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March 31, 2009
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I saw this mold yesterday. It has an adjustment screw that can let you pour 5 different weights. It didn’t say the diameter but highest weight was just over 400 grs. Look at Figure 15 or 17.
March 31, 2009
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I ordered 3 Ideal catalogs from Cornell Publications. I received these last night. Not only pictures and info on the mold but some other info I will post later.
Clarence told me a couple years back that I should buy the early 1900’s Ideal catalogs when looking for the early smokeless loads.
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
I ordered 3 Ideal catalogs from Cornell Publications. I received these last night. Not only pictures and info on the mold but some other info I will post later.
Clarence told me a couple years back that I should buy the early 1900’s Ideal catalogs when looking for the early smokeless loads.
Good idea. I have a couple of the older Lyman Ideal handbooks, but none that are just Ideal (pre-1925). What specific year catalogs did you acquire?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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I pulled up the info for each book and tried to identify which appeared to have some loading data. 1903 #15, 1906 #17 and 1907 #18. 1903 and 1906 are about the same. 1907 does not have the info that the other 2 have. #15 was the one Clarence told me to buy. It is also the one that my friend brought to the shop along with his mould. There is some loading info for each bullet that is listed.
November 7, 2015
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I wouldn’t mind getting a closer look at that mould. I’m having trouble believing it would make a nice, sharp base but I’d probably want to fire up a casting furnace to try it out. I’ve also never experienced a nose pour mould but some BPCR shooters swear by them.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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I had never seen a mold like this before. I have never made my own bullets either. So I can’t make any comments based upon experience. If you pour the longest/heaviest bullet it has a lot of steps where the lighter ones would have stopped. This is just one example. This one shows the weight at each level for the one on the left. Some have diameters shown and loading data.
March 31, 2009
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Pic of the mold.
November 7, 2015
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Chuck-
The key to an accurate cast bullet is a perfectly formed base: no voids, rounded corners or fins. In this case the fit of the moveable plug would need to be nearly perfect, the alignment pins and mould faces nearly perfect as well. It would also have survived decades of use and possible abuse. Yep, it would be pretty cool to see this mould. I enjoy casting with the Winchester moulds in my modest collection but I haven’t had much luck finding one that hadn’t been used hard or abused…but they’re still pretty cool! I think you’d enjoy casting, Chuck.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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I have a bunch of my friends telling me I should. I have enough trouble keeping up with what I’m doing now.
November 7, 2015
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Chuck said
I have a bunch of my friends telling me I should. I have enough trouble keeping up with what I’m doing now.
Chuck-
I’ve invited Zeb up to pour a few, hopefully someday he’ll wander up here. Would be a bit of a hike for you but I’ll extend the offer anyway. It’s the same as reloading, it can be accomplished with minimal equipment or you can wind up with dozens of moulds, a box full of sizing dies and more related equipment than you can imagine. There are few things more satisfying than pouring molten lead into a mould and dropping out a fresh, shiny bullet. It can be a bit frustrating at times but you seem to enjoy a challenge. Single cavity steel moulds are almost therapeutic but the aluminum 4-6 cavity moulds will keep you busy until the pot is empty. I’m sure one of your friends on the left coast will let you sit in on a casting session and maybe even pour a few. On the downside useable lead is getting scarce out here in the free world and I would recommend looking into the local lead supply situation before investing in tools and equipment.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Thanks, Mike.
I just gave away 50 lbs of lead to one of my shooting friends. He and the other 4 guys that shoot next to me have explained the process. Maybe one of them would help me out. One of them cast 5 bullets for my Sharps rifle for display cartridges. Too pretty for me to shoot. The bullet that is. I have shot the rifle.
November 7, 2015
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Chuck said
Thanks, Mike.
I just gave away 50 lbs of lead to one of my shooting friends. He and the other 4 guys that shoot next to me have explained the process. Maybe one of them would help me out. One of them cast 5 bullets for my Sharps rifle for display cartridges. Too pretty for me to shoot. The bullet that is. I have shot the rifle.
Yep, they’re pretty! I don’t have a problem shooting them because I can pour some more.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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TXGunNut said
Chuck said
Thanks, Mike.
I just gave away 50 lbs of lead to one of my shooting friends. He and the other 4 guys that shoot next to me have explained the process. Maybe one of them would help me out. One of them cast 5 bullets for my Sharps rifle for display cartridges. Too pretty for me to shoot. The bullet that is. I have shot the rifle.
Yep, they’re pretty! I don’t have a problem shooting them because I can pour some more.
Mike
I need some 45-70’s. I’m not picky. .458″, 400 grs would be nice but I wouldn’t complain about something heavier. My shoulder might though. The Sharps has 1:18 twist.
