Plain based mould

[Brad]

Khornet asked me to plain base a 6 mm mould for him. My wife brought the mould home, I found it was an Ideal 245496, single cavity.
I had to grind a tool to use for removing the shank. That took 10 min or so the. I honed the edge a bit. Can't have the tool too sharp.
Got the mould centered in the 4 jaw, set the tool depth, and started cutting.

Turned out pretty well. I may have cut a little too deep, maybe .001 or so but sizing will take care of that.

I'm pretty happy with the results. Now to return the mould and see how the bullets look as cast and after sizing.

 

[KHornet]

Looks like a real winner to me. Anxious to try it.

 

[Brad]

I can guarantee you are getting your money's worth!

 

[Ben]

Bingo ! !
Looks like we have a winner !
That looks good.

Ben

 

[Brad]

I just started work on another project. Removing the bevel base and increasing rear band diameter on a Lee 120 TC for my 9 mm. Right now it struggles to cast .357, I want .359.
Got 2 center cavities cut, will do more tomorrow after work.

 

[Ben]

I think this is GREAT !
I wish I had your skills AND equipment.

Ben

BTW.........It looks like the .243 mould has a pretty good coating of mold release on the faces of the blocks.

 

[Brad]

I don't think that is mould release, I think it is years and years of accumulated junk. That mould could stand a soak in some Ed's Red for a bit then a good scrubbing with a stiff toothbrush to remove some of that. I did slightly stone down the ring that was raised around the holes for the alignment pins.
Those old Ideal moulds have been around a while. Makes you wonder what stories they could tell.

 

[Ben]

Brad,

That is good news........I hate mould release.

Ben

 

[JWFilips]

KHornet,
I will be interested in your load development for this plain based version.
I just started shooting cast in my .243 this past winter & would like to know how plain based works in one
Jim