Steve Brooks mold.

[Distant Thunder]

Don,
Having someone who will cut a totally custom mold of such high quality is a big plus for the BPTR shooters.

I managed to adjust the plate on this one so that there is very little play up and down but it still swings freely.

The only problem I'm having with this mold now is that it flashes around the base a little bit most of the time. It is critical as to how long I hold the ladle against the sprue. A second too little and the base is rounded, a second too long and it flashes big time. It requires a count of 2 1/2 to 3 seconds.

I preheat my molds on a hot plate. With this one I have to start with the pot on a higher temperature and watch for the first hint of whiskers and then turn it down to a more normal temperature.

Yesterday the very first bullet looked pretty good but I threw it back anyway. I then started keeping them from the second bullet on. Somewhere after 40 bullets I had 2 that had just the slightest whiskers and I turned the heat down a little too much. Bullet number 53 had a visible flaw in the shank, 2 more of those and I bumped the temperature up just a touch and within 3 more I was good again all the way to the end of casting for the day, my 100 bullets.

The base flashing isn't bad, I can just rub it off with a paper towel. It's still a PITA to have to deal with it.

These 100 bullets are the best looking bullets I've cast in a while. I think I'm going to keep this mold!