.451 Whitworth rifle and mold

[Chris]

Video and article below. What would it take... and how could it be accomplished... to make a barrel like this today. You machinist guys: how would one make a mold like this?

In the realm of theory: any advantage to the Whitworth system over current cast technology and knowledge? Sub 1 MOA at 500 yards is not shabby (not clear if that is from a machine rest).

http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/whitworth-rifle.html

 

[waco]

Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

 

[358156 hp]

I'd swage the bullet myself. IIRC, the originals were cast in solid tubular moulds that don't have parting lines. You'd close up the bottom and top of the cavity, then pour molten lead into the mould. Let it cool a bit, then open the top and bottom and push your bullet out. It would rotate a bit as it turned.

 

[Chris]

I'd swage the bullet myself. IIRC, the originals were cast in solid tubular moulds that don't have parting lines. You'd close up the bottom and top of the cavity, then pour molten lead into the mould. Let it cool a bit, then open the top and bottom and push your bullet out. It would rotate a bit as it turned.

That would work. Reason I asked is that at about 4:10 in the video you see a closeup of the cast bullet. It appears to have a cut sprue and a parting line.

I don't imagine Al at NOE will be offering molds soon...

 

[Brad]

Look carefully at the bullet nose. There are 2 lines that intersect to the side of the nose. Pretty clear it is a 3 piece mould.

 

[Josh]

The mould and sizer itself wouldn't be hard to make, but the mould would be a cast iron arse to use. The mould would have to be all CNC machined, no cherries in this one and it would be 3 blocks of steel.

The sizer would be the easiest part, but if you make the mould correct you probably wouldn't need it.

 

[Brad]

GIMB

 

[waco]

SLICK!!!!

 

[KeithB]

Neat mold.

 

[Josh]

An offset hollow point... not a bad idea really, it would be better than the 3 blocks I would do but definitely harder to get ligned up properly (initially) that is definitely a neat mould.

 

[Brad]

Bet that is a somnabeech to machine. Wanna bet it is expensive too? I could easily see a couple hundred for the mould.

 

[Josh]

Being a one off mould, your design and setup would be $300 then add in materials and machine time. I bet it would be $500 easy. Make it $600 if you do a sizer to go with it.

Most setup costs can be mitigated because you can run a metric load of the things once set up. That rifle and mould is a labor of love for sure.

 

[KeithB]

Brad, is that your mold?

 

[KeithB]

Not sure how they machined the cavities 150 yrs ago, but nowadays plunge EDM would be what I would use. Same for making a swage die, especially for one or two pieces. Probably that would have been done with a broach.

 

[Brad]

Brad, is that your mold?

No.
I found it online. I have developed good Googlefu.

I knew a guy who owned a PH Whitworth. I think he used a cylindrical Lyman bullet. Shot pretty darn well too.

 

[fiver]

glock makes them every day.

 

[freebullet]

Haha, was just guna say looked like a polygonal til I seen the bullet.

Pretty interesting stuff.

 

[358156 hp]

I cheated. I've seen them before: http://www.dixiegunworks.com/pdf_datasheet.php?products_id=12126&osCsid=gb26b3915ckmfnbqtt5vs7jlp6

Oh yeah, hollowbased is mentioned.

 

[waco]

glock makes them every day.

HAHAHAHA!!!!

 

[fiver]

there is still someone making poly or hexagonal rifle barrels.
I remember having a conversation with Bullshop about them 4-5 years ago.