I have a G20 with a KKM barrel and plan on buying a Dan Wesson RZ10. I plan on shooting steel up to 100 yards and would like to know if any of you have found a good mold to cast accurate boolits. I'm gearing up on casting supplies and don't have much experience with different types of boolits so any suggestions you guys may have will be appreciated. I would like to have at least a 4 cavity mold that is made of steel or brass and am guessing a round nose would be best but thought you guys could set me straight if my assumptions are wrong.
I'm looking for boolit type, manufacturer and weight of boolit.
Thanks
Joe
I started in 1990 with a 2 cavity RCBS 175 gr TC these have a slight SWC, I made shots to 130 yards at skeet, pieces of sheet, using 10.4 grains of Blue Dot. Shortly there after, I went with a Lyman 4 cavity 175gr TCBB, these are also very accurate with the same loading, these were shot from the S&W1006 with adj. sights. I used to use Rooster Labs Red Zambini lube (no longer made) now I use the White Label Lubes Carnauba Red. I size them to 0.4015", COAL 1.2550" I also have a Obsolete Lyman Devastator 156gr TC HP single cavity and RCBS 200gr TC SWC 2 cavity.
Using a STAR sizer, bullets go in nose first (nothing touches the nose) and pass through, yielding concentric roundness.
There are many good molds these days. Good luck with your selections.
Thanks for the reply. A star is on my list for many reasons and the way the bullets feed is just one of the reasons I plan on going that route. I've been trying to get my hands on some blue dot and unique but haven't had any luck. I've been using 800x and the accuracy is great but want to get away from flake powder since I plan on buying a dillon and getting away from the single stage forster for my pistol rounds.
I understand getting away from flake powders and Blue Dot is also a flake powder. The way I got my accuracy is all hand weighed charges. I just finished loading 500 357Sig using the AA#9 microspheres powder and hand weighing all the charges, I did see very small variations (< than +/- 1/10 of a grain) as the RCBS Uniflow powder drop changed levels. 800X has always posed a powder measure challenge with larger swings in weights, some see +/- 0.2 grains
There will be greater variations in the bullets themselves.
Going progressive you may lose some of the precision and accuracy of the powder charges unless you using powders like Power Pistol, BE86, AA5,7,9, and a few others...Powders like LongShot, CFE Pistol, AutoComp, HS6 flow well but you can see some variations in them as well. The worse part is even finding some of these powders these days. ???
Thanks for taking the time to help. Didn't know blue dot was a flake powder. The only reason I was interested in that powder was since my Nosler manual showed that and unique as the most accurate of the powders they tested with their 135 and 150gr bullets that I use for my G29 carry gun.
Any opinion on this http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=39&products_id=45
The thing that confuses me is that the picture shows what appears to be both flat nose and HP. Not sure if you can add a piece to make it a HP or not. I know this is an option with some but not sure on this one. A heavier projectile might be good for a back up pistol when hunting hogs.
I hope I'm not breaking any rules posting this link. I couldn't find a contributor list or the rules. Since your a moderator please delete it if I'm breaking any rules.
The HP option uses Cramer style pins, they slide in and out as you open the mold, and need to be push back in position when you close to pour. You can change pins for different nose profiles like flat point, Hollow Points of different depth & cavities. Your mold has to cool sufficiently (happens fairly fast) before you drop the bullets, otherwise the bullet can deform.
Be sure to look over Erik's Hollowpoint Mold Services here; http://www.hollowpointmold.com/ (http://www.hollowpointmold.com/) He might have something in stock of interest for your needs.
Here is a picture of Blue Dot powder it meters fairly well in most measures, it is a forgiving powder with a wide range of applications, I use it in everything I load with great results...this was from one of the 10mm pull-downs.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j441/_The_Shadow/IMG_0188.jpg)
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j441/_The_Shadow/IMG_0187.jpg)
Thanks for the link and info. I think I might pass on the HP option. I would like to avoid the extra step of having to push pins in before every pour. I guess if it's as simple as just pushing the pins in all at once by pressing the whole mold on a table top it wouldn't be so bad.
I have this mold in a 5-cavity from NOE:
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=39&products_id=330
It is a great mold. And, no pins to push back in after each cast. The pins are attached to a plate at the bottom and can pivot to release the bullet. They go right back in place when you close the mold. Takes maybe an extra second or two per cast at most. I have only run a couple hundred through the mold, but have been very happy with the results. And Al at NOE is one of the best guys to work with.
I've heard good things about that mold but didn't know you could get it in a 5 cavity. A thread about that mold is actually what got me looking at NOE. I'll give them a call and see what they can do.
I already have a lee 6 cavity but wanted something different since it was designed for tumble lubing. I have since found out about powder coating bullets and plan on going that route with a lee push through sizer. I still plan on buying something in the 180-200gr so it could be used for target practice and hogs.
Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it.
I have this excellent mold made by Accurate Molds in Utah. The bullet weighs 190 grains when lubed and gas check installed. It is very accurate and the mold is available in up to 5 cavity.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/Randominator/10mmmold_zps36183937.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Randominator/media/10mmmold_zps36183937.jpg.html)
Quote from: Randominator on August 22 2014 03:54:47 PM MDT
I have this excellent mold made by Accurate Molds in Utah. The bullet weighs 190 grains when lubed and gas check installed. It is very accurate and the mold is available in up to 5 cavity.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/Randominator/10mmmold_zps36183937.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Randominator/media/10mmmold_zps36183937.jpg.html)
If I had the money, I would by an Accurate brand mold. Something like a 40-190B or 40-195D. The 190B has a large flat nose. I don't know how it would feed in a Glock 20, or any other gun.
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=all
I have a Lee TL401-175-SWC and a 401-145-SWC for my 40 S&W. The 175gr TL bullet is as accurate as factory ammo, or better . I have not tried the 145gr bullet yet. I have not tried either in my 10mm.
.
Thanks for the suggestion but I would like to avoid gas checks. I'll have to check their website to see if they have a no gas check version. I have time since getting a slug for my barrel has been a challenge. You really hit the nail on the head for an accurate mold. :D
Accurate Molds has several good designs in a plain base bullet. The quality of the mold is excellent and at $147 for a 5 cavity, the price is good. Their weights range from around 130 grains to well in excess of 200 grains. I have several 10mm bullets I cast from a custom LEE mold that weigh 230 grains with a gas check. They feed and function well and accuracy is good, but that is a little heavy for me in a 10mm. I like to stay between 150-200 grains in a 10mm. For 230 grain bullets, I switch to my 460 Rowland.
My 10mm is a Glock 20SF with a KKM barrel.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/Randominator/G20-12_zpsfe3b3b17.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Randominator/media/G20-12_zpsfe3b3b17.jpg.html)
Quote from: The_Shadow on August 16 2014 09:22:39 PM MDT
I started in 1990 with a 2 cavity RCBS 175 gr TC these have a slight SWC, I made shots to 130 yards at skeet, pieces of sheet, using 10.4 grains of Blue Dot. Shortly there after, I went with a Lyman 4 cavity 175gr TCBB, these are also very accurate with the same loading, these were shot from the S&W1006 with adj. sights. I used to use Rooster Labs Red Zambini lube (no longer made) now I use the White Label Lubes Carnauba Red. I size them to 0.4015", COAL 1.2550" I also have a Obsolete Lyman Devastator 156gr TC HP single cavity and RCBS 200gr TC SWC 2 cavity.
Do you happen to have the model information on that RCBS 200gr TCSWC?
RCBS 2-Cavity Bullet Mold 10mm-200-SWC 40 S&W, 10mm (401 Diameter) 200 Grain Semi-Wadcutter
https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=3353 (https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=3353)
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/224747/rcbs-2-cavity-bullet-mold-10mm-200-swc-40-s-and-w-10mm-401-diameter-200-grain-semi-wadcutter (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/224747/rcbs-2-cavity-bullet-mold-10mm-200-swc-40-s-and-w-10mm-401-diameter-200-grain-semi-wadcutter)
(https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/images/rcbs/item/FullA/82068.jpg)
BULLET MOULD 10MM-170-SWC 518
https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=3352&route=C12J059 (https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=3352&route=C12J059)
(https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/images/rcbs/item/FullA/82067.jpg)
Thanks!
I didn't know there was any activity after my last post. Thanks for all of the suggestions.
I never ended up getting a mold but did end up finding an RZ10 at a local gun shop and couldn't resist. Looks like it's time to slug the barrel and find a mold that will work for both. I also plan on getting a KKM barrel for my g29. Do you guys think I should wait to buy a mold until I slug that one also? I would think not but figured I should ask to be safe.