Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > The Lounge
o

Notices

The Lounge A Catch-All Area for NON-GUN topics.
PUT GUN TOPICS in the GUN FORUMS.
Keep it Family Friendly. See The Rules for Banned Topics!


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-16-2013, 10:32 PM
Billy Patterson Billy Patterson is offline
Member
Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold  
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Unhappy Lyman .40 cal bullet mold

Been molding lead (wheelweights) bullets and reloading since '69. Have used Hensley and Gibbs .38 148 gr.(mid-range for Smith M-52) and H&G .45 ACP 200 gr, RCBS for .44 calibers. Have run about 110k rounds with no bullet wrinkle problem, using Saeco, Lyman M-61 and Lyman Mag20 furnaces. I wore out the Saeco and now have 2nd Lyman 61. Just got a Lyman 4-cavity mold #358477 150 gr that throws perfectly uniform bullets after running 2 cycles back into the pot.
Now, here's my problem: Just got a Lyman 4 cavity mold #401638, 175 gr for .40 S&W caliber. Have tried for five consecutive days in a row to get the mold to throw "acceptable" bullets. Tried this with both Lyman furnaces, have varied the temperatures from minimum up to maximum acceptable degrees. No luck...all bullets come out with horrible wrinkles on both edges and the face. Have varied time between bullet throws, different flux approaches, etc, trying everything I have learned over the past 44 years. I DO KNOW how to mold bullets from wheel weights, resulting in match cartidges for my match guns and fellow competitor shooters who reload only my cast bullets. Am about to return this Lyman mold to the store.But, first, has anyone ever encountered such a problem and if so, what resulted?
I normally am not a blogger, or whatever, but then I have never run into any reloading problem I could not solve on my own. But, fellows, this boy needs help. And, thanks a ton.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-16-2013, 11:13 PM
Frank237's Avatar
Frank237 Frank237 is offline
Absent Comrade
Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold  
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Craig, Montana
Posts: 3,093
Likes: 363
Liked 2,346 Times in 893 Posts
Default

I would CLEAN the mold thoroughly with some carb cleaner, Simple Green, some sort of degreaser. Then preheat the mold by letting it sit on your furnace as lead heats up, or use a small hot plate.

Wrinkles are usually the result of grease/oil in the mold. Or too cold a mold. Or a combination of too cold a mold and alloy not hot enough.

My two cents. Good Luck.

FN in MT
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-17-2013, 12:41 AM
Cyrano's Avatar
Cyrano Cyrano is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,581
Likes: 13,500
Liked 6,743 Times in 2,526 Posts
Default

That kind of long-term wrinkles are usually the result of grease in the mould. Boil it for five minutes in a strong solution of dish detergent, rinse wih equally hot water and allow to dry. Then apply mold release if you use it. You should have no futher problems.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-17-2013, 06:10 PM
mtgianni mtgianni is offline
Member
Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SW MT
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 10,392
Liked 5,972 Times in 2,942 Posts
Default

I think the previous two posters nailed it. I would send it back if it was out of round but suspect that there is preservative hidden in the cavities. Failing that, run it a lot hotter than you think you should for 2-300 pours.
__________________
Front sight and squeeze
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-18-2013, 12:07 AM
Frank46 Frank46 is offline
US Veteran
Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold Lyman .40 cal bullet mold  
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New Iberia, Louisiana
Posts: 4,588
Likes: 25,427
Liked 3,380 Times in 1,736 Posts
Default

I usually keep some cans of carb cleaner around as I normally lightly oil my molds with a q-tip. For a mold I haven't used in awhile gets the spray carb cleaner treatment. Some fellow casters I know will take a new mold and put it in a small sauce pan and leave it there until the water comes to a boil then take it out and wipe it dry. Then start casting. the wrinkles are a sign that the lube used in the manufacture of the mold is actually in the pores of the metal. Hope this helps. Frank
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Problem with Lyman bullet mold cal. .40S&W Billy Patterson Reloading 9 05-19-2013 01:52 PM
SOLD ****9 mm, 147 gr, Lyman bullet mold Warren Sear Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 2 04-26-2013 01:45 PM
Lyman 410459 Mold for sale sargeny1 Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 1 06-26-2012 04:20 PM
correct Star bullet punch for a Lyman 410459 mold ??? robbt Reloading 3 01-24-2010 08:32 PM
WTS: Lyman 429421 mold w/handles............SC HiVelocity Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 0 09-19-2009 08:23 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:30 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)