Once again. . . Accurate Molds

mehavey · October 3, 2018, 07:20 PM

Looking for a very specific soft-alloy**/plain-base/standard-lube capability in both base, nose, and grease-groove design for Ram Bashing* I wrote Tom Ellis on Monday/24 Sept to ask if he could make a combined-spec 45 caliber rifle mould:

On Tuesday noon, 25 Sept, he wrote back to say "#46-390H is now in the catalog."
I ordered it that afternoon.

This Monday 1 Oct, it arrived in the mail and began casting . . .

Today I shot it:

Thanks Tom . . . again

* (already trial & error determination -- especially lube reservoir design)
** 30-1/BN-6 to #2/BN-15

Chainsaw. · October 3, 2018, 10:07 PM

Very cool. Nice looking bullet.
If I may ask, for curiosity and learning, why so particular with the design?

*by no means do I disagree, Id like to design a mold to have just what I want for 44 mag, just want ti hear your thoughts on this matter*

Dufus · October 3, 2018, 10:27 PM

With Tom's assistance, we designed my bullet for the 38-55.

Wider meplat and expanded the diameter to fit.

Cat. # 38-250F

Chainsaw: he can make almost any mold that you want.

I took the image of something close to what I needed, made some changes and sent it to him via email. He offered a couple of suggestions regarding the placement of the crimp groove, I discussed it with him, then he emailed me with the catalog number and I ordered it. With my alloy, it casts 260 gr.

It will shoot a 7 shot group of 1 1/4" with iron sights. The longest shot I made with it was 185 yds. A very good bullet and an excellent mold.

I say go for it.

gwpercle · October 5, 2018, 02:40 PM

Let the ram bashing begin...
Very nice
Gary

Wag · October 7, 2018, 05:05 PM

Very nice!

--Wag--

Grey_Lion · October 7, 2018, 09:39 PM

So it looks like you ditched the gas check groove and went for a higher ogive for better aerodynamics. That'd give you longer range and better ballistics, but will likely reduce spread and energy transfer on impact as that point won't spread as well as the flatter projectile nose.

Feels like you designed a .45 rifle target / match round.

You note rifle - so I'm curious why you removed what looked like a gas check butt on the previous projectile. Was that an aerodynamic choice to reduce projectile variability?

mehavey · October 7, 2018, 10:21 PM

Quote:

why you removed what looked like a gas check butt on the previous projectile.

I've actually also got the 46-410C gas check (mould above left) and use it at high speeds/pressures w/ ALOX/Lyman#2.

The new-combo 46-390H is my low-speed/low-pressure/very-soft/1-step_50-50_Lubri-sizer projectile w/ huge Keith-type lube grooves. Being nearly pure-lead (30:1/BN-6), it effectively will hold together/expand to twice the diameter as it penetrates even at low/1,250fps speeds.

Running it out past the LABRADAR shows an effective BC of 0.310 at those velocities, giving me 130yds point blank ±3" (what more can you ask of well-behaved grande dame in the East ... that's very pleasant to play around with all day?)

(I am reminded of a Ben Franklin parallel)

October 3, 2018, 07:20 PM	#1
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,918	Once again. . . Accurate Molds Looking for a very specific soft-alloy*/plain-base/standard-lube capability in both base, nose, and grease-groove design for Ram Bashing I wrote Tom Ellis on Monday/24 Sept to ask if he could make a combined-spec 45 caliber rifle mould: On Tuesday noon, 25 Sept, he wrote back to say "#46-390H is now in the catalog." I ordered it that afternoon. This Monday 1 Oct, it arrived in the mail and began casting . . . Today I shot it: Thanks Tom . . . again * (already trial & error determination -- especially lube reservoir design) ** 30-1/BN-6 to #2/BN-15 Last edited by mehavey; October 3, 2018 at 08:07 PM.

October 7, 2018, 05:05 PM	#5
Wag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 988	Very nice! --Wag-- __________________ "Great genius will always encounter fierce opposition from mediocre minds." --Albert Einstein.

October 3, 2018, 10:07 PM	#2
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Very cool. Nice looking bullet. If I may ask, for curiosity and learning, why so particular with the design? by no means do I disagree, Id like to design a mold to have just what I want for 44 mag, just want ti hear your thoughts on this matter __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

October 3, 2018, 10:27 PM	#3
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	With Tom's assistance, we designed my bullet for the 38-55. Wider meplat and expanded the diameter to fit. Cat. # 38-250F Chainsaw: he can make almost any mold that you want. I took the image of something close to what I needed, made some changes and sent it to him via email. He offered a couple of suggestions regarding the placement of the crimp groove, I discussed it with him, then he emailed me with the catalog number and I ordered it. With my alloy, it casts 260 gr. It will shoot a 7 shot group of 1 1/4" with iron sights. The longest shot I made with it was 185 yds. A very good bullet and an excellent mold. I say go for it.

October 5, 2018, 02:40 PM	#4
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,755	Let the ram bashing begin... Very nice Gary

October 7, 2018, 09:39 PM	#6
Grey_Lion Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Location: Baton Rouge - Louisiana Posts: 409	So it looks like you ditched the gas check groove and went for a higher ogive for better aerodynamics. That'd give you longer range and better ballistics, but will likely reduce spread and energy transfer on impact as that point won't spread as well as the flatter projectile nose. Feels like you designed a .45 rifle target / match round. You note rifle - so I'm curious why you removed what looked like a gas check butt on the previous projectile. Was that an aerodynamic choice to reduce projectile variability?