FLUXING

[Bigsmoke]

A long time ago I visited Warren Manufacturing in Arkansas.  One of their products was cast round ball.  I guess they used a casting machine and then they tumbled the ball.  I think graphite was added to the mix at some point as well.  The last man to leave the plant put the ball in a series of tumblers and it was tumbled overnight.  Then they would package them the next morning.  IIRC, it made for a good looking ball.  Problem was with consistency.  In a box of 20 large diameter (.678 to .715") there were probably 4 or 5 different diameters.  In my sporting rifles they shot OK, but I finally decided to cast my own for a tighter control of the output.  I used the brass moulds from England.  Those were great.

[No Powder]

Uh oh John. Sounds like I'll be getting the vernier calipers out to do some checking. Maybe they tumbled them too long.  I've heard about the addition of graphite. I don't know of any other advantages to using it other than making a nice looking ball. I wouldn't think the graphite had anything to do with the size differences.

[Salty]

After casting, I weigh and toss back anything +/- .5 gn. Then I mark the sprue and tumble for only 5 minutes. Enough to rough up the ball. Then I weigh again and find a few out of my tolerance. This works for me and fills my free time when I cannot go to the range.