A few new additions.

[STIHL]

It has came up a few times over the last few weeks about molds, here are a few I have added to my small little array of molds. I managed to catch the HG 503 HP clone from MP in stock so I ordered one of those in Brass, pretty happy with that one. I picked up a 35893 and handles, and a 358311 and handles and also got a brand new never used 35863. The cream of the additions comes in the form of the 10 cavity HG 290 BB .358. Nice bevel based Keith style SWC. It weren’t cheap, but what in life worth having is. The RCBS 358-140 WC is very similar to the 35863 think it will make a nice shooting wad cutter. I have yet to cast with any of these, but the day is coming soon. Also picked up a single cavity 429-421 in excellent shape, I was going to HP it, but it’s kind of pointless now. May need to kick that one on down the road.

One more to come is the Arsenal Ranch Dog clone, and I am really liking the 315 clone Ben showed the other day. May have to have one of those as well.

 

[creosote]

You done yourself,proud.

 

[Spindrift]

Nice catch, congrats!
I have the same MP mould, it has been a great shooter for me.

 

[Bret4207]

That H+G is going to spoil you! If it's even remotely like mine it's one of the the easiest casting moulds you'll ever use. The only problem is feeding it! They can go through a lot of lead fast.

 

[Jeff H]

............It weren’t cheap, but what in life worth having is.................

One more to come is the Arsenal Ranch Dog clone, and I am really liking the 315 clone Ben showed the other day. May have to have one of those as well.

I not been "cheap" on purpose very many times in my life, but it sure would have been handy to have been a lot smarter a lot earlier in life.

Arsenal and RDO makes a good combination. For revolvers, levers and single-shots, the RDO designs have been pretty no-fuss performers. I have a couple which were made by LEE which are OK, but it's fantastic that someone making really nice moulds is keeping Michael's designs in the system.

That's a really nice, and very well rounded, versatile group of moulds you have there!

 

[STIHL]

I think they should shoot pretty well. The full wad cutters are a wonder to me, all the designs they have made them in over the years. Just want to shoot several and see how they compare to each other.

As far as that HG goes, I hope I don’t have to run it much, it’s way heavier than I ever imagined. Should hold heat really well. Going to cast up 500, maybe 1000 and see how they perform in my wheel guns and my dads Henry big boy. If they do well this may become my standard 38 plinking bullet.

I was happy with them all. I’ll be glad to get a few heat cycles on the MP so it can start breaking in.

 

[Bret4207]

I think they should shoot pretty well. The full wad cutters are a wonder to me, all the designs they have made them in over the years. Just want to shoot several and see how they compare to each other.

As far as that HG goes, I hope I don’t have to run it much, it’s way heavier than I ever imagined. Should hold heat really well. Going to cast up 500, maybe 1000 and see how they perform in my wheel guns and my dads Henry big boy. If they do well this may become my standard 38 plinking bullet.

I was happy with them all. I’ll be glad to get a few heat cycles on the MP so it can start breaking in.

On the H+G, just come up with a rest for it, just a hunka 2x4 will work fine. Be generous with the sprue and it will amaze you at how easy it is. 500 is a real short run. You are using a ladle? If you BP I'm not sure how you will rig that. A 1lbs Rowell ladle is perfect for 10 150 gr 38 WC, gives you enough to leave a good sprue quantity and a little left over sometimes.

 

[STIHL]

Bottom pour, it will fit, but it’s going to be a different process all together. Have to go in kind of angled under the Lee pot. 2x4 planed down to the correct thickness should be good, probably will use a chunk of white oak. 18 lbs of alloy should cast roughly 750-800 bullets. So I may as well preheat about 10 more pounds of lead to add to the pot as the level drops. When I fire that one up that will be the only mold being ran that day.

I’m currently working in my shop on a big storage cabinet and a 4x8 rolling workbench that has a full cabinet underneath, that’s where all my extra time is going right now, with deer season in full swing. I’m going to get the pot out and fired up one night next week after work if I’m here and try that HG out. May as well cast that many up so I can oil it back down to store it, it will take me a while to shoot all those up with the others I have cast up to try out.

This one may actually be easier to ladle pour, may be looking into a good ladle just for this mold. Dang thing weighs about 10 lbs.

 

[Bret4207]

A Rowell of at least 1 lbs. You'll probably want to cut the handle off shorter and rethread for the wood grip. A Walmart electric hot plate and a stainless pot will work fine and hold a lot of alloy.

 

[STIHL]

I’ll have to check them out. I agree the handles are way too long for my taste, on the ladles I’ve seen. That’s a simple job. Going to attempt the bottom pour it may work just fine for now.

 

[Rick]

If I'm not mistaken your using a LEE pot. If so and you get a Rowell ladle it will have to be the number one. The number two (2 Pounder) will not fit into a LEE pot.

 

[Ian]

It will fit in a 4-20 just fine even with the pintle and linkage in place.

 

[STIHL]

It is a Lee 4-20. Hard to beat them, for the money, in my opinion. Its all in what you get used too. Seemed to be the best route when I started, which I knew nothing then. Now I can see some benefits to ladle pouring. Especially with a 10 plus pound mold that’s 15 inches long. As with everything else they have their pros and cons.

 

[Rick]

It will fit in a 4-20 just fine even with the pintle and linkage in place.

Well so much for what ya read on the internet. I've never had a LEE pot but I had read that the #2 wouldn't fit. I use the #2 in the RCBS 22 pound pot and it works but there's little room left over.

 

[fiver]

it won't fit in a 10 for sure.
a 1 lb. ladle barely fits and you can't get down more than 4-5 lbs, plus it creates more damn dross than i've ever seen,,, ever.

 

[Bret4207]

When I went from a cast iron pot to a stainless pot my dross accumulation dropped to almost nothing. I'm a traditionalist, but I really think stainless is the best thing for a pot material.