.350" RB Mold needed.

[Nardoo]

Hi,
I am very new to muzzleloading but have had a deal of experience with smokeless shooting.

I purchased my first BP rifle recently, a lovely little .36 cal T/C Seneca, and have had a ball getting it to shoot right. I don't mind burning powder and caps but it is killing me casting those little .350" balls one at a time.

Does anyone know where I can get my hands on a multi cavity Round Ball mold for this calibre? I will take new or used.

Hoping someone can help.

Nardoo

 

[arquebus]

Try getting a hold of some Hornady 000 buckshot. It is .350" diameter & usually sells for around $17/5lb....that's a lot of shooting. I use buckshot (00 & 000) in a couple of my guns, as do quite a number of the folks here on the forum. As much as I enjoy casting I have my hands full with the various Minies & conicals I cast & have found the buckshot to be a great convenience.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hello Nardo,
I've had a TC .36 Seneca for years, I've tried gang molds, and I don't find they are worth the effort. I can cast more good bullets from a good Lyman mold, in a short period of time.
One evening of casting will give a years supply of balls.
I've tried the Lee molds, they work ...ok...but the Lyman is much better. It doesn't over-heat like the Lee, so I can continue casting without taking time for the mold to cool.
Keep at it you will get good at it!

Old Ford

 

[Gemoke]

Go with the Hornady 000 buckshot I use them all the time in my 36 and the are great. casting for that small caliber is a pain.

 

[flintlockmdj]

Everyone else gave you good advice so I'll just say welcome to the forum. Good folks and good knowledge here sit back and listen and when you can chime in. Who knows you may have an idea that us oldtimers, who have been doing it one way forever, has never thought of. :thumbsup:

 

[MikeChapin]

I would say go with the 000 buck. The price is reasonable and readily available. If you still want to roll your own, RCBS makes a double cavity .350 but it is rather pricey. About $99 the last time I looked. You would have to mold a lot of balls and get lead at a great price to hit the break even point.

 

[bpbrs]

I think I have a 350, maybe 2 used ones.
pm me for details.
bpb

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Ditto what WhiteBear said. And I'll add that casting your own r/balls is gratifying. :thumbsup: GW

 

[Walks Alone]

I bought a RCBS double cavity 350 mold to compliment my TC RB & Maxi mold set. Bought it NIB maybe 3-4 years ago off a guy that ran mold ads on Auction Arms all the time. Don't know if he's still selling there or not, but I didn't pay anywhere near $99 for the RCBS from him FWIW.

 

[Nardoo]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. And the great advice. I have just sourced a Lyman single cavity mold to replace the old Lee and am hopeful that bpb can help me further.
I am hooked on casting so will probably not go the 000 buck route. I know that is stupid but I find casting an all-consuming obsession. I am off to my first competitive BP shoot on Sunday. Hope I do not embarrass myself.

Thanks
Nardoo

 

[MikeChapin]

I would love to know where you got the double .350 mold. I just looked at the Midway site and was wrong about the $99 price tag - it's now $112. Yipe! :shocked2:

 

[Walks Alone]

Mike - I looked in my computer records, but couldn't find who it was I bought the mold from. I usually update my computer with a new one annually, and just found I must not have moved the AA records to the new one. I even tried checking my feedback at AA, but who ever it was didn't leave me any feedback. Without the auction number I can't access that old closed auction there to find the sellers nickname. Sorry.

Edited to add... seems like he was in MT though.

 

[CrackStock]

Welcome to the Forum!

Congrats on selecting a fine little rifle. I applaud your desire to jump into casting, but that rifle will do very well with the Hornady shot that has already been suggested. The sprue of a cast ball of that size winds up being a big variable and the whole process winds up being more trouble than it is worth.

Having said this, Jeff Tanner will make you a custom mould for a reasonable cost. I think that Lee has .350 molds for an equally good price.

Best to you!

CS