Getting started with the 300blk ...

popper

Well-Known Member
Anybody got a good shooting report on that chrome PC? I really need another color to ID various loads.
 
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Ian

Notorious member
Choose a smaller nose (of have custom cut done) to accommodate the .002-.003 thickness ON EACH SIDE of the bullet.

So, .004-.006"?

Or did you confuse "side" with "end", since Tom will do noses and body bands to separate tolerances?
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
Please note that when ordering from Tom, he has an allowance of 0.002" oversize on his molds.
I ordered a mold at 0.310" and got a mold that was 0.312" that he said was in spec. I hadn't noticed that qualification when I ordered.
Completely my bad. Not his fault at all.
I had to order another mold on my dime.
I specified 0.308" on the re-order and got one that was 0.309".
Just a heads up that the size you order will probably be the minimum size, not the maximum size.
You can always polish a little bigger, if need be, but you can't make it any smaller.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Having a bad day Ian?

Maybe just breath a bit my friend I am not your advisary.

CW

Is that your way of saying you're not going to answer my request for clarification?

The best advice here when ordering a mould cut deliberately undersized for powder coating is for the individual to carefully determine how much thickness their own methods and materials adds, then order a mould based off of that plus maybe a half-thousandth fudge factor. For example if you want .309" final, order .308 and size it instead of ordering .306, it ending up .30798" after coating, and getting gas-cutting and keyholes.

Also, don't hold Accurate to a smaller tolerance than he allows. He can in fact dial in a mould to a couple of tenths, but he's not in control of YOUR alloy, YOUR casting habits/mould temperature, YOUR actual alloy temperature, pour speed, pour method, or ambient conditions.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Ian,

That's my way and not entering into a foolish Internet argument with someone I respect. You should know, your not always the only one who can be correct and its possible to be wrong even tho you are correct.

If you're gonna push the issue, I'm gonna wanna see proof that you can consistently, maintain a .001 thickness on your powder coated bullets.

Otherwise, I propose to respectfully, disagree.

CW
 
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popper

Well-Known Member
allowance of 0.002" oversize IIRC you can spec your tolerance on his moulds, just costs $. IIRC I went 3 thous under on my nose profile, not a bore rider. Don't have any of those. You also need to consider any step between drive bands and ogive - PC will be thicker there.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
i struggle to get anywhere near .002 of powder coat on anything.
001 is more likely and if i really really work at it i might get another half thousand on there.
but 2? no.
but my coatings are flexible enough to swage a 323 bullet up to 358 and have no cracking or sloughing.

anyway if i ordered a nose .003 small, it'd still be .002 too small.
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
I was not disparaging Tom, just pointing out a specification/disclaimer that was on his web page when I ordered that mold.
He makes great molds!
It was completely my fault for not reading the disclaimers on the order form and adjusting my numbers accordingly.
He was making me a custom mold that Ian and Josh designed specifically for my 7.62x40 WT.
A shout out to Ian and Josh for taking the time to help me!
 

Ian

Notorious member
I know you weren't, Hawk, I was just pointing out to the world at large that the variables at play make it unrealistic to try and order a mould, powder coat it, and fit a bore-riding nose to a bore dimension within a sufficiently close tolerance.

There are two ways to make it right assuming you end up with a large enough bullet in the first place: size the nose for final fit, or use a tapered, self-aligning design which has a large tolerance of alloy and coating thickness and is fit-adjustable by altering deating depth.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
use a tapered, self-aligning design which has a large tolerance of alloy and coating thickness and is fit-adjustable by altering seating depth.
That works fine. I coated after measuring A bullet, cooked and measured after. Both with smoke's red, ESPC and shake and bake with ASBBs. I got 0.002 increased dia. I do notice that the use of ASBBs reduces the 'excess' PC that is sifted or knocked off by some coaters. Noticed last nite when picking the 185g out of the bucket, those on the bottom 'in' the powder dropped off more powder when tapping the base on hard surface.
 
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popper

Well-Known Member
Shot the CVA and carbine today, 110 Vmax and 145gr GC PC with 2400. Scope on CVA had moved in rings, carbine was off a bit too. 50 yds, decent groups. Also did the 40sw @ 7, same ammo as used when I shot the dueling tree. Must be me at longer range.
carbine_0239.JPG
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Only firearms I have shot in over 6mo is a 45 Colt and my Birdshead 327.

I almost always brought at least one of my 300's cause they are so accurate and fun to shoot. I do miss shooting them.

CW
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
especially in a bolt gun.
it's getting to the point that complaining about 2.5 cent gas checks driving up the cost is part of the routine with them.