SCORE! That ingot is 18.4 lbs. By my calculations that should yield around 2500 to 2700 .310 balls... Picked up the pot today.



Mike

Good find, Mike. Is the pot new or a find at a sale?

Nice score ! Too bad you didn’t live closer...I have a friend that has bars of lead...for free. I scored ovah 100 pound about 6 months ago. This guy makes medical carts...and they are weighted by lead ( in the lower shelf ) so they are more stable...I think he has to put new lead in them each time...who knows ...but he has a lot of lead... I have a lee pot too...but not that nice. Have you got the molds and handles ?

New. Think I paid about $10 more than I would have from an online retailer... But if it helps keep my local guy's doors open I guess that's ok.

Mike

Dad found that chunk in one of the outbuildings they were cleaning out to turn into a chicken coop... He swears there's another bigger one around somewhere, he just can't recall where he put it. Lol

I have 3 molds. One for each gun. A Lee .490 single cavity. A scissor mold in .445, pretty sure it's from Dixie. And a reproduction bag mold in .310 from TOtW.

They all throw nice balls. But being single cavity makes for slow production. I may upgrade to all Lee 6 cavity molds.

Mike

I bet that 6 cavity ...takes a while to heat up ,to throw good balls.

Those bag molds from Track are nice if you want a traditional mold.

I've been thinking about getting a Lee pot. It would be easier than melting in a cast one on the stove, or in a fire. Let us know how you like it.

You are Old School !.....

Probably. My single cavity takes a while.

Mike

I've started out melting a pound or so at a time in a stainless measuring cup on my Coleman stove and dipping with a folding bag ladle... Slow and frustrating.

So I poured little ingots about the size of 3 stacked 50 cent pieces and just melted the ingots directly in the ladle... Still slow but easy enough once you get in a rhythm. Those little ingots would make several .310 balls.

I'm certain this bottom spout pot will be the cat's pajamas.

Mike

It throws a really nice ball. But a .310 ball is so small that the sprue nippers in the handles don't work very well. I bought a cheap pair of end nipper pliers and ground the outside face so they cut flush. Makes a nice smooth flat cut.

Mike

Well, upon further casting I have decided that the bag mold is junk.

It's supposed to throw a .310 ball but I am getting an out of round ball that varies from .313 measured across one side to .333 measured across the other.

Based on my experience I wouldn't recommend anyone purchasing one... Perhaps the bigger calibers cast a truer ball... But I would be highly suspect.

I did manage to find another of the Dixie scissor molds for my .32. It's ordered. We'll see how well it does.

Mike

If you want a nice bag mold contact Larry Callahan at www.bagmolds.com.

Thanks Ed!

Mike

Always used Lyman..or RCBS steel molds. I do have a few Lee ,Aluminum ones too.