Sprue removal

[VEARL]

I just finished molding up a batch of 58 ca. round balls from pure lead.
I used the J. Tanner .570 round ball mold.
I cut the lead sprue off with my metal nippers. However there is still a small part still sticking up on each one. Thinking that this piece would cause accuracy problems.
How does everyone remove this small piece?

 

[bpd303]

A pair of flush cut nippers and you won't have the problem. https://www.google.com/search?q=fl...-0yATSjoHQBA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=608

 

[coloradoclyde]

hotoSmile:

 

[bpd303]

You could probably just use a knife to remove the part your regular side cutters left.

 

[Ken Cormier]

If you load with sprue up when you seat the ball against the powder the pressure from the ramrod will round out the ball. You will not find any difference in accuracy as long as it was soft lead :2

 

[necchi]

What that ↑ guy said, :thumbsup:

 

[Billnpatti]

I use Lee moulds for casting most of my projectiles. They cut the sprue very close to the ball. But, to make the sprue as small of an issue as possible, I tumble my newly cast balls in a rock tumbler with no tumbling medium in it. About 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. Less and the balls will not have had time to tumble the sprue marks off. Over an hour and you end up with rifle balls that have a textured surface from tumbling together. It has no effect on the performance of the balls but they just look nicer when not over tumbled.

If you don't have a rock tumbler, you can try a method that I used a few times many years ago before I got my rock tumbler. I made a shallow plywood box that was about 12 inches by 12 inches and had sides that were about 1/2 inch high. I put my newly cast balls in it filling it about 3/4 full. Then I put the lid on it and held it in place with duck tape. I put it under the seat of my truck and drove around with it there for about a week. When I took them out, they had rolled around enough to remove the spru marks. It works but I prefer the rock tumbler.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Soft lead
and a good ball starter
will pound the knot
off any head

 

[dave524]

If you don't have a sprue how do you tell which way is up :grin:

 

[ohio ramrod]

My method for removing the sprue from a ball cast in a mold without a sprue cutter is to use a pair of "side cutters" with a .222 ( I shoot a .445 diameter ball) radius ground in to the cutting side. I then "roll" the ball with a set of rolling plates. Plus I use a short starter and ramrod with the proper radius cut into them. :idunno: :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

If you load with sprue up when you seat the ball against the powder the pressure from the ramrod will round out the ball. You will not find any difference in accuracy as long as it was soft lead :2

Wat he said. :hatsoff: Give the man a ceegar.

 

[mooman76]

Take a pair of side cutters(cheap ones will work) and grind the side so they cut flush instead of beveled.

 

[Enfield1]

When casting balls sitting around a camp fire. I use a primitive ball mould. I use the sprue cutter to cut the sprue, but as y'all know, there is still a little bit of a "burr" left. I then take a little iron file from my possibles bag and after a few draws, the ball is pretty darn round. Period correct and good enough to break a moving clay skeet at 75 yards and win the turkey at my club's annual shoot in November. :wink:

 

[Golfswithwolves]

If you don't have a sprue how do you tell which way is up :grin:

This logic is irrefutable. :bow:

 

[nhmoose]

If you don't have a sprue how do you tell which way is up :grin:

This logic is irrefutable. :bow:

Yep!!

 

[floyd1350]

I use a tanner mold and cut the spru with an electricians multi tool. use one of the smaller wire stripper holes.