New Arsenal Molds ordered

[Glaciers]

Well I’ve been selling a lot of excess brass, bullets, and molds on another site which has been keeping me a bit busy. Selling molds that I haven’t used for one reason or another.
One I’ve ordered is a 5 cavity 44-180 RF at .432 diameter. Wanting a light bullet for the Charter Arms and a plinker for other pistols and my lever rifles.


Was going to order a button bullet for the 45-70 at 180 grains, but didn’t really like the shape of it. So I order a 45-230 RF brought out to .459 diameter. Little heavier but seems little more practical with a little more authority.


And lastly one for my 458x2. I have a LEE 500 grain semi pointed PB that is working good, need to spend more time with it.. was going buy a second mold to have the base and first lube ring milled off to make a 350 to 370 grain Semi pointed bullet. But. I ran across this Arsenal 45-370 bullet and it looked like just what I was looking for. Jared is going to bring this one out to .459 as well.



There’s a 5 to 6 week delay so it will be about the first week in December before I see them and I’m leaving for the winter by the middle of December. So next years projects. The LEE 500 and the Arsenal 370 will be fun to use in the 458x2, can’t use flat nose or even a blunt round nose like the Hornady 350 RN in this rifle as they will hang up coming out of the magazine.

Ended up ordering 4 LEE 6 cavity molds to replace LEE 2 cavity molds. 459-200 RF, 358-200 RF, 358-158 RF, and a 358-125RF. Like the 6 cavity molds there quite nice for the money.

 

[Spindrift]

Looks like some fine bullets! You'll have a bit of mould break- in to do in a while....

Good luck with your new moulds, and keep us posted on how they work out for you!

 

[Bret4207]

That might be the ticket for the Charter. I'm still using 429421's in mine. They are a bit more than optimal.

 

[Glaciers]

Well by the time the Arsenal molds get here I’ll be get the homestead ready for the house sitter so won’t have time to do more then give them a hot bath in Dawn and scrub them.
The Lee molds will be here by the end of the month and will get a group scrubbing in Dawn as well. Between projects here, winter heating upgrades in the insulation department not seeing a lot of time..

I’m taking 3 rifles with on our winter outing, a 308 Remington 660, Rossi 357 lever, either a 250 Savage model 1926 or a Ruger 358. The 250 Savage bolt gun will more then likely get the nod as Karyn wants to do a little desert shooting. Pistols will be a 2” J frame Smith, SP101 3”, GP 100 4” all 3 in 357. I have a Ruger Security Six 4”, Ruger 10-22 at my son’s place now and I’ll bring a Walther P22 as well. I will be trading the GP 100 to my brother for a 6” model 14 Smith.
So the 2 LEE 6 cavity 358 both the 125 & the 158 will get a workout in November and a NOE 180 grain as well. Light mid-range loads in 38 cases and some heavier 357’s, but all most be run through the Rossi for smooth feeding. Have some 87 grain Hornady’s to load up in the little 250 for lighter recoil for Karyn. I want her to get more interested in rifle shooting.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Agreed fine molds will bring much enjoyment!!

CW

 

[Glaciers]

I do like the Arsenal molds, good outfit. I have a few from them, this order will double my herd. Have a couple in 258 and one in 30 cal. I just need to get more serious about this pastime. Just feel guilty when I start casting, loading and finding time for shooting when there’s firewood, and cabin projects to do.

 

[Winelover]

Tried Saeco 200 grainers in my fixed sighted Bulldog. There isn't that much of recoil reduction to warrant the low POI. I'll just stick with the nominal 240 grain weight. I do have a 44 caliber 210 RNFP from Accurate Molds. Need to try that bullet and check POI. However, I also have a MP 250 RNFP with solid, cup and HP pins. Finally, went though the last of commercial cast (Magnus) 240 RNFP's this past summer. Next Spring, I can wring out those other options...........it's hunting season till the end of February.

 

[fiver]

that top one looks super similar to the 38-40 bullet I have,,, except of course it being a 40 cal bullet the front drive band is some thicker.
shoots good though.

 

[Jeff H]

That might be the ticket for the Charter. I'm still using 429421's in mine. They are a bit more than optimal.

This (429-421) will be my next Arsenal mould design. I currently use an Ideal single cavity which produces .433", which was goof for several 44 Specials over the years.

This weight bullet shoots to POI in 44 Charters I've owned, while 200 grain bullets shoot about 4" low at 25 yards. My "light" 44 bullet is currently an Arsenal 210 grain RF, which has been great in the Flat Top 44 Special and the Target Bulldog.

The trade-off between 240/250 and 200/210 in fixed-sight Charters is not terribly bothersome. I don't remember ever shooting a 180 throiugh one, so can't say, but it's surely within the realm of being workable. Makes me want to try one now.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah the light bullets shooting low is a problem, but for my wife and BIL who will never shoot more then 10 yards, POA isn’t as much of an issue as recoil. That’s why I’m going this route. It might not be workable in the Charters. I tried 240’s reduced with unique and wasn’t happy. Need to run some BE.

 

[Winelover]

Try 2400 with 240-265 grainers, you'd be surprised that the recoil is very manageable with the lightweight Bulldog. Not that you'd be wanting a extended practice session. My limit is 20-25 rounds. My 2 1/2" barrel is giving me 828 fps with 13.0 grains of 2400 and NOE's 265 RNFP......... sized .433 diameter. As measured with Lab Radar. It's what in it now while I carry it bow hunting.

I'm not recoil shy but that Bulldog is the only lightweight revolver that will draw blood on my trigger finger's first joint. Arthritis is not fun. My 357 LCR is tame, compared to the bite of that beast. A light weight glove helps immensely, for extended shooting. A mountain bike padded glove (gel inserts) is the cat's meow in colder weather.

 

[Jeff H]

Yeah the light bullets shooting low is a problem, but for my wife and BIL who will never shoot more then 10 yards, POA isn’t as much of an issue as recoil. That’s why I’m going this route. It might not be workable in the Charters. I tried 240’s reduced with unique and wasn’t happy. Need to run some BE.

Lowest I could go with Unique with 240 or 250 bullets is 6 grains. A crimp is also necessary as I had bullets going fully sideways at fifteen yards with no crimp when I started experimenting with Charters in '82. Low doses of Unique with light bullets were very sooty and dirty, didn't group as well either. I started using W231/HP38 at 5.2 to 5.5 grains for the 429421 and get sooty cases, but better accuracy. THAT's the first load I try in any 44 Special now, before trying anything else. Not a "cat-sneeze" load by any means, but has been very accurate in every 44 Special I have tried it in - Ruger, Rossi, Taurus, Charter.

Obviously, the Rossis, Tauruses and Charters are LIGHT guns, but this load is (subjectively) quite manageable. I've had to go to 6.2 grains W231/HP38 with the 200 to 210 grain bullets, so felt recoil sort of balances out - at least as far as I can tell. Haven't had Bullseye in several years, but would jump on a big jug of that in a hurry. If I had Bullseye, Unique and 2400, I wouldn't be the least bit concerned about finding powder. Unique and W23/HP38 are my go-to non-magnum powders right now, and as much as I like Unique, I'm finding the W23/HP38 to be even more likable in the 'Special.

Not trying to talk you out of your preference, just sharing in case you can't find one but can find the other.

 

[Jeff H]

Try 2400 with 240-265 grainers,.........

I shot pins for a while using a 265 grain RF and it was pretty astonishing to see the difference in the reaction of the pins - and it sounds different - a deep "THUMP," more than a "POP," like with faster powders. Similarly with 4227, but it didn't seem to burn completely and DID seem to recoil more.

Subjectively, the recoil from the 265s I shot were not powder-puffs, but very different - not as "sharp(?)" Not even sure how to describe it, but it was definitely not unpleasant.

This could all be a matter of personal perception, but the difference was very obvious compared to 200 through 250 grain bullets and faster powders.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah I haven’t been very happy with Unique in reduced loads for the special even with a good crimp. Wanted to go with bulls eye, but forgot about 231, might have to give it a try or Red Dot for that matter.
I like the idea of 2400, one of my favorite powders, just haven’t used it in the special as trying to go light on the recoil end for Karyn and Mark. The recoil doesn’t bother me so I’m going to play with the 180, it will have a use in one sixgun or fivegun.

 

[Bret4207]

Hmm, I forgot the lighter bullets wouldn't come close to point of aim. Must be getting old. The 429421 groups fine with 6.5 Unique, but everything hits about 2-3" to the left!

 

[Winelover]

BE (#8) is closer to RD (#13) on the burn chart............ W-231(#29) while Unique comes in at (#31) . Alliant 2400 is at #54. Apples, oranges and grapefruits. IMO, the slower powders give a softer recoil impulse.

 

[Jeff H]

Yeah I haven’t been very happy with Unique in reduced loads for the special even with a good crimp. Wanted to go with bulls eye, but forgot about 231, might have to give it a try or Red Dot for that matter.
I like the idea of 2400, one of my favorite powders, just haven’t used it in the special as trying to go light on the recoil end for Karyn and Mark. The recoil doesn’t bother me so I’m going to play with the 180, it will have a use in one sixgun or fivegun.

Forgot Red Dot, but yeah, definitely one of those good for light 'Special loads. I don't have it because that's all I'd use it for. Loaded 44-40 for a friend years ago, so it was One I kept on hand.

 

[fiver]

red-dot is very good for the light 'target type' 750-800fps. loads in the big volume cases.
so is tite-wad and Promo they all kinda just sit there in the same zone, tite-wad burns cleaner the closer to 12-K you get it, so a 15-K load is right up it's alley.

 

[Bret4207]

I don't know how you guys keep track of all the different powders these days. Times were a lot easier when you had BE, Unique and 2400 and that was about it.

 

[Glaciers]

Well as far as powder goes when I travel south I will have a small portable reloading kit. The reason for that is being in Alaska I can only fly so much ammunition with me. I’m sticking to only a few calibers, 250 Savage, 308, and the 357 for the handgun department. Going to leave the 44’s at home. You can’t send loaded ammo from here even UPS and Fed-X won’t ship from Alaska. So I’m mailing out some 38 and 357 brass and bullets along with the “kit” for picnic table loading. Just need to find a pound of Bulls Eye, Unique, RD, 2400, something, and a few hundred SPP. I’m not very picky about powders, but as Brett indicates, (last 30 years) that I’m not familiar with, but, I can read a manual. I will bring some rifle ammo out 100 - 250’s and some 308 as I have some 308 and 357’s in the motorhome. Have one brick of 22 would like a second.

Anyway being in Alaska at times is a pain in the butt. Love it, but there’s this country of Canada between here and there. Definitely causes problems at times.