New Mold in Town

res45 · March 16, 2018, 08:49 AM

As an annual gift to myself around tax time I purchase myself a new mold of better quality to replace some of my older Lee molds that I have had for many years. The new mold is a Arsenal 4 cavity 170 gr. .311" Ranch Dog clone that I had cut 50/50 two with gas checks and two plain base bullets for plinker loads since I don't use a gas checks for those anyways. I really like the nice large meplat as it will make a great hunting bullet, can't wait till next weekend to cast up a bunch. Should keep my Sav. 170 pump gun fed for years to come.

**Unclenick** · March 16, 2018, 01:05 PM

Looks like they copied the use of fly cutter toolmarks to serve as vents from Lee's 6-cavity mold design. It's effective. Let us know how the bullets come out.

FrankenMauser · March 16, 2018, 01:53 PM

Looks good.
I need to kick a few hundred more out of my NOE version (SC311-165-RF (RD)).

---

Quite a few companies use the fly cutter method, now. Lee, at least from what I have seen in my short time casting (coming up on only 10 years), was late to the party. (Lee used simple knurling prior to the current mold block design.)

Miha, Accurate, NOE, and at least half a dozen other companies have been fly cutting their vent lines for some time.

res45 · March 16, 2018, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclenick

Looks like they copied the use of fly cutter toolmarks to serve as vents from Lee's 6-cavity mold design. It's effective. Let us know how the bullets come out.

From all that I hear everyone that uses the Arsenal molds has liked them. It's my first one and it will get broken in new weekend for sure and I will report back.

res45 · March 31, 2018, 10:30 AM

Cast up a little over 300 bullets yesterday, around 150 each of the plain base and gas check version of the bullet. They drop .312" from the mold and will be sized to .311" I plan on powder coating the plain base bullets for my plinking and small game loads and gas checking and using traditional lube or PC for my full house loads in the 30-30.

While I was at it I cast up a small batch about 150 of my NOE 220 gr. cup point bullet that I will be powder coating in clear gloss for loading in some nickel 45 ACP cases I recently acquired for long term storage.

I got 150 of the plain base bullets PC today, will size them tomorrow and load up a batch to shoot next Saturday.

Beagle333 · April 1, 2018, 03:11 AM

Nice looking bullets! Have fun shooting those!

March 16, 2018, 08:49 AM	#1
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	New Mold in Town As an annual gift to myself around tax time I purchase myself a new mold of better quality to replace some of my older Lee molds that I have had for many years. The new mold is a Arsenal 4 cavity 170 gr. .311" Ranch Dog clone that I had cut 50/50 two with gas checks and two plain base bullets for plinker loads since I don't use a gas checks for those anyways. I really like the nice large meplat as it will make a great hunting bullet, can't wait till next weekend to cast up a bunch. Should keep my Sav. 170 pump gun fed for years to come.

March 16, 2018, 01:05 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Looks like they copied the use of fly cutter toolmarks to serve as vents from Lee's 6-cavity mold design. It's effective. Let us know how the bullets come out. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 16, 2018, 01:53 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Looks good. I need to kick a few hundred more out of my NOE version (SC311-165-RF (RD)). --- Quite a few companies use the fly cutter method, now. Lee, at least from what I have seen in my short time casting (coming up on only 10 years), was late to the party. (Lee used simple knurling prior to the current mold block design.) Miha, Accurate, NOE, and at least half a dozen other companies have been fly cutting their vent lines for some time. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

March 31, 2018, 10:30 AM	#5
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	Cast up a little over 300 bullets yesterday, around 150 each of the plain base and gas check version of the bullet. They drop .312" from the mold and will be sized to .311" I plan on powder coating the plain base bullets for my plinking and small game loads and gas checking and using traditional lube or PC for my full house loads in the 30-30. While I was at it I cast up a small batch about 150 of my NOE 220 gr. cup point bullet that I will be powder coating in clear gloss for loading in some nickel 45 ACP cases I recently acquired for long term storage. I got 150 of the plain base bullets PC today, will size them tomorrow and load up a batch to shoot next Saturday. Last edited by res45; March 31, 2018 at 07:31 PM.

April 1, 2018, 03:11 AM	#6
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Nice looking bullets! Have fun shooting those! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

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