Making a pound cast

Making a pound cast
A pound cast is a way to check the shoulder, neck, throat, lead, and rifling of your barrel.
This is a very important for choosing a bullet design that fits your particular chamber properly.
This is about the only way to get accurate enough dimentions of these areas.

NOTE:
Use caution in doing this and follow our instruction or you may be talking to your local gunsmith,
or performing operations to get the slug out of your rifle that could really make problems.

What you will need:
1. pure lead
2. brass cartridge case for your rifle
3. hammer
4. steel rod slightly smaller than your bore
5. gas check for the caliber your rifle is
6. bullet mold a little on the heavy side for caliber
7. propane torch
8. ladle

The first step is to clean your chamber and barrel, and oil it lightly.

Next, select a brass case that has been fired in your rifle and you don’t mind losing.
Melt some pure lead in your ladle, and pour it into the case up to just past the shoulder.

With your propane torch, heat the neck of the case till the lead melts and forms a level surface.
This will anneal the neck of the case, and it also gives a good stop for the slug.

Next preheat a mold, and cast a bullet out of pure lead. Flare the case mouth so that you can
easily seat the bullet in the case with your hammer.

Next, slip the cartridge and slug into the chamber and close the bolt on it.

Take the steel rod. (1/4″Dia. rod for 30Cal. – so on) and wrap masking tape around it about
every 1 1/2″ to 2″ to protect the bore and the crown of your rifle. make sure that the end of the
rod is square and has no chamfer on it. You want a square end.

Secure the gas check to the end of the rod. Use a dab of grease to keep it in place and insure
that you get it started correctly.

Next, place the GC and rod in the muzzle of your rifle, and tap it past the crown and down the
bore. You will  feel it contact the bullet. Make sure you have a band of tape positioned to protect
the crown of the rifle from damage as the rod is being pounded. You may have to remove the rod
and add a band of tape.

After you have pounded the end of the rod to make your slug you should be able to open the bolt
and tap the “Pound cast” out. You may have to tap the rod as you open the bolt.

Bullet maker, maker
Al Nelson