating the mould hotter before I open the spout.

 

[jcs266]

Once the mold is up to proper temp and you're pouring 800*+ then keep that mold working. I usually do about 100 at a time once I'm "in the zone".

 

[mooman76]

Minies can be a PITA, even for seasoned casters. The main problem is the pin needs to be hot also and beings it usually is not connected to the mould that makes it difficult to heat and keep hot. The base on the minie must be filled out good or it will not shoot good. You probably picked the hardest mould to get started on. Crank your heat up all the way and preheat your mould to include the pin well before starting.

 

[hawkeye2]

" steel Lee mold" All Lee molds are aluminum. Run the lead hot and it takes a while for the base plug to come up to temperature. Any defects in the skirt and the minie will come apart in the bore leaving some behind or it'll come apart at the muzzle.

 

[mooman76]

Lee does make an aluminum mould for the 58 that looks like that. Just get the mould hotter before you start or keep casting until they come out good. I start hot and turn the heat down a little at a time until I get to a good casting temperature.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have never gotten the quality of casting in a Lee Mold that I could get with a Lyman, but my Rapine aluminum molds were EXCELLENT! The temperature of the mold is the key. I have cast as low as 750 degree with pure lead IF THE MOLD IS HOT ENOUGH. A Lee mold with a centered plug will benefit from some time on a hot plate before you start to cast. Remember to leave the first few castings in the mold until all of the heat is absorbed from the lead into the mold. Go slow at first to transfer the heat, the go FAST at a good rhythm.

You can do this!

ADK Bigfoot

 

[ChadVance]

" steel Lee mold" All Lee molds are aluminum. Run the lead hot and it takes a while for the base plug to come up to temperature. Any defects in the skirt and the minie will come apart in the bore leaving some behind or it'll come apart at the muzzle.

You are correct, hat it confused with the other one I was using below...

 

[bisleyjohn]

Casting from a 10lb Lee, these were from a steel Lee mold.

Setup is still out in the garage, I’m on a union break so I’ll hit it again in a few, had to walk away.

First time ever casting. I’ll try heating the mould hotter before I open the spout.

I put my moulds on the edge of my Lee pot, while it is heating. Those Minis have symptoms of cold mould and/or slow pour. I have also drilled out the spout but so long ago I can’t tell you what drill size I used.

 

[jcs266]

That's the same mold i use.

 

[bang]

To get good pour with my bottom pour I opened the spout to a #40 (.098) and run the temp at 8.5 on the dial. Plus I preheat the mould with a propane torch.

 

[ord sgt]

Make sure to skim al the loose crud from the top of the melted lead. I usually throw some paraffin into the pot and stir with a long handled spoon, so the dross will rise to the top. Smoke will rise and if the lead is hot enough, the smoke will burst into flame. Vent out the smoke while preheating the mold.
Also, carbon the mold with a flame. It helps with the release of the cast bullets.

 

[Eterry]

I run my pot wide often when i'm running minie balls. If i switch to rb i get frosted balls unless i let it cool.

Its tougher than casting rb... those are easy compared to minies.

 

[jcs266]

Eterry,

I haven't cast RB yet, what do you mean by frosted when casting RB? Is it ref the mold being too hot?

If you would elaborate please thanks

 

[LawrenceA]

Eterry,

I haven't cast RB yet, what do you mean by frosted when casting RB? Is it ref the mold being too hot?

If you would elaborate please thanks

I believe he means the lead is too hot.
I personally don't care if the bullets are a little frosted and for minies or hollow points try to stay at that point because that tells me all is as hot as it can be.
Essentially I cast till it gets at that point then add some ingots. This brings the temp down and also keeps a head of lead in the pot.
I use a bottom pour but keep the mold off the nozzle so I can see whats going on and help reduce voids.
If the molten lead goes rainbows then it is way too hot and oxidation and dross will form too fast.

 

[dave951]

Your pot and mold are too cold. Crank it up to 850 or better and preheat the mold with a propane torch. Key to good minies is a hot core pin, hot lead and fast pour.