How long to wait before knocking off the sprue? - The Firearms Forum

frosty · 01-23-2004, 12:16 PM

How long should I wait before knocking off the sprue?

Some have said 4 to 5 seconds. This just sounds to soon!

inplanotx · 01-23-2004, 01:52 PM

Make sure you pour a big sprue or you will not get good bases on your bullets. With the big sprue, you will see it start to draw down into the mold. When this stops, count three and knock off the sprue.

bompa · 01-26-2004, 09:43 PM

When I was casting my own,years ago,I always used two or three molds at the same time..Fill them all and then pick up the first and knock the sprue and empty and then fill and set down and do same to the next and just keep going.. In this manner it is hard to over heat the molds or knock the sprue too soon..
Didn't have no fancy electric pot back then,used a gas burner and a cast iron pot and a dipper to pour with.. Must have made a million bullets that way,still got a few rifle bullets left after quitting over twenty five years ago..Reason for quitting is a whole nuther story.. Still shooting though..

Tony Mig · 01-27-2004, 07:42 PM

As soon as the sprue turns frosty. That's what I do.

I dip and pour with a ladle into a two bullet Lee mold, and as soon as the sprue turns frosty, I knock it off and right back into the lead pot. Of course Lee molds are aluminum, and they don't over heat like cast iron or steel molds.

Xracer · 01-30-2004, 08:23 AM

I usually wait about 8-10 seconds, then knock off the sprue and drop 'em on a folded towel.

But.....don't worry about it much. Any bad bullets just go back into the pot, so there's no waste. Pretty soon, you'll settle into your own "groove" where everything works "just right".

02-24-2004, 02:34 PM

in hot water, but then I used Hensley and Gibbs gang molds. Casting is a PITA, so I always went at it as fast as possible, with a propane fired plumber's furnace, and a 100 lb pot of molten lead. I'd do it for 8 hours, have 6-8k bullets when done.

01-23-2004, 12:16 PM	#1
frosty V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 374	How long to wait before knocking off the sprue? How long should I wait before knocking off the sprue? Some have said 4 to 5 seconds. This just sounds to soon! __________________ BEER POCKET BOOK ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS -->

01-23-2004, 01:52 PM	#2
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Make sure you pour a big sprue or you will not get good bases on your bullets. With the big sprue, you will see it start to draw down into the mold. When this stops, count three and knock off the sprue. __________________

01-27-2004, 07:42 PM	#4
Tony Mig Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Sorprano State Posts: 716	As soon as the sprue turns frosty. That's what I do. I dip and pour with a ladle into a two bullet Lee mold, and as soon as the sprue turns frosty, I knock it off and right back into the lead pot. Of course Lee molds are aluminum, and they don't over heat like cast iron or steel molds. __________________ "I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know." New Jersey Politician's oath of office O /\ (( -------------v-

02-24-2004, 02:34 PM	#6
suryevor Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	I always quenched the (filled) mold in hot water, but then I used Hensley and Gibbs gang molds. Casting is a PITA, so I always went at it as fast as possible, with a propane fired plumber's furnace, and a 100 lb pot of molten lead. I'd do it for 8 hours, have 6-8k bullets when done.

01-26-2004, 09:43 PM	#3
bompa V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Western Mass. Posts: 118	When I was casting my own,years ago,I always used two or three molds at the same time..Fill them all and then pick up the first and knock the sprue and empty and then fill and set down and do same to the next and just keep going.. In this manner it is hard to over heat the molds or knock the sprue too soon.. Didn't have no fancy electric pot back then,used a gas burner and a cast iron pot and a dipper to pour with.. Must have made a million bullets that way,still got a few rifle bullets left after quitting over twenty five years ago..Reason for quitting is a whole nuther story.. Still shooting though..

01-30-2004, 08:23 AM	#5
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	I usually wait about 8-10 seconds, then knock off the sprue and drop 'em on a folded towel. But.....don't worry about it much. Any bad bullets just go back into the pot, so there's no waste. Pretty soon, you'll settle into your own "groove" where everything works "just right".