Seems like I'm not the only one with lead
on my mind. I'm up here in the US for a couple weeks, visiting my mom who's not doing too well with cognitive abilities. It's a bit stressful but I know she put up with MY constant questions and such way back when, it's the least I can do now. She even still remembers who I am, and sometimes calls me by the right name. But a man needs a break occasionally so I broke out the Lyman Mag 20 pot I picked up cheap a few years ago and grabbed the wheel weight ingots and set up for business. Frustration set in almost immediately.
I used to use a Lee bottom pour, and figured this Lyman would be about the same - and was I wrong. The lead melted just fine, fluxed it and skimmed it and tried to set to work. Lifted the lever and no flow. Got a bit of stiff wire and managed to get it to flow by poking up through the spout. Cast one mold full and it froze up again. When it DID flow it was running so hard that it squirted everywhere. And then it'd freeze again. It's been 20 years or so since I ran a lead pot, but sure didn't remember it being this "fun". Had about a 50% reject rate and was about ready to quit.
Ran down to Goodwill and for the first time ever didn't find a spoon or ladle or anything else that could be of use. Looked around various stores and nothing turned up. Finally remembered a glorified Flea Market up north of town and sure enough, found a stainless steel dipper with a wooden handle, like for punch or ??? Back at the house I took a hammer to the ladle and flattened it a bit from round to roughly oval. Then pinched the end a bit with pliers to get a spout of sorts. It's no Lyman or RCBS casting ladle, much less a Rowell, but my reject rate fell to about 5% and then continued to improve as I got back in the swing of things.
So now I've got a bunch of 454191's and some 358477's. In the same deal on the lead pot I picked up an RCBS and a Lyman luber/sizer. Fit them to a board which is clamped to an adjustable work bench and have one end set up for the 45's and the other for the 357's. Makes it handier than having to switch out the dies and top punches.
Next on the list of "to do" is to break out the brass and start sizing and depriming. Casting is done in the garage, as a break from the situation. Sizing done in the dining room chatting with Mom as possible. Wish I had a 44 mold and a 32, but should have enough 38's cast up to keep me busy come June. This will be my first time playing with the 454191, am planning on lower power 45 Colt loads, probably using Unique or another relatively fast powder for easy shooting fun.
I'm glad I came up, there's no guarantee she'll even know who I am come June.