Rich in WY
New Member
I am getting ready to order a new mold and have a choice of aluminum, brass or iron. Trying to make up my mind on which to order. I have used aluminum and iron, but never brass. What is your favorite material and why?
Mold Material ?
- Thread starter Rich in WY
- Start date
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
If you want beautiful bullets of all the same dimensions, go with brass.
RBHarter
West Central AR
I have 45 cal moulds in 1,2,3,5,6,&8 cavity moulds in aluminum, brass and iron from 196 to 535 gr . Yes the iron moulds are accurate and consistent in the 1,2,&8 cavity moulds. The 196gr H&G #130 8 cavity drops 195.8-196.4 gr I haven't weighed or measured the 45-200 RCBS but 203-205 gr from assorted lots of alloy . The singles 457193 and 45-500 drop 417 and 530 gr both just over .458 .
Aluminum moulds in 2,3,5,&6 cav . The 2,3,&5 are just as accurate and consistent as the iron moulds. The 3 cav NOE is a .460-543 . The doubles are Lee , Rapine , Mountain Mold , NEI , and NOE . Cost is a factor in better consistency. The 5 cav NOE 454-250 runs 249.5 to 251 across several pots . The Lee 6s are Lee's they cast 1 heavy , 3 nominal, and 2 light , or the opposite. It has to be the way the heat flows in the moulds because sometimes they flow and close the gaps from -2.5 , .8 slop , +2.0 to about 3.0 gr on the 452-255 that runs 264 gr .
The lone brass mould much like the Mountain Molds casts with boring consistency but it was a huge PITA to get enough patina on to run well . It is an MP 462-420 PB/HB .
The H&G weighs about 8# and the brass mould is about 3# . The 5&6 cavity moulds weigh about the same as the large block 2 cavity iron moulds .
Aluminum moulds in 2,3,5,&6 cav . The 2,3,&5 are just as accurate and consistent as the iron moulds. The 3 cav NOE is a .460-543 . The doubles are Lee , Rapine , Mountain Mold , NEI , and NOE . Cost is a factor in better consistency. The 5 cav NOE 454-250 runs 249.5 to 251 across several pots . The Lee 6s are Lee's they cast 1 heavy , 3 nominal, and 2 light , or the opposite. It has to be the way the heat flows in the moulds because sometimes they flow and close the gaps from -2.5 , .8 slop , +2.0 to about 3.0 gr on the 452-255 that runs 264 gr .
The lone brass mould much like the Mountain Molds casts with boring consistency but it was a huge PITA to get enough patina on to run well . It is an MP 462-420 PB/HB .
The H&G weighs about 8# and the brass mould is about 3# . The 5&6 cavity moulds weigh about the same as the large block 2 cavity iron moulds .
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Iron, hands down. Have and use all three materials. Iron isn't as heavy as the same mold in brass. BTW, I'm in my early 70's, riddled with arthritis. Iron holds heat better than aluminum and isn't fragile. Easy to remove tinning or splatter with 0000 steel or bronze wool, without damage to mold. Brass is the worst offender, as far as, tinning is concerned.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
All can work wonderfully.
My preference is Brass. But as mentioned they get heavy quick as cavities grow. But a 2 cav is not a issue as ya pass 4 they begin to get more noticeable.
Alu seems a feather to me.
All can work wonderfully.
CW
My preference is Brass. But as mentioned they get heavy quick as cavities grow. But a 2 cav is not a issue as ya pass 4 they begin to get more noticeable.
Alu seems a feather to me.
All can work wonderfully.
CW
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Aluminum makes up the majority of my molds. I like aluminum because of the weight for one thing and there seems to be more availability in a larger variety of designs.
Cost is a factor as well, Lee 6 cavity molds are pretty nice for the basic designs and at half or less the price of custom makers.
When you want something different I use NOE, Arsenal, and Accurate, generally for 3, 4, or 5 cavity molds in aluminum. The same mold in brass or iron quickly climbs right out of my budget.
I do have RCBS, Lyman, and Ideal iron molds and they aren’t going anywhere. But they are single and two cavities.
As you can see I prefer aluminum for multiple reasons.
Cost is a factor as well, Lee 6 cavity molds are pretty nice for the basic designs and at half or less the price of custom makers.
When you want something different I use NOE, Arsenal, and Accurate, generally for 3, 4, or 5 cavity molds in aluminum. The same mold in brass or iron quickly climbs right out of my budget.
I do have RCBS, Lyman, and Ideal iron molds and they aren’t going anywhere. But they are single and two cavities.
As you can see I prefer aluminum for multiple reasons.
Brass, but no more than a three-cavity mold. Weight becomes an issue in a long casting session. I have a four cavity that is very good, but very tiring. Once warmed, the brass molds are very consistent. Be sure to track the temperature that you use a brass mold.
My second choice would be meehanite. Not iron, but specifically the meehanite crystalline structure.
I own several custom manufacturer aluminum molds that are good, but only for high-volume when casting pistol bullets.
My second choice would be meehanite. Not iron, but specifically the meehanite crystalline structure.
I own several custom manufacturer aluminum molds that are good, but only for high-volume when casting pistol bullets.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Overkill? LOL!
RBHarter
West Central AR
Per cavity my inventory is about an even of iron and aluminum.
I learned on Lee aluminum so I use aluminum mostly it is generally an easy transition from one to the other .
The big deal like all tools is the care and handling.
Iron moulds will rust steel/iron sprue plates will rust steel hollow point/base pins will rust . As a single item rust makes brass and aluminum better . Oddly enough it makes Lee a superior tool.
With modern tooling inuse and rust removed from the list I would say it's basically a personal choice and your needs .
I learned on Lee aluminum so I use aluminum mostly it is generally an easy transition from one to the other .
The big deal like all tools is the care and handling.
Iron moulds will rust steel/iron sprue plates will rust steel hollow point/base pins will rust . As a single item rust makes brass and aluminum better . Oddly enough it makes Lee a superior tool.
With modern tooling inuse and rust removed from the list I would say it's basically a personal choice and your needs .