Input on bullet design

[gman]

Back when BRP was still making molds he offered a dual crimp 640 style mold of 35 caliber. I was too late getting one. NOE made a copy which is now listed as the 360-183 RF and I did get one of these. Shoots really well in my 357 Maximum's but it drops bullets a tad over .361 and that makes it difficult to size down to fit the cylinder throats. I don't really have a use for the dual crimp grooves and would like to have Tom @ Accurate cut a mold based off of that bullet. I've tried to get the best measurements I could and eliminated the dual crimp grooves as well as widening the first driving band to equal the second that's right above the gas check. Doing this reduced the lube groove but I was thinking it wouldn't be an issue since I PC everything these days. I still want a lube groove though to have a place for metal to displace. I'm attaching my crude drawing and would like to get some feedback on the good or bad and anything that should be changed to make a better design. Tom has a design that is close to what I've come up with. I'd like some opinions before deciding which route to go. I haven't posted here in quite awhile so I do appreciate the help. Thanks!

 

[STIHL]

I'll let the experts weigh in with their opinions on the technical side, but the drawing is far better than what I can draw. Based solely on the aesthetics, it looks like a nice design to me.

 

[Outpost75]

When ordering a mold from Accurate you can specify alloy and whether you want the 0.002 tolerance positive, negative or centered. For revolver use I indicate tolerance on driving bands "centered" and for the front driving band and bore riding forepart north of crimp groove specify "nose tolerance negative."Right angle lube grooves will not release from the mold. Tom normally uses a flat bottom groove with 60-degree draft angle in which bullets drop freely of their own weight.

I load bullets as-cast and unsized, using the Redding Profile Crimp Die to size driving bands if needed by compression inside the case. Redding die is FAR superior to the Lee for this purpose.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Just an fyi MP molds has that exact design in stock both hp and non hp he even has it in hi tek style.

I have two of them and they shoot amazing!!

 

[gman]

I have looked at the MP Molds. I have a couple of his molds and after the learning curve they make good bullets. Downside is brass gets heavy standing over a pot ladle casting. I don’t think it’s offered In aluminum. Honestly I’d rather pay for a product made in the USA. I do appreciate the feedback!

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

He has them in aluminum 8 cavities just like the lee design.
I am a huge fan of the red white and blue too no ifs ands or butts but nobody else has the exact dimensions. The designer and MP are the only ones unless you have some bullets you could send to accurate so he could clone them for you.

 

[StrawHat]

I have looked at the MP Molds. I have a couple of his molds and after the learning curve they make good bullets. Downside is brass gets heavy standing over a pot ladle casting. I don’t think it’s offered In aluminum. Honestly I’d rather pay for a product made in the USA. I do appreciate the feedback!

Got to agree with you on country of origin. Want my money? Make it here.

Kevin

 

[Tomme boy]

copy the design print off NOE site and send it to Tom. Tell him what changes you want and he will make it exactly as you want. But remember it will be EXACTLY what you tell him so be careful of what you want

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

The design on NOE’s site is different it’s close but in my testing from a rest in many loads the original MP out shoots the NOE.
There is something about the nose design that helps in alignment and it just flat works!

I have a few cast up in HiTek style I could mail to Tom attention your name if you want an exact clone!

There is no doubt he can get it right Tom is amazing!!!
I have some lube groove too but they are already sized and lubed I could send a few of those too.
Pm me and let me know if I can assist.

 

[popper]

You need to find the arc for the ogive and put that on the drawing ( tangent, cosine, what ever with origin point of ogive.). Put a very slight rounding of the ogive to meplat also. Tom has done 4 customs for me, came out exactly what I spec'd. If you don't spec it he has to guess or email you back.

 

[gman]

This is where it stands now. This is a modified version of a Lee Martin design @ singleactions.com. It is designed to fit the Ruger 357 Maximum cylinder. Any thoughts to improve? Drive band above the gas check wider? Thanks!

 

[gman]

Forgot to attach drawing.

 

[Ian]

Long time no see!

Email Tom with your sketch and explanation of use and gun type. The ogive curve makes or breaks it so do like Popper wrote and figger that part out, Tom might have some suggestions. CNC lathe boring requires some draft on the sides as Outpost wrote. Tom has his preference, he will go steeper by a little if you lean on him but he doesn't like to. Bob Kell and Elmer Keith were absolute tyrants about square, or very nearly square, lube grooves having lathe-turned bullets and compared results on paper. I haven't found any difference, but they don't write books about me, either.

 

[gman]

Appreciate you chiming in Ian. I’m going to send to Tom and see what he suggests. This will be powder coated.

 

[fiver]

i wouldn't make it 360 then.

 

[gman]

I noted that in my email to Tom. Throats on 2 are .358 & 1 is .359

 

[Ian]

Make it .357 with your alloy and middle tolerance on the bands.

 

[Billy G]

When ordering a mold from Accurate you can specify alloy and whether you want the 0.002 tolerance positive, negative or centered. For revolver use I indicate tolerance on driving bands "centered" and for the front driving band and bore riding forepart north of crimp groove specify "nose tolerance negative."Right angle lube grooves will not release from the mold. Tom normally uses a flat bottom groove with 60-degree draft angle in which bullets drop freely of their own weight.

I load bullets as-cast and unsized, using the Redding Profile Crimp Die to size driving bands if needed by compression inside the case. Redding die is FAR superior to the Lee for this purpose.

Man are you right about bullets with right angle lube grooves I bought a 32 cal. wadcutter mold from Arsenal for a 32 mag. it has right angle lube grooves, this thing cast great bullets but I had to beat the crap out of it to get them to fall out. I sprayed it with drop out & this helped a lot but still have to whack it pretty good.