Reeder Custom Guns - mould problem

i recently bought a lee 452-230 tc mould #90290 for my 45s.i'm having a problem getting a full pour every time. about 1 out of 6 pours i get a bullet that is missing the back half. it almost seams like the holes in the sprue plate are a little small.i use a bottom pour lead pot the sprue plate overflows like the cavities are full but i sometimes get a partial bullet .rear cavity is worse but both do it .would opening up the pour holes just a very little help? thanks

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I'd turn it up a couple notches and see if that helps. Also adding just a small bit of tin will help break the cohesive bond and flow to fill out better. just a few ounces in 20 lbs. will do it.

I'd try warming up my mould hotter first, then the lead, then try some tin in that order. The mould is "clean" to say oil free? Acetone, or dawn diswashing liquid, even some guys use toothpaste to scrub out the maker's lube. Then you can smoke the cavities with a candle. Just don't get the wax in the cavities.

Aluminum moulds cool faster so keep it working and hot. That is a really good design mould. I've shot it at 1400 fps after adding a "plain base" gas check.

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This manifests itself with misalignment or gaps at the bullet seam. I use paraffin, being very careful not to get any in the mould itself. Lube the locator pins in the mould, and the sprue hinge, handle hinges. Take some time to read those directions that came in the box, old Dick Lee was a sharp cat.

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difference even when i had the mould very hot and the alloy hotter[turned the temp control from just over 6 where i normally cast at up to just over 9 in small steps ] it still did it . i've been casting for over 30 years and have tried all the tricks i've learned .i did get a couple hundred good useable bullets from yesterdays session.

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But if you’ve been casting that long it makes me think it’s something really odd. There is lots of chatter about zinc contamination but I’ve never known I’ve had it. There could be something momentarily clogging those sprue holes. Alloy contaminated and not fully blended could do it. Hard one to tell without being there with you. Flux some more.

Pour that batch into ingots you mark and set aside. If a Fresh batch of alloy fixes things you might slowly use up the others by dilution.

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Swing it out away from the mold, heat it a little with a propane tourch. Keep the torch moving and away from the hinge screw. It only takes a few seconds.
I wouldn’t open the holes. I clean the sprue plate with rubbing alcohol. The mold itself with dawn detergent. My toothbrush is cleaner afterwards too! I clean it 3 times using hot water.
Hope that makes sense, lots of interruptions.

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while the flame is going. Your mixture sounds like it is bulky and clogging up the sprue hole.

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you may have a venting problem. Does your sprue plate swing free with very little drag? It should almost open from its own weight after being free from the hold down if not, loosen just a bit. Another thing you may try is breaking the top mould block parting line. If you do this, just a couple very light passes at 45 degrees to the blocks with a fine file will be enough. I have had to do this to several moulds.

The fill holes in my moulds are all right around .135.
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I have had to grind flats on the sides of the screw and use vice grips! It's tight.

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i think gary and WB might be onto something i won't have time to try till thursday or friday . first i'm going to try fluxing the heck out of the alloy .i don't think i have a good "mix".garys post got me to thinking that i didn't flux near enough when i melted down the last batch of wheel weights added lead and poured ingots. plus i only fluxed the mix in the pot a couple of times when i added tin

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mould problem

That sounds like a too cold pour.

Also on LEE moulds, they need lubrication.

i tried more tin and hotter temps but made little to no

I’m still inclined toward cool alloy or sprue plate.

Might of gotten some zinc in the mix

In the winter, i heat the sprue cutter

try fluxing it again and really stirring it

Carl, if you have tried everything listed

FWIW LEE sprue plate screw is left hand thread.

thanks guys