Latest contraption

Doc Hoy · October 16, 2010, 11:33 AM

Perhaps you all recall that I am very anal about consistency of ball size. I just built my new and improved spring loaded mold handles for Lyman molds.

The mold is a .375 an I got a run of balls from it that are no larger than .3765 and no less than .375. Most of the balls miced at .3758 on the money.

The mold is steel so it took a while for it to come up to temperature. I threw about 15 balls back into the pot.

Rifleman1776 · October 16, 2010, 11:37 AM

Interesting. Square handles look like they could be hard on hands.
When I was seriously hunting 'Xs' in competition my concern was weight. Never more or less than .1 grain was tolerated.

Hawg · October 16, 2010, 11:41 AM

Yeah, it wouldn't take much to knock those corners off.

Doc Hoy · October 16, 2010, 11:45 AM

Right.

I did some casting with it today (as I said) and you are both correct about the square corners and edges. I thought I would need them to be square so as to keep the mold from shifting in my hand. But I think you are both correct about taking the corners off.

prob · October 16, 2010, 12:22 PM

Nice looking invention.

bedbugbilly · October 16, 2010, 03:58 PM

Doc - cool contraption! Your genius at coming up with new things never ceases to amaze me! I never "mic" my balls (lead balls

) as I usually just shoot 'em as they come from the mold and I've never been that curious - I'm not knocking those that do though as to be competitive or to "experiment", I know that you want to keep things as precise and the same as you can. I use a propane burner to melt my lead for casting - sometimes do it on a wood fire. I really don't have a way of checking the temperature of the lead other than by sight and ease of pouring, final casting results, etc. I'm curious as to what you use to melt your lead? If you are using an electric pot, I would think you would have better control over a more even casting lead heat which should give you more consistant "ball diameter mics"? Seems to me like that, combined with your mold contraption should be pretty ideal. How much variance do you get in your balls for your .44 revolvers when you use your mold blocks with this?

Pahoo · October 16, 2010, 04:29 PM

Nice work Doc and I especially like the long handles as well as the spring. Keep up you usual good work !!

Be Safe !!!

wogpotter · October 16, 2010, 04:52 PM

I'd just make the outside edges round & then knock off the sharpest edge from the insides. After all you're not going to be putting any body parts inside the hings are you?

100% performance improvement for a 50% labor increase, sounds like a good deal to me.

Doc Hoy · October 16, 2010, 05:32 PM

To BBB,

For casting I use a Lee production pot which I bought in 1975. It has yet to fail me.

I have not used this set of string loaded handles for .44s as yet. I have a different set which I cobbled together last year. From those I get a little better than .001 for standard deviation. That is about twice as good as Hornady balls out of the box.

This converts into more consistence muzzle velocities that I get with Hornady balls.

BUT (My wife tells me there is always a big "but" where I am involved) I can not relate this to better accuracy. I have to shoot a lot more to make any connection ot accuracy.

To Pahoo,

The spring is the whole reason for making these handles. I want consistent pressure applied to the mold blocks while the ball is hardening. I can't do it just by squeezing with my hand so the spring helps maintain this compression.

To Wogpotter,

You are right about the edges. They are darned uncomfortable. I originally left the sharp edges on so there would be something to help keep the mold from sliding in a sweaty palm. But based on the experience today, the edges must go.

**4V50 Gary** · October 16, 2010, 06:33 PM

Looks good. As mentioned by wogpotter, rounding off the handles is not a big job.

Doc Hoy · October 17, 2010, 06:03 AM

... I want to adapt handles like this for Lee molds but I can't bring myself to take a chance on destroying my working molds. And I don't want to buy a new mold just to experiment.

Problem with Lee molds is that you have to drive the retaining pin out of the mold block to separate it from the handle. This means drilling the mold so the pin has someplace to go. As it is, the pins are pressed into the mold block and through the handle but they are pressed into a hole in the block that does nto go all the way through the mold.

I am in the market for a used, Lee mold. Probably ought to be a round ball mold. I'd pay good money for it.

Hawg · October 17, 2010, 08:12 AM

As cheap as they are why not just get a new one?

Doc Hoy · October 17, 2010, 10:49 AM

Too much of a tightwad. I can't bring myself to go to work on a brand new mold with a milling machine and a drift pin.

Actually I have been looking on eBay with no success and will probably spring for one from Cabela's as you said.

Anybody do any comparative shopping lately? Last I remember you could get a Lee mold with handles for about 19.00 plus shipping.

Hawg · October 17, 2010, 01:36 PM

18.99 for a double cavity from Midway. http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...8664***9258***

zippy13 · October 17, 2010, 02:24 PM

Doc and Hawg,
F&M, my go-to guy for LEE equipment, has the 2-cavity BP molds, with handles, for $16.58 + S&H.

Doc Hoy · October 17, 2010, 03:56 PM

Now we are talking. At that price, I will replace one of my working molds an use it for research.

F&M huh?

Those gentlemen are getting a call from me.

Hawg · October 17, 2010, 04:31 PM

I tried to buy something from them last year. Oh yeah a lead pot and they told me it would be three weeks before they got any in. After three weeks they told me it would be four more weeks and I gave up on them. Haven't tried to buy anything else.

zippy13 · October 17, 2010, 06:04 PM

Humm… sorry to hear of your problem with F&M, Hawg. My dealings with them have always been trouble free, perhaps I've been lucky or wanted things they had in stock.

Arquebus · October 25, 2010, 08:36 PM

Hey Doc, given any thought to making some of those handles for sale? I know I'd be interested in a set.

TXGunNut · October 25, 2010, 09:11 PM

Good job, Doc. A few passes with a router and you're good to go!

October 16, 2010, 11:33 AM	#1
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Latest contraption Perhaps you all recall that I am very anal about consistency of ball size. I just built my new and improved spring loaded mold handles for Lyman molds. The mold is a .375 an I got a run of balls from it that are no larger than .3765 and no less than .375. Most of the balls miced at .3758 on the money. The mold is steel so it took a while for it to come up to temperature. I threw about 15 balls back into the pot. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 16, 2010, 11:45 AM	#4
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Fellas, Right. I did some casting with it today (as I said) and you are both correct about the square corners and edges. I thought I would need them to be square so as to keep the mold from shifting in my hand. But I think you are both correct about taking the corners off. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 16, 2010, 03:58 PM	#6
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Doc - cool contraption! Your genius at coming up with new things never ceases to amaze me! I never "mic" my balls (lead balls ) as I usually just shoot 'em as they come from the mold and I've never been that curious - I'm not knocking those that do though as to be competitive or to "experiment", I know that you want to keep things as precise and the same as you can. I use a propane burner to melt my lead for casting - sometimes do it on a wood fire. I really don't have a way of checking the temperature of the lead other than by sight and ease of pouring, final casting results, etc. I'm curious as to what you use to melt your lead? If you are using an electric pot, I would think you would have better control over a more even casting lead heat which should give you more consistant "ball diameter mics"? Seems to me like that, combined with your mold contraption should be pretty ideal. How much variance do you get in your balls for your .44 revolvers when you use your mold blocks with this? __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

October 16, 2010, 05:32 PM	#9
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Coupla responses To BBB, For casting I use a Lee production pot which I bought in 1975. It has yet to fail me. I have not used this set of string loaded handles for .44s as yet. I have a different set which I cobbled together last year. From those I get a little better than .001 for standard deviation. That is about twice as good as Hornady balls out of the box. This converts into more consistence muzzle velocities that I get with Hornady balls. BUT (My wife tells me there is always a big "but" where I am involved) I can not relate this to better accuracy. I have to shoot a lot more to make any connection ot accuracy. To Pahoo, The spring is the whole reason for making these handles. I want consistent pressure applied to the mold blocks while the ball is hardening. I can't do it just by squeezing with my hand so the spring helps maintain this compression. To Wogpotter, You are right about the edges. They are darned uncomfortable. I originally left the sharp edges on so there would be something to help keep the mold from sliding in a sweaty palm. But based on the experience today, the edges must go. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 16, 2010, 06:33 PM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Looks good. As mentioned by wogpotter, rounding off the handles is not a big job. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 16, 2010, 11:37 AM	#2
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Interesting. Square handles look like they could be hard on hands. When I was seriously hunting 'Xs' in competition my concern was weight. Never more or less than .1 grain was tolerated.

October 16, 2010, 11:41 AM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Yeah, it wouldn't take much to knock those corners off.

October 16, 2010, 12:22 PM	#5
prob Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Posts: 37	Nice looking invention.

October 16, 2010, 04:29 PM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Nice work Doc and I especially like the long handles as well as the spring. Keep up you usual good work !! Be Safe !!!

October 16, 2010, 04:52 PM	#8
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I'd just make the outside edges round & then knock off the sharpest edge from the insides. After all you're not going to be putting any body parts inside the hings are you? 100% performance improvement for a 50% labor increase, sounds like a good deal to me.

October 17, 2010, 06:03 AM	#11
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Research...Hows about..... ... I want to adapt handles like this for Lee molds but I can't bring myself to take a chance on destroying my working molds. And I don't want to buy a new mold just to experiment. Problem with Lee molds is that you have to drive the retaining pin out of the mold block to separate it from the handle. This means drilling the mold so the pin has someplace to go. As it is, the pins are pressed into the mold block and through the handle but they are pressed into a hole in the block that does nto go all the way through the mold. I am in the market for a used, Lee mold. Probably ought to be a round ball mold. I'd pay good money for it. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 17, 2010, 08:12 AM	#12
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	As cheap as they are why not just get a new one?

October 17, 2010, 10:49 AM	#13
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Hawg, Too much of a tightwad. I can't bring myself to go to work on a brand new mold with a milling machine and a drift pin. Actually I have been looking on eBay with no success and will probably spring for one from Cabela's as you said. Anybody do any comparative shopping lately? Last I remember you could get a Lee mold with handles for about 19.00 plus shipping. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 17, 2010, 01:36 PM	#14
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	18.99 for a double cavity from Midway. http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...8664*9258*

October 17, 2010, 02:24 PM	#15
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Doc and Hawg, F&M, my go-to guy for LEE equipment, has the 2-cavity BP molds, with handles, for $16.58 + S&H.

October 17, 2010, 03:56 PM	#16
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Whohohohoa! Now we are talking. At that price, I will replace one of my working molds an use it for research. F&M huh? Those gentlemen are getting a call from me. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 17, 2010, 04:31 PM	#17
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I tried to buy something from them last year. Oh yeah a lead pot and they told me it would be three weeks before they got any in. After three weeks they told me it would be four more weeks and I gave up on them. Haven't tried to buy anything else.

October 17, 2010, 06:04 PM	#18
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Humm… sorry to hear of your problem with F&M, Hawg. My dealings with them have always been trouble free, perhaps I've been lucky or wanted things they had in stock.

October 25, 2010, 08:36 PM	#19
Arquebus Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2008 Location: Inland NW Posts: 116	Hey Doc, given any thought to making some of those handles for sale? I know I'd be interested in a set. __________________ "For a man, be he ever so much resolved to do his duty as a parent, can't be flogging his children all day....." The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. (William Thackeray).

October 25, 2010, 09:11 PM	#20
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Good job, Doc. A few passes with a router and you're good to go! __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.