New Mold, Wise Choice ???

[Walks]

Bought a New MP Mold.
Don't know if it was a good choice. It's a 4cav Brass mold. A Beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Copy of H&G 68 flat base. With Lyman style top punch, wrenches and sprue lube.

But it is so Blasted HEAVY. It'll be a learning experience, casting with a brass mold. I've only used iron/steel and aluminum.

Can't cast until after January, so I have time to pick up some information about how to cast with a brass molds.

 

[358156 hp]

Heat is your friend. Run the mould hotter than you normally would, some experimentation will be necessary. My brass MP mould also demanded preheating the sprue plate before use. I simply opened the sprue plate and dipped the end into the molten alloy until any attached lead would wipe off without effort.

 

[Walks]

Thank You

 

[Spindrift]

I preheat my moulds on a hotplate, medium setting, while the alloy melts. Usually, the mould is hot enough I can open the sprue plate with a gloved hand from the first cast.
The 4-cav mould are heavy, no doubt. But they are also highly productive, dropping very consistent and nice bullets, very few rejects. I often keep a light alu-mould of some sort on my hotplate. If I need a little break, I cast with that for a while

 

[Bret4207]

I don't owna 4 cav brass mould, but I do own a 10 cav H+G and a Yankee brass mould. I LOVE brass moulds, just love them. As for the weight, you get used to it. Think of it as a heat retention system. I'm betting when yo start piling up nice castings you'll forget all about the weight!

 

[Walks]

I was looking for something better then the 2 RCBS #45-201-KT. Or at least easier then 2 - 2cav molds.

Just didn't realize the weight difference.

Thank you for the advice about pre-heating.

 

[CZ93X62]

Zero experience with brass moulds here. I am no help at all.

 

[Walks]

The weight I'm familiar with. That's why I no longer have 8-10cav iron molds. The only way I could ever cast decent bullets was with a bottom pour dipper over an open 50lb pot. Just like My Dad did.

No longer have the patience for it. Plus all My 8-10cav were "lost" years back.

 

[Brad]

I have an identical mould. It makes nice bullets

 

[Rally]

Love my brass moulds. I made a platform/ mould guide that holds them the correct height for my bottom pour 20# Lee pots, so the weight is resting on the platform while filling. Can cast all day with no problem.

 

[Walks]

Have Mold (factory) guide for Lyman Mag-20 & RCBS Pro-Melt from N.O.E.
It looks as though the MP mold block is about the same size as the Lyman 4cav. If it is ? Then It'll make my life a bit easier.

When it stops raining I'll go out and check.

 

[Ian]

I have one also. It is heavy. Mine had an impossible defect in the meplat of every cavity: Three little bumps. This locked the bullets into the cavities and made shucking them a PAIN. According to the laws machine tools, their existence is a physical impossibility, but there they were and I took photos at one time Took me several hours with tiny tools to get those bumps removed without damaging the mould. After all that I barely use it because it doesn't work in a couple of my .45s. Good bullet, though.

 

[Walks]

Looking for a Bullet to make My Buddy happy. His 1911 is not Ramped & Throated. So it doesn't feed My favorite target bullet, the Lyman #452488. And he doesn't want 230gr RN. His pistol does feed the H&G #68 Profile. So as usual I have to cast a different bullet for My friends then I use myself.

Friends ......

 

[Brad]

Nice crimp there Ian. Looks a little like mine.

 

[RKJ]

I've got that mold and I've found it takes 3 fillings to get up to heat and then it drops gorgeous bullets. You'll like it!

 

[358156 hp]

Looking for a Bullet to make My Buddy happy. His 1911 is not Ramped & Throated. So it doesn't feed My favorite target bullet, the Lyman #452488. And he doesn't want 230gr RN. His pistol does feed the H&G #68 Profile. So as usual I have to cast a different bullet for My friends then I use myself.

Friends ......

It should like the H&G 68. This is the sort of gun this bullet was designed for. I lucked out on an auction a couple of years ago and ended up with an original H&G mould and I've never regretted the purchase. The 452488 is a copy of the H&G 130 IIRC. It's a great target design, but as you've noticed, it doesn't work well with all guns. The Lyman 452460 seems to be a combination of both designs, and also works great for me.

BTW, I have to preheat my moulds on the ledge of my pot. I have a shortage of electrical outlets in the garage, so I can't run a pot and a hot plate at the same time. Of course preheating your mould on a hot plate should work fine for you, I just don't have that option for the time being.

 

[Walks]

I have a Colt 1911 Combat Gov't Model. The 1983 series '80 version. My Dad worked it over for me. It will feed empty expanded cases, they won't quite chamber, but they will go up the ramp into the chamber. The #452488 has been a favorite of mine since I was about 5yrs old. Works in my old Gold Cup too.
First load I ever fired in a 1911. Bullseye 3.5grs. 11lb spring. Shoot softer then a Colt Ace. And more accurate. I think Hornady makes or did make a swaged version. Of course it takes 50ft to get the #452488/3.5grs Bullseye combo stabilized enough to cut clean holes. I just like the light recoil in my old age.

The #452460 is a good bullet. I have a 1cav I use to make the test bullets for My Redding/Saeco Hardness Tester when blending alloys.

I just never felt the need for a 4th .45ACP Bullet.

I cast outside on the patio, have 4 outlets. So I am lucky enough to have a hotplate and music.

 

[fiver]

music I got, hotplate I have but don't use for casting.
the edge of the pot gets them close enough that a few quick casts has them up and going.
I usually lay the mold upside down on the rim then flip it over about the time the alloy starts sweating out.

 

[Walks]

why Can't I delete this double entry ?

 

[Walks]

I stand the molds on their ends. Or on their sides. Or their bottoms. And on their sprue plates.

Back in the olden days when I was young and strong. I used 2 20lb pots with a hotplate in between to keep the molds hot while I refilled the empty pot. On my way to the next pot.

Cast a lot back in the day.