My experience with Accurate Molds.

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
I started another thread on this site to ask for help in picking out an Accurate Mold mold for my 45-70. To make a long story short, on Tuesday, March 24 I went on their website and ordered the brass mold I wanted. I was flabbergasted when the mold arrived in my mailbox on Friday, March 27 while I was out on my porch smelting down lead. Upon opening the box and examining the mold, it was obviously a quality piece. Attention to detail was obvious when I noticed vent lines on the top of the mold under the sprue plate. I have been a fan of brass molds for at least 10 years, having bought about a dozen of Miha's fine Slovenian molds. I just love to cast hollowpoint pistol bullets. However, I fail to see the need for a hollowpoint bullet when talking about such a robust rifle round as the 45-70. A couple of weeks ago, I bought an MP Mold that casts a 405gr bullet for the 45-70 and will cast hollowpoints as well, but I doubt I will ever cast anything but solids with it. I wanted a second mold that would cast something lighter (about 350gr) but Miha didn't have one, hence my turning to Accurate. So, mold in hand, down into the basement for a casting session. I preheated the mold like I always do, but I was getting a lot of wrinkly bullets. I stopped and preheated the mold some more. Finally, I started getting some good bullets. As I thought about it, Accurate's mold is slightly larger than Miha's mold, and I had ordered a 2 cavity mold whereas I normally get 4 cavity molds from Miha. Simply more mass involved and preheating takes longer. Right off the bat I'm impressed at how many of the bullets are dropping on their own, and of the one's that don't, only a slight tap of the mold handle in needed. One other thing that I like is my Accurate mold has no trough between the 2 sprue plate holes. I am really impressed with the quality of this mold. While I will continue to buy MP Molds for handgun bullets due to their ability to cast hollowpoints, any rifle bullet molds from here on out will be made by Accurate Molds. Thanks for listening.

Don
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
Guy on another site had this to say:

"Be careful with that brass, though.
Tom doesn't stress-relieve his blocks and the brass loves to warp. I've had two of his brass molds warped right out of the box - from the internal stress and material removal during machining. I've had two others warp as soon as they saw any heat (not even up to casting temperature)."

Anybody here heard of this or run into this?

Don
 

DHD

Active Member
All of my Accurate Molds, with one exception, are aluminum and cut for revolvers. They arrive almost out of thin air, and after ultrasonic cleaning and preheating, start to drop a lot of perfect bullets fast.

I like to cut the sprue with my gloved hand, and about half will drop from the mold upon opening. A light tap with my mallet will make the last couple drop out. Refill, and bullets pile up.

Like you I really like all of my MP Molds, and after I learned how to deal with the tinning issue, they will pile up nice HP's quickly too. I will continue to use both "brands" as my revolvers shoot very well with both.

I had read that specific thread some time back. My one Accurate brass mold hasn't warped and I ran it pretty hot. It's a PP 400 grain 40 caliber single cavity mold.
 
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Ian

Notorious member
I warped a three-cavity brass Accurate mould a long tine ago because I was stupid and let it get to over 500⁰ in my mould preheating oven. Nary problem since and I have a half-dozen or so 3-4 cavity jobbers. He warns about this on his site.
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
Ian,

Sorry to hear about your loss, but at least you can point to a reason for it happening.

waco,

I warmed it up in the oven and let it cool down, just like I do with all my new brass moulds.

Don
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My brass moulds have not warped. I have begun getting Al moulds from Tom as I prefer the lighter weight.
I like my MP moulds but consider Tom to be a cut above.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Accurate moulds are to date the only ones which have been 100% right for me. Zero problems, ever, except for the on I messed up. Can't come close to saying that about any other maker.
 

DHD

Active Member
Tom runs all of his molds through an ultra sonic cleaner before he ships them. All you need to do is heat then cast. Just letting you know. ;)
I seem to remember that being mentioned in his website, but it's just something that I do regardless. I used to smoke a new mold with a BIC too, but I haven't found it necessary after a good intial cleaning and preheating for my last half dozen or so. Many wash their molds with dishsoap and hot water or spray them down with brake cleaner, I run them through my ultrasonic cleaner with dawn and water that's heated by the machine. Eye of newt.....
 

popper

Well-Known Member
U.S. is hard on Aluminum. All the moulds I use are Al. from Accurate. He makes them to my specs and delivery is fast, cost is reasonable.
 

Bohica

Member
L-R: 31-185S, 36-310P (38-55 paper patch), 44-500P (45-70 paper patch). All cut to my specifications and delivered in 7 days or less. The best for the money bar none.

IMG_3792.jpg
 

Bliksem

Active Member
About a year ago I started getting serious about mold selections for my rifles and I purchased a number of molds from NOE and Accurate. Since then I have exclusively ordered from Tom not only because of the quality product but the freedom to modify or order a new design without the long waits of group buys. My most recent mold with customized cavities arrived in 10 days from order date.

Looking back I now realize how foolish I was in just buying economical molds with hopes of that I can make them work. For a few $'s more I could have got what I wanted and it is a quality product.
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
The only experience I've had with Tom was when I ordered a new mold and did not see the +0.002" diameter tolerance warning on his site, which warned the molds could be as much as 0.002" over requested diameter.
I asked for 0.311" diameter mold, to be sized to .309" and got a 0.313" diameter mold.
I had to pay him $100.00 to cut a new mold for me of the correct diameter.
I've always been happy with the MiHec molds I've purchased. The only issue is sometimes waiting years for the molds to be cut. I've never had a MiHec mold that wasn't spot on for diameter.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I'm done with MiHec moulds, after the last one was returned for undersized gas check shanks. The second one was the same..........and I wasn't the only one having that issue. I have one of his thirty caliber 180 Sil moulds that hates releasing bullets. :sigh:

I have a few of Tom's moulds. One brass and several aluminum. Currently, waiting on my first iron mould from Accurate. Got an email today that it's being readied for shipment. It's a four cavity with two PB and two GC cavities of the same design.


Just add a G to the V, for the checked version.
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My MP moulds have all been fine other than the wait.

Tom always amazes me with the speed and quality. He is my preferred mould source these days. I do pay attention to the tolerance and take it into account. I order for the size I want.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Tom will cut you what you ask for with the alloy you specify and put the tolerance where you tell him. He can get you within a couple tenths if your input is correct, you'd just better know exactly what it is you're asking for. I was to sick of undersized moulds I too ordered my first .30 cut at .311 with the tolerance positive. Guess what....it cast .312" with the straight wheelewights I spec'd. I wanted .310". Live and learn.

MP has usually been on for size except for check shanks....got one that was about .003" too fat, and tapered to .006" too fat. Couldn't seat checks squarely even when the checks were enlarged with a punch. Another one had little warts on the meolat and wouldn't release bullets until I ground them off with a dowel and lapping compound...about three hours' work. Had one fhat the cavities were cut deeper toward one end of each block...the bullets were perfectly round but the two end cavities would hang the bullets badly, one in each block. After I beat the handles off the handle tangs I asked for a replacement and got one, I just sold it NIB to get my money back. So a few years later he runs that design again but I get a gurantee from the designer that the GV shank problem is fixed and I ordered two of them. This time they were correct although still a bear to cast with due to the lube groove design. I especially dislike the roll pin plate stop MP uses, Tom knows how to make a proper stop that holds the plate down against the blocks. If Tom would start offering a basic hemispherical or pointed nose at an extra charge to cover his tool change time I don't think I'd own any other mould for .30 caliver and larger.
 
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DC1972

New Member
Anyone use Arsenal moulds? I have a 358-156 KT coming, should arrive Friday or Saturday. It is a clone of the RCBS. I have the RCBS and it shoots very well for me but I wanted more cavities in aluminum.

I have one NOE 360-158 and it is a nicely made mould, it just does not shoot well for me.