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Casting round balls

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Tb54

Pilgrim
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Messages
228
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102
Location
Ma’as cow, Idaho
Just cast my first batch of .535 round balls—and weighed them. I got :
[email protected]
10@230gr
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
I’m useing an RCBS balance type powder scale, so rather than sliding the weights back and forth I set them and slid the 1gr weight and grouped them. I double checked my max weight of 230.9 and did get that as my max. So far I plan to recast everything in the 228.5gr and lighter groups, and am re weighing the rest for 229.5 and heavier to start with for my load work up for accuracy.

my question is how negligible is a .5 gr difference in ball weight for accuracy with a 60” twist since the ball is only revolving 30 times to a 50yd target? I noticed that some of the balls weiing 229.5 gr had small air bubble gouges on the surface and others of the same weight did not, meaning the voids are closer to the center, therefore of less consequence in 30 revolutions.
I’ll post a pic if I can figger how.
 

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Just cast my first batch of .535 round balls—and weighed them. I got :
[email protected]
10@230gr
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
I’m useing an RCBS balance type powder scale, so rather than sliding the weights back and forth I set them and slid the 1gr weight and grouped them. I double checked my max weight of 230.9 and did get that as my max. So far I plan to recast everything in the 228.5gr and lighter groups, and am re weighing the rest for 229.5 and heavier to start with for my load work up for accuracy.

my question is how negligible is a .5 gr difference in ball weight for accuracy with a 60” twist since the ball is only revolving 30 times to a 50yd target? I noticed that some of the balls weiing 229.5 gr had small air bubble gouges on the surface and others of the same weight did not, meaning the voids are closer to the center, therefore of less consequence in 30 revolutions.
I’ll post a pic if I can figger how.
If those air spots are where the sprue is, you’re not filling the mould completely. I’m sure that a lot of people weigh their roundball for target shooting, but I don’t. I just try and make sure that they are smooth with no visible air holes. Never found it to be a problem, but then I’m not the best shot in the world. Lol
 
The total spread is 3.4 grains, shoot them. There is going to be more variance in how you load, hold the gun, powder drop, wind, patch thickness etc, etc, 3.4 grains will not be the problem.

P.S. The amount of revolutions of the ball will come down to velocity.
 
I am on the opposite side of the fence. I take an average weight of my cast balls, and for a .54 caliber, I keep the balls that ar +/- 1.0 grain from the average. For hunting purposes, it probably does not matter if you weigh the balls, but i have found that for target work, it is best to have a consistent ball weight. I have found that variations of 2.5-3.0 grains from average tend to group sometimes as much as 3"from point of aim. For calibers of .45 and below, I discard balls that are more than +/- .5 grains from the average. It seems the smaller balls are more affected by weight discrepancies.
 
One of the benefits of weighing your cast round balls is it will help you develop a casting routine that is more consistent. Have found that if I toss the first 10 balls after they look good, don’t put sprues back in the pot while casting, make sure the sprue plate (whatever it is called) is completely filled each time, keep a consistent rythem as I cast, and limit my casting runs to 50 or so balls, depending on caliber, I get very consistent weights. Would not have learned this without weighing. Now I only do a spot check on weight, but as long as I stick to my proven process, very little variation with no extra effort.
 
The weights are fine, you would not notice the difference in any of them. The holes, fix that, but the weights are fine.
 
Throw the highs and the lows... “the lucky 13” back in the pot and enjoy shooting the rest!
 
WOW! You’ve done really well for your first casting session. You may have a minor variance here or there but as long as they aren’t noticeable I’d shoot them. If you’re shooting in competition and you are worried about a bad ball ruining your score, get swaged balls and shoot those. Otherwise just use the “Must have been a bad ball!” excuse for the occasional flyer. Works for me!
 
I don't weigh them. Figured the mountain men never bothered with weighing balls, why should I. My groups are good enough to take game, and that's all I care about.
 
I say shoot em all.


But if your keeping them, don't keep the avg weight, common sense would say keep the heaviest, or maybe the heaviest two groups.
 
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