Is RCBS out of the mold business?

[KeithB]

Just went to the RCBS home page and there were only 12 molds listed for sale with 3 having no picture and listed as unavailable. Are they getting out of the mold biz?

 

[RBHarter]

Probably too much semi/custom competition . Check Huntington's .

 

[RicinYakima]

IMHO: I would not be surprised that NOE, Accurate and Mountain Molds has put them out of that business. To the best of my knowledge they are still using the old equipment from Lachmiller/Ohaus they got in the 1970's. Since they are "outsourcing" everything they can, I would not be surprised.

 

[RicinYakima]

Just checked Huntington's, no bullet moulds.

 

[358156 hp]

Midway has stock. Grafs has limited stock. Midsouth looks good too.

It's hard to tell anything by this though. We lost our local Sears store on very short notice for example.

 

[CZ93X62]

Nothing is as constant as change.

I like my RCBS moulds. I would hate to see them leave the field. They have worked well for me, though one comes to mind that is undersized for the rifles it purports to feed (45/70). That is a common malady in the 45/70 rifle/mould relationship, though.

 

[KeithB]

I bought a couple of used molds from SMac, one of which is a two cavity RCBS 38-158RN, the classic round nose bullet for .38 Special. The mold I got is apparently an older model, it has a crimp groove where the picture of the current version shows no crimp groove. I'm tickled pink, the mold is in excellent shape and I really was hoping to get one with a crimp groove. But I had to go to the Midway site to find the picture because of what I noted about the RCBS site.

(I want to note that the purchase from SMac was entirely satisfactory, the mold was as described and it was packed properly and shipped promptly.)

I have several RCBS molds, all of them are fine, my only oft-voiced complaint is that their pistol types don't come in 4 cavity and casting with two 2 cavity molds is somehow dissatisfying.

Maybe they are just getting out of retail sales and/or slimming down their product line.

 

[RicinYakima]

Me too. I especially liked their 32-CM and 32-SWC, with the 45-270 Scovill next. They only made one size block and I never complained about the products. But modern casters want to cast more bullets quicker, so the market has changed.

 

[Rick]

IMHO RCBS is the finest off the shelf mold that you can buy. I've got about 25 of them and love them all. If they are getting out of the mold making business it will be a tremendous loss to casters all over the world. Agree that no 4 cavities was a bummer, if they made them I would have a lot more RCBS molds and a lot less MP, NOE. I think they did change over to CNC equipment somewhere around 15 years ago. Was around that time I had to wait on a mold and a phone call to RCBS informed me that they were setting up the new CNC equipment.

 

[CZ93X62]

I have about a dozen RCBS moulds at present. I have never sold one off. That #32-98-SWC is a real shooter, for sure--700 FPS to 1200 FPS, it drives tacks.

 

[Walks]

I like to cast with 2-3 RCBS Molds at once. And It's a big plus for me that their 2cav blocks are the same height as the Lyman 4cav blocks. Casting together they both fit the mould guide on My Lyman Mag-20.

I would be very sorry to see then stop production of the best iron/steel mold on the market today.

 

[Charles Graff]

They will be around for many years on the used market.

 

[Rick H]

I have but one...
It is the 45-270 gr. SWC (drops about 285 with my alloy) but it is a dandy. I like it a lot in my 45 Colt.

 

[Brad]

Would be a loss.
I only own 2, a 22 55 and the 165 Sil in 30 cal.
They do all I need them to do.

My biggest complaint is the huge blocks for a 2 cav mould in small calibers. Too damn heavy

 

[fiver]

IMO it would be a loss.
RCBS molds have always been good quality and good designs.

I'm really hoping they ain't going over seas for their production and this is just a lull for some kind of internal change.

 

[Charles Graff]

I called RCBS and was informed that while they will no longer make "special order" molds, they are making and have no plans to discontinue their line of molds. I had to endure a 45 minute wait in a que to talk to them, but for the good of the team, I waited them out.

 

[Ian]

Thanks Charles. I was wondering what happened to the good old days when you could just ring up a company department and ask questions.

 

[358156 hp]

Hmmm. My 452 HB mould just doubled in value...

yeah, right!

 

[Charles Graff]

Thanks Charles. I was wondering what happened to the good old days when you could just ring up a company department and ask questions.

I am very old school in most every way. While the computor chaps my culo, it is better than a half hour of the busy signal.

 

[Rick]

I called RCBS and was informed that while they will no longer make "special order" molds, they are making and have no plans to discontinue their line of molds. I had to endure a 45 minute wait in a que to talk to them, but for the good of the team, I waited them out.

But did they say WHERE they will be making them?

Edit: Seems someone snuck the R a little too close to the T on my keyboard. Had to fix that little typo.