Made something for the Blackhawk to eat today.

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Beagle333

New member
I made about 300 HPs today, and it took forever with the single cav.
I have never tried making more than a handful at a time before with the singles. I'm definitely dragging a chair out to the casting table the next time I decide to make a pile of these. (Straight isotope 95-2.5-2.5)
keith1_zps4c403388.jpg



And I also made another 300 of these nifty little wadcutters (358432) for the wife's .38 while I was at it. It is a 358432 drilled for a HP pin, (this is actually the "Turtle Buster" mold that I posted here a few month ago) but for this run I put the flat pin in it but didn't pull it all the way down flush, so it left a nice concave nose on 'em instead of a deep hollow point. I kinda like the look.

sea-o-cans1_zpse1053c42.jpg
 
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GP100man

New member
Beagle333

Now ya know it`s a labor of LUV.

NO dedication other than casting HPs with a SC mold can be displayed !!

Good looking fodder !!!

When ya get even fillout about the pin ya know the temps of the mold/pin & the alloy is good .

358429 ???? if so what do they weigh ,as I have a mold settin on go to Buckshot .

Nice pics by the way !
 
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Beagle333

New member
358429, yes. And they average 160.2gr as cast. The pin isn't nearly as hard to get fillout on, as the base. I get rounded bases if I don't keep my little propane torch handy and hold the sprue hole in front of it for a couple of seconds, about every 5 pours. It'll make nice square bases then, but it'll drift back to round ones if I let the sprue plate cool, and I'm making a good puddle on it when I pour. The pin fills out just fine, every time. I can get flat bases if I pressure pour, but I also get finning when I do that unless I keep the temp kinda on the low side. He did a flat pin for it too, so I can pour the original booli....um..bullet, but I haven't ever used that pin.
 
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Mike / Tx

New member
I have both the .357 and .429 molds in the Lyman "DEVASTATOR". It only took a couple of sessions with each before I broke down and got one of MiHec's masterpieces. One at a time is fine, but I like production and with the interchangeable pins, I can do both solids and HP's in one sitting.

Not criticizing by any stretch those are some great looking bullets for sure. (yea I "almost" got corrected for my spelling after reading your post.) LOL
 
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TXGunNut

New member
Very nice! Iso lead and good temp control make for nice-looking boo....bullets. Don't want that BH going hungry, they're so much fun when they're well-fed.
If you cast sitting down a heavy apron or a heavy towel in your lap should be standard equipment.
 
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Beagle333

New member
TXGunNut: Yes, you are very correct on that! I had figured I better put something on my lap. I noticed I tend to splash a lot, especially since I ladle cast. I bet it would get real exciting real fast to get a drop splattered off in the ol' lap. :eek:

Salvadore: Nice picture!!! I got a couple of MiHec Cramer molds and a NOE RG4. I just like playing with the single pins. It's a nice relaxing afternoon. :)
 
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Beagle333

New member
Still having fun with the 358432

I set the flat pin tip even with the shoulder this time and I think they look even better! I had been using the tapered pin and making deep hollows but it cut the weight down to 137gr. I think this looks pretty good and still looks like a WC for the most part. :)
DSC03489_zpsec69b00f.jpg
 
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Beagle333

New member
'been at it again

I got out the MiHec 359640 today and made a few. I used ±12 lbs of lead, so I prolly ended up with ±500 bullets. I haven't counted em yet. It goes pretty fast and they jump off the pins, but every now and again (not often), they'll want to stick to the mold. I haven't figured out why. But it's not burrs, because it doesn't do it all the time. Mostly it went real smooth and was an enjoyable morning. I didn't have the good camera out there today, so here's a cel phone pic.
359640_zps044b2074.jpg
 
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Beagle333

New member
359640

They were supposed to be 158gr. Mine were averaging 157.6gr so I feel pretty good about em.
Better pictures coming tonight when I get back in for the day.
 
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FrankenMauser

New member
.... but every now and again (not often), they'll want to stick to the mold. I haven't figured out why. But it's not burrs, because it doesn't do it all the time.
Click to expand...

I have had a few Accurate Molds (my .432 "One Ounce Suppository"), that had issues with sticking, for a while. And, one of my NOE 314316-HP molds does the same.

Eventually, I traced the issue with the AMs to the long cavity, and the way it fills. The alloy bounces off one side of the cavity and across the to the other side, resulting in 2 "hot spots". Even if it isn't permanent, it creates temporary warpage that can cause sticking.

The NOE stickiness seems to be caused by temperature differences between the HP (or flat) pin, and the blocks. The slightly different cooling rates seem to make the crimp groove and/or lube grooves hang up.
--I settled on that after a lot of experimentation, and a LOT of time spent carefully watching an open mold (with a stuck bullet), until the bullet dropped free - assisted only by gravity - to be immediately measured (and compared to measurements of bullets that were freed with human assistance).


The crappy thing about that mold, is that there isn't anything wrong with it. Its a good mold. It just doesn't get along with my style of casting.
So, I avoid it and generally only use one of my 314316-FN molds. :rolleyes:
 
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Beagle333

New member
The NOE stickiness seems to be caused by temperature differences between the HP (or flat) pin, and the blocks. The slightly different cooling rates seem to make the crimp groove and/or lube grooves hang up.
Click to expand...

I did notice that the bullets only hung up in the cavities opposite the pins. They didn't stick at all on the side that had the pins and their guide rods.
 
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FrankenMauser

New member
Frank, what do you use your 314316hp for?
Click to expand...
Not much, now that I avoid the mold. ;)

But... it was originally purchased for use in .32 H&R / .327 Federal (.312"/.313").
Now that I have a few molds, including FN-only molds, I also use the bullets in 7.62x54R (.316"), 7.7x58mm Jap (.315"), and .30 WCF (.309"/.310"). One of these days, I may even stuff some in the .30-06.

To date, it has only been fired at paper, water bottles, beer cans, rocks, and dirt.


One somewhat applicable note on that design - NOE lists the bullet as a 115 gr FN-PB, but it's closer to 115 gr as a naked GC-HP. It weighs about 128 gr, as a FN-PB and 117 (my molds) as a GC-HP. With lube and a GC, you're back up around 122 gr.
It was a miscalculation on Swede's part, when he first listed the design, and he just hasn't wanted to change it.
 
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Beagle333

New member
359640

Here's a better picture, now that I'm settled in for the night and have access to a better camera. (isotope lead 95-2.5-2.5)
2-16-13_zps5b9aff80.jpg
 
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