410426 Grail mold redux

[KeithB]

I posted a thread last month about my acquisition of one of the Grail molds on my bullet casting bucket list. It was a badly Bubbaed 4 cavity Lyman 410426.

(https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/badly-bubbaed-grail-mold.10677/

Shortly after I made that post a two cavity 410426 in pristine condition showed up on eBay. It was more than I wanted to pay but after watching it for two weeks I went ahead and bought it. Cry once, be happy many times...

Nice clean markings


The lack of marks on the top make me believe this mold is unsused.


The cavities are sharp and clean with just a little bit of freckling


Now that I have a good mold what should I do with the Bubbaed four cavity mold? I still plan to fix it up, but with an inset bar type system to make it a multiple cavity hollow point mold. I have some vague thoughts about using the inset bar as part of the alignment system, and possibly using some bullets cast in the two cavity as alignment spuds to hold the four cavities' sides in alignment. I will think this through carefully before I touch any tools to the four cavity mold.

I think cutting this bullet down from 240 grs to 210-215 grs with a big HP cavity would make for an impressive bullet. I know a 215 gr SWC over a full charge of 296 or 2400 is a hell of a load and well into true magnum performance.

 

[JonB]

Glad you got the nice 2 cav mold.
BUT, your plans for the 4 cav sounds neat. I look forward to following that.

 

[Rally]

I’m looking forward to the rebuild too, but if you get aggravated and launch it across the shop at some point, I’d understand! Lol

 

[Missionary]

Hey before you "chop" it up, send me a PM. I could easily work with a 3 cavity mold.

 

[KeithB]

After starting to clean it up the freckling in the two cavities is dried grease/oil and lint/dirt/dust. Doesn't appear as if the metal is damaged.

 

[KeithB]

You know @Missionary, if we could get a few people interested maybe we could get one of the mold makers to do a run of these but in the appropriate dimensions for .41 Mag and all other .41 based cartridges. I'd be more than glad to supply some sample bullets.

 

[Tomme boy]

Do the Cramer system for hp. A lot less machine work

 

[Elric]

Caveat emptor? Trying to nail down the configurations [LFN, UFN, WXN, whatever] and I'm not being wildly successful. I'm trying to get where I was about five years ago... A .414 SM with a 260 grainer. Just a little choo-choo of pre-expanded lead... About 150 yards for a decent shot...

The addition of a Hollow Point brings up the bullet configuration and BHN. The 410426 is a lusty bullet [I have lurked on a few], but perhaps you can get an NOE .41 NEI-inspired K-BOWM design that answers any need for energy transfer.

Searching for "K-BOWM" or "BOWM" does little to explain things. "Frank Marshall", I will have to search more when I have time.

Found a working capture of NEI Handtools, Inc, here we go....

NEI’s Listing of Keith / Bench-Or-Woods-Marshall [K-BOWM] Bullets (revised 14 March 2010) [NOTE: I did not find an updated list]

NOTE: I might have to bounce around a bit to find where the catalog title and the mold # match as close as possible. There will be losses...

NEI Catalog page
Page 8 .408-215 [#210] - .410-385-PB [#215?]
Page 9 .410-400-PP [#215C] - .412-325-GC-DD [#227]

.408-416 (0.26”-0.30” meplat)
.408-285-PB (#210) Close as I can get is #210B, Bevel Base
.408-380-PB (#212E) "Bardizian"
.410-260-GC (#215F) "Marty Flack"
.411-172 (#217C)
.411-205-GC (#219)
.411-210-GC (#220)
.411-220-PB (#221)
.411-225-GC (#222)
.411-230-PB (#223)
.411-235-GC (#223B)
.411-240-GC (#225)
.411-350-GC (#225A)
.411-300-GC (#225B) 275 - 225 - 187, different weights]
.412-300-GC (#226A)
.411-325-GC-DD (#227)

NEI On-Line Order form notes:
"Hollow point molds will not be made. No proof has been issued for HP's being more accurate. NEI does not recommend nor give any loading data.

Please note that the weights are approximate and exact weights are not guaranteed. This is compounded because most of the cherries are new and the possibility of maintaining exact weight is beyond practicality. The profile or shape of the projectile should determine the ultimate use; weight is secondary. A lighter or heavier projectile can be compensated for by adjusting the charge. All weights are NOT in Linotype. Wheel weights are usually 5% heavier and pure lead 8%. We are not responsible for typos or possible errors in graphics.

Gas check molds can be made without the gas check. The plain base version will weigh less. Subtract about 10 grains for .224 diameter up to about 25 grains for the .458 diameter. The .50 cal. will weigh 50 grains less for the plain base version.

All rifle diameters will cast from .002 to .003 over; pistol from .002 to .004 over. "

Now back to wide-eyed wonder...

NOE makes some .41 moulds that sure look similar [which is good!]. As time allows, I want to do a two column table with NEI vs NOE K-BOWN-ish .41 caliber moulds. The truth is out there...

WARNING! Do NOT use the Internet Archive's "This URL is available on the web" button! If the domain was bought up, you will be adding anything from plastic containers or adult themed material to the NEI capture... You have been warned...

 

[Missionary]

Unless you have a add blocker. I never see any of that garbage. We use Ghostery... Free.
Thank you for looking at the old NEI... I wish they were still with us. Not sure what year we bought or last.

 

[Elric]

The stupid stuff in many cases is not an ad, but someone squatting on an old URL. Dunno. Once upon a time, I was looking for the Network Peripherals Inc. [NPI] site for any info on an FDDI adapter. Seems like someone had used the "This URL is..." and Internet Archive has "N00b In Public". Tame stuff from the early 2000's, but not what I needed.

Was that an ad? Nowadays, searching for Aspen and Woodcock can get you different results.

As to NEI, I feel there is a need to pull the old .41 K-BOWM bullet illustrations and put them on a page. Surely, there must be someplace on the web with a discussion of that bullet configuration... There should...

William Iorg wrote:
"Frank Marshall in the Fouling Shot #52 described a philosophy of heavy for the caliber bullets he dubbed BOWM: Bench of Woods Marshall. These heavy for the caliber bullets are best described as providing a 10 to 15% weight increase and 30 to 50% increase in bore ride bearing surface.
Frank Marshall described his use of the Ideal 457191 300 grain bullet sized to .457 in the .45 Colt.
Two quotes from the article: A notable as the whump increase, was the improved accuracy of this longer bearing overall form.
I dont recommend this .45 Colt hot magnumizing and mention it only due to the notable accuracy with the semi-BOWM #457191 bullet."