tollerance for roundballs

[jamesthomas]

You mentioned a separation line in your cast balls, I have those from the start, it's very thin, when I run my finger nail across it there is no hang up it's just as smooth as the rest of the ball. I'm casting .495's and out of a hundred I'll get around 10 to 15 culls, sometimes better. I keep my weights between 183 to 184.5 grains. This is useing a Lee Mold. Shot a 1 1/2 inch group at fifty yards with them yesterday. So I would not worry about a separation line to much. Just check'em every now an then to make sure your mold does'nt get out of line. :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

There should be bleed out holes in your mold, to let the air out. Generally, if you have closed the mold properly, you should not get those casting seams, UNLESS

the bleed-out holes have become plugged. :shocked2: :idunno:

Inspect the surface of both mold blocks, looking for something that is shining against the black background. Usually, a wire brush( one of those with brass, or bronze wires, not the heavy steel ones sold to remove paint from house walls)run across the mold surfaces at right angles to the sprue, will clean out these blockages, quickly. :thumbsup:

 

[jamesthomas]

Well I did as you suggested, :thumbsup: scrubed the inside of the mold with a bronze cleaning brush. What happened was it reduced the separation line to an super fine one, But whats weird is I lost a whole grain in weight. Just cast 50 rbs. and they all weighed between 182 and 183 grains! The previous ones before I cleaned were between 183 to 184.5 I betcha by reducing the line I lost that grain of weight. they also miked closer to .495 all around than the other ones. Thanks Paul V.. Looks like I'm in for a recasting session.

 

[LRB]

Very good answer Paul. You hit a homer. :hatsoff: