Nose Pour ? ?

[JustJim]

I've played with the old Ideal Perfection moulds (adjustable nose-pour grooved bullets) and they did well (but perhaps an identical bullet in a base-pour would have done as well?). RCBS made an adjustable paper-patch mould for the .45 rifles that was interesting but took some work to get good results; other makers over the years have made similar moulds. From my limited experience with Eagan's moulds, it looked like his approach was to cut the moulds with cherries and have the chamber leade cut to match (which actually isn't a bad idea). One way or another though, these moulds all offered generic one-size-fits-all dimensions.

The reputation of nose-pour moulds (and the argument that they are better because of better bases) came from a time when the nose-pour moulds were custom-made to fit the chamber of an individual rifle. Often the bullets were tapered, to better-fit the leade. It might take several trials to get a mould with just the right dimensions for a particular rifle. There was no risk of the bullets getting messed-up in the sizers because they weren't sized. Of modern makers, Hoch lathe-bored his moulds, and you could get one cut to fit any chamber.

I've run tests with good base-pour and nose-pour moulds, checking weights and measurements. If I tuned the moulds and cast with all the tricks I've learned over the years, there was no difference in consistency. Which brings us back to the modern view that fit is king. Sometimes it is just easier to get optimum fit by using a nose-pour mould.

 

[Rally]

That's why they put vent lines in molds. And we break the top edge of the mold. My previous tests showed that any nicks in the EDGE of the base causes wild flyers, exiting crown problem. Nose pour should give most perfect base but not many make them. Culling bad bases out may be less costly/work. Your choice.

That is my point, if we were injecting the alloy, from the lowest point of the mould, but we aren’t. We pour from the highest point, to the lowest point, with an uneven, turbulent stream. Base pour lets me at least see if my casting is filling my base, at a quick look, before dumping.

 

[BudHyett]

Nose pour molds give an advantage for square bases. The Hoch pattern where the sprue plates are parallel and the bore perpendicular is a great start. However, the person using this pattern can still get rounded bases, wrinkled sides, and incomplete noses. The ultimate answer is the person using the mold experimenting with temperature, rate of flow when using a bottom pour pot, and rhythm of casting. Like a rifle, each mold has its own idiosyncrasies.

The one person who shot a perfect score at the 2023 CBA National Matches uses a bottom pour pot and a base pour mold. He's been casting for forty-plus years. (He is also one of the best wind judges I've ever seen shoot.) The ultimate answer is the person using the mold understanding his mold and using it effectively.

 

[Axman]

I have 2 30 cal Hoch moulds purchased back when used Hoch moulds could be had for $35-40 each. I don't think they've ever been warmed up! Wonder what they'd sell for now?

I believe base squareness to the centerline of the bullet is vital and that the base must be even all the way around. I would bet more damage is done in the sizer and seating dies than there are moulds out of whack.

$150.00 and up.