Before adding ...

[Old Jim]

Before adding more tin to my 20:1 alloy I have a question. When adding an amount to bring the alloy to 16:1, will the dimensions on the newly cast bullets be different, ie smaller? And in what ways might they be smaller; shorter, narrower?

Old inquiring minds !

Jim

[powderburner]

thats interesting and I await others views , I have a mould that casts a 442 in 60-1 and at 30-1 it casts a 443 + . the same design mould at 440 with 60-1 stays the same , gp figure, these are smooth sided pp bullets , by the way.

[Don McDowell]

I have a couple of moulds that when going from 20-1 -16-1 the 16 will cast .001 larger than the 20 and about 3 grs less. Those are slicks.
I have a couple of grease groove moulds that the only change is the weight, and my mould for the 405 will cast larger.

[craneman]

Moulds seem to be as individual as the rifles they feed. My BACO money PP mould drops consistently sized slicks regardless of the alloy hardness, the weight will decline with the addition of tin of course. Now my Paul Jones GG money mould will gain girth when the alloy is hardened.

Todd

[Kurt]

I see this question quite often. Steve Brooks cuts his moulds for 1/30 T/L alloy. The only thing with my bullets that change is the weight. I always wondered when I read some change diameters if this has something to do with the mould and cavity. Smaller blocks like Lyman or other production moulds plus the aluminum blocks expand more than the larger iron blocks??? also the heat range of my alloy gets turned down when I add more tin.

[Old Jim]

I found what Kurt said about turnin' down the heat. I dropped from 780 to 730 for the 16:1 alloy ... not a lot, but some. Also no measurable differences in the cast bullets, save the wt. The bullet used in the trial was a .458 x 532 gr. Boomer Money bullet. His moulds are some of the largest blocks around.

Ya know something? That Kurt guy is a smart fellow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Don McDowell]

Ya know something? That Kurt guy is a smart fellow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why he carries the title grand advisory committee.

[Kurt]

Oh man I cant find a smiley to respond to this.

[Iron Coyote]

Old Jim wrote:
Ya know something? That Kurt guy is a smart fellow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
X2
THNXS LOTS
Bob

[craneman]

Another tip o the hat from me to Kurt.
I think he's probably forgotten more than I've learned about black powder and lead projectiles thus far! I always pay attention to what insights he has to offer, I don't always know what to do with it but I pay attention!