casting stable lead bullets

[absinthe]

i was thinking about casting some lead bullets for my copper "musket" and am trying to think of how to made them stable without rifling..

would something like a minie ball but with a hollow rear work? (also just the ridges on the rear of the bullet should help keep it stable as they will add drag at the rear)

any other ideas? I'm looking at a 10mm bullet

[Gippeto]

Yes. A Foster style slug will work.

How good you can make the mold depends on the tools you have available. This is for those without a lathe/mill.

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/easy-sp ... 17366.html

If you have a lathe/mill, a much better product can be made.

[absinthe]

i do have acess to a lathe and a mill... but i wanted to cast a bullet with a hollow rear all in one go. i think i would have to pour from the tip..

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Technically a section of barrel tubing (assuming it's metal) and a mandrel for the hollow section are all you really need to cast a flat-nosed slug.

If you have a 3/4" barrel and a steady supply of 12 gram CO₂ capsules, you might also want to consider this.

[Gippeto]

This was made on the lathe with a 4 jaw chuck. It has since been modified/improved.

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/download,id,12121.html

This was made with a 3 jaw. Designed, turned/bored and cast in about an hour.

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/download,id,10981.html

USGF also has made a large (And it should be noted...Very nice.) slug mold that I cannot seem to find right now. I'm sure someone can link to it.

[qwerty]

what about a giant lead diablo pellet
like this but a little bigger
http://www.dleventhal.com/misc-images/pellet.jpg

[al-xg]

A mold I made last year out of plaster of Paris for casting 14mm (.55) diabolo pellets.
Obviously the cone bit at the top is removed.
They fly very straight.

Gippetto, On that second mold, do the slugs just drop out through shrinking ?

[john bunsenburner]

Hey on a side note, any one here ever try scuba diving shot(its used to weigh people down like a lead belt, just its shot filled into pockets) as ammo? It would be irregular but its cheap as dirt and most probably not half bad?

[far_cry]

i do have access to a lathe and a mill

so make them out of steel .or another material that you can see as best

[ramses]

@al-xg: how is the plaster holding up? Whenever I do a plaster casting, the mold becomes unusable after the first casting. Did you use any kind of rebar-type material in the plaster?(granted I remove the part with a hammer and chisel.

@Gippeto: That first mold looks really nice. I really need to get a lathe. Was it made of steel or aluminum?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

They fly very straight.

...but still look embarassingly like a butt-plug

[Gippeto]

The molds are all made from aluminum, the slugs have to be pushed out of the center section of the second mold. (A bugger of a job with a hot mold, and the reason I now make split molds. )


Diablo style pellet eh...

Something like the middle one? Cast in another "push" mold, and then the skirt is swaged.

[al-xg]

The plaster should last longer, the part shouldn't need to be removed in such and extreme way.
Do you use some sort of lubricant No, Jack, No... on the mold before casting ?
I've used various things like cutting oil, silicone lubricant, even butter

One must just be aware that anything that boils could make the lead spurt out or break the mold.

i do have access to a lathe and a mill

Oh, didn't see that... Forget the plaster go with ally !

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I've used various things like cutting oil, silicone lubricant, even butter

This collection of containers on your bedside table must look very intimidating to any visiting young ladies

...but hey, lube shows you care

[ramses]

For me, the part did need to be removed in a violent manner (I was casting a soda bottle cap with their stupid partial threads) no lube.

Gippeto, did you ever consider making a handle type mechanism like commercial bullet molds?