Just got through casting 100 bullets from wheelweight ingots I melted down using a Lyman 429421 245 gr. 44 cal mould. 88 of them came out between 262 and 264 gr. The other 12 were 265 to 269gr. According to the Lyman chart wheelweights in this mould should weigh around 252gr. I know there are a lot of variables possible, but does this seem to be a little excessive. Never used this mould before. Just bought it. The bullets were water dropped out of the mould. I haven't cast any other sizes out of this bunch of wheelweights, so haven't got any comparisons to make, but is there that much difference in them??

You did really well getting the majority of them within 2 grains! Different moulds are calibrated for different alloys, I would not worry too much about it.

Sounds like you are well on your way.....

simcoe,

I was casting some of the Ly. 429421's last week using about half monotype and half ww and range scrap. After lubing the generous lube groove and sizing, mine average around 242grns. These are testing about bhn 21 on my Saeco hardness tester. Anyway it looks a hair short of the saeco 10 which is bhn 22. I water drop my bullets also as it seems to add about bhn 5 or so to the hardness.

Bill

edit- I don't think the lube adds much more than 1 grn. to the weight.