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Post by AxeHandle on Sept 2, 2009 11:01:28 GMT -5
The 440 LFN 512 bullet mold made a Lead Bullet Technology (LBT) believer out of me.... Scared me a bit before that aluminum heated up but after that all I can say is that LBT mold is some fine bullet maker.... Liked it so much I ordered a LBT 250 Keith for my old 44s and a LBT 270 grain 41 LFN for my newest 41 mag.... JTs writings about needing two pots for these big bullets is double true for that little Lyman pot... I am thinking I can get the molds and handles under the much bigger pot of my master caster.... Water dropping helps a bit too.... Maybe need to use two sets of molds to give the big bullets a little more cooling time..
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475480
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 58
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Post by 475480 on Sept 2, 2009 13:48:23 GMT -5
I usually run 2 aluminum moulds at the same time when casting big 475,500,510 bullets also.
Sean
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,670
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Post by Fowler on Sept 2, 2009 14:31:53 GMT -5
I know I am different (that is what my Momma said and I don't need any more clarification) but I ladle pour all of my bullets and always run at least two molds.
If I am running 2 LBT 2 hole molds they cool just about the speed I can drop and pour the next mold. If I am running a LBT and a steel Lyman mold I have to slow down a little or run 2 Lymans and a LBT to get the cooling pace right where I don't break the driving bands on Keith style bullets.
I can not say enough good stuff about LBT molds, they are far and away the best molds to cast with in my never humble opinion. I think I have about a dozen of them and they have all cast great bullets everytime. For everyone elses molds I have tried it seems to be a pot shot at best to see if they are going to drop bullets well or if I have to tinker with the mold and pouring process to get good bullets that are consistant.
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Post by Bowenbuilt on Sept 2, 2009 18:39:25 GMT -5
I always cast with 4 molds so none of them ever overheat. But I will concur with Axehandle, contrary to what some others have said, LBT makes the best bullet molds I have ever used. I don't see how anyone could make a better mold. Once warm, they cast perfect bullets time after time, year after year. The oldest one I have is at least 18 years old and it casts as well today as it did the day I received it. All it takes to make them work is a little dab of Veral's lube sticks on the pins and sprue plate.
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Post by AxeHandle on Sept 3, 2009 8:01:13 GMT -5
Bullet casting came to me late in life... A life long bullet buyer enabled by a good friend in the casting business who gave me bullets for his lead cost I was forcefully driven to casting by the virtual void of .475 and .50 cal cast bullets on the market. Went whole hog with a Magma Master Caster and a few Magma Engineering molds. I bought my first LBT mold last year... The opinions of the guys here pretty much drove me to it... Contacted Veral and asked for recommendations... Was amazed at how quick he responded and then delivered the mold... These two newest ones came off his sale list....
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COR
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,529
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Post by COR on Sept 3, 2009 8:33:24 GMT -5
I am a complete novice caster but my .453 280grWFNPB make me look like I have been doing it for years. I also have grown quite fond of his LBT blue soft lube. I have gone as fast as 1350 with this bullet with no leading whatsoever and even faster with my RCBS 250K using the same. He even had a sale going a while back.
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Post by Tom Richardson on Sept 3, 2009 8:54:02 GMT -5
AX
Did you receive my email of 8/28 ?
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Post by AxeHandle on Sept 3, 2009 9:01:55 GMT -5
Tom: I received a couple from you about that time... I'll look at my email when I get home tonight...
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Post by Markbo on Sept 8, 2009 17:19:42 GMT -5
Axe, just a general tag along question... what does water dropping do differently than air cooling? Is there any difference in hardness or is it just faster?
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Post by AxeHandle on Sept 8, 2009 17:30:04 GMT -5
The big thing I saw in the water drop was that it prevented the 440 grain bullets from being damaged when dropped from the mold..
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Post by joeb4065 on Nov 6, 2009 10:31:18 GMT -5
I too recently bought an LBT mold, 220 LFN for a 41. Cast a couple hundred air cooled, then another hundred or so water dropped. Veral makes a sweet mold, kind of thought it was bold talk from him about how well his molds cast, but am now a believer. Still working up a load, but early results look very promising.
Next will be a 45 mold for the Linebaugh Bisley.
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Post by AxeHandle on Nov 6, 2009 11:47:09 GMT -5
FWIW as a followup to the water drop and air cool difference... My new LBT hardness tested showed my water dropped stuff 27/28 BNH... Air cooling those same bullets resulted in a BNH of 14...
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papa
.30 Stingray
Posts: 235
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Post by papa on Nov 6, 2009 20:54:52 GMT -5
Thanks Axe, that confirms what I've always heard about the water drop. Be interested to test bullets from the same two lots over a period of time to see if any differences crop up?
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