Think I got it.

[Tom]

Came home to cast some wadcutters, but my pot was full of 50/50 on and ww. Low on 358 boolits, so rather than pour ingots, I cast about 500 rcbs 35 200 from a noe mold.
Been having problems with nose consistency, so followed Al's procedure on tapping the hinge bolt while closing the mold.
What a difference! These boolits are nice!
What do you guys think?
Emptied the pot and cleaned it, have a batch of pb melting for the wcs.
I qualified consistently as expert, almost master 35 years ago, but not worth a tinkers darn now. Need to spend some time with wc loads and skip loading. Sure wish my Seattle pd instructor was here to coach me, he did wonders way back when!

 

[Brad]

Each mould has a unique need to make it tick. Finding what it needs can be frustrating.
Never tried the "rap the hinge pin when closing mould" trick but it sure can't hurt.

 

[Tom]

Thanks, Brad. It's an rg mold, and the nose has given me problems, either hp or fn pins. Tapping the pivot bolt seems to settle them on better.
I tried bll on some 358311's I was given and loved it. Bought a Lee 148 tlwc mold and am about to break it in. I really need some time with a low powered revolver load and "back to the basics"

 

[Brad]

I have one RG mould and I too have some pin issues. If nothing else the tap will settle the pins evenly. Those moulds do need a bunch of heat, that is for sure. No time to mess around looking at bullets, just close the mould and pour again.

 

[smokeywolf]

For some reason your mould is casting bullets that are out of focus.

 

[Tom]

Not real experienced at hp molds, but Al's rg molds sure beat the Heck out if the Lyman type!

 

[Brad]

For some reason your mould is casting bullets that are out of focus.

I think that photo was for Rick. His eyes are old enough that he probably thinks it is in focus.

 

[Tom]

Mold doesn't cast out of focus, my cel phone cam does! Adolph Coors might have a hand in the focus problem.

 

[Ben]

Thanks, Brad. It's an rg mold, and the nose has given me problems, either hp or fn pins. Tapping the pivot bolt seems to settle them on better.
I tried bll on some 358311's I was given and loved it. Bought a Lee 148 tlwc mold and am about to break it in. I really need some time with a low powered revolver load and "back to the basics"

148 gr W/C s and BLL is a marriage made in heaven !

Ben

 

[Tom]

Yep, Ben, I think your lube would be ideal for this application. I've read a bunch about it working for hv rifle loads, I'll get around to that eventually. as an overcoat to Daniel's speed greeen I think it would be great to keep the pocket fuzzies off the boolit. For now, It will fill the bill for target loads.

 

[smokeywolf]

Good for you Tom on the suds. I'm working on project in the machine shop. Must be 80 degrees in there, but I try not to drink while machining.

 

[Tom]

Dang, The pic looked ok on my smurt fone. Now, on my laptop, It sure is a cruddy photo!

 

[Tom]

Good for you Tom on the suds. I'm working on project in the machine shop. Must be 80 degrees in there, but I try not to drink while machining.

I've read about your experiences making things for Hollywood. Closest I've gotten to machining involved a cordless drill and a file. Wish I could make things like you can!
I once set back the shoulder on a 6.5 swede bbl .005 using a home built cradle, a drill, and a file. I didn't know who Buba was,but it might've been me!

 

[smokeywolf]

I've been lucky to have accumulated the machinery and tooling that I have. The knowledge and experience had less to do with luck and more to do with leaving the house at 5 AM and getting home at 5 PM for most of 30 years.

 

[KHornet]

Never gave it any thought before, but think I have always tapped the hinge pin while closing, just a habit I guess.

 

[Ian]

Those RG moulds define "fiddley". If bought new, it should have come with a bottle of blue-green oil called mould lube. A TINY bit of lube, applied with Q-tip just barely damp with the oil, judiciously applied to the HP pins, mould alignment pins/sockets, and especially the slots in the pin retainers, helps keep the works from binding up when closing. A gentle tap on the handle hinge to help things settle home, of course, is still recommended.