Problem with Rapine 575-375 mold

[Rlevin]

I have a Rapine 515 mold but it casts .520. I tried sizing in stages, 518, 515 but it really smears the lead and really looks terrible. does anyone have suggestions. I am using 30-1 lead and have no problems with my Lyman dies. Does anyone have
a Rapine 515 mold that casts near that dimension?

SOS
Russ C2 Berdan
Rlevin73@Verizon.net

[xring2245]

A harder alloy will cast a smaller bullet. Cast some wheel weight bullets and see how your carbine will handle the harder bullets. You may not need to size.

James

[matt]

Also casting at hot temps will cause the bullet to larger as the mould expands. I have a rapine 685-500 semi wadcutter that drops them at .693 with pure lead. I cast hot though and size down to .690
Matt
Winslow's Battery D 9775v

[Paul Lampman 263V]

i would say that your mould is probably mismarked since Rapine also made .520s. .005 is quite a difference, I doubt that they would have started with a cherry/reamer that much oversized. The Rapine .520 that I had would cast a .519-.521 "soft" lead bullet, it would cast a .522-524 "hard" lead bullet depending upon mould and lead temp. Alloys generally always cast larger out of any given mould than "pure" lead. Alloys melt quicker and cool slower than "pure" lead, therefore less shrinkage in the mold. All lead shrinks in a mould as it cools, some more, some less. I've experienced this with every single mould I own/have owned, that I have used soft/hard lead in, 40+. Then there is that occasional strange mould that defies explanation as to what it's doing. I'm not a metallurgist, just 40 years of experience.

[Walt Magee]

Is it a 575 or a 515 mould? In any case stick with the Lyman it's a far better and more durable mould. I've had my used one for 20 years and it's stamped Ideal so it's got to be 40 years old and still works fine.
Walt

[Southron Sr.]

The problem with Lyman is that for the past year or so, their quality has slipped.

That breaks my heart because I have been using Lyman moulds since the 1960's. At least they still have a good return policy which means IF you get a bad one, you can return it.

[xring2245]

Is it a 575 or a 515 mould? In any case stick with the Lyman it's a far better and more durable mould. Walt

I have 25+ Rapines and 60+ Lymans. They are both great moulds. The Rapines are dead accurate in size and weight, within my tolerances; more so than the Lymans. The Lymans that throw an accurately sized and weighed bullet is worth its weight in gold, but I have had some that were really off. Example, a DC .445" RB mould throws a .437 ball. I can't use it for the rifle intended. This is only one example of about 7-8 issues with the moulds I own.

So, I would disagree with the statement made, in a general sense. Individually, there may be truth to what was said.

IMHO
James

[Rlevin]

Thanks for all the helpful replies!!!

[Paul Stephenson]

Try lubing the bullet with RCBS case lube before you size it. I size a rapine semi wad cutter from .580 to .576 no problem no lead smearing. Just lightly lube by rolling it on a lube pad.