Bag Molds, Pro's/ Con's

[Crewdawg445]

Morning all, toying around the idea of a bag mold. For obvious historical reenactment reasons, and portability purposes a bag mold of your favorite caliber seems like a logical choice. However, a quality bag mold I'd assume isn't going to run cheap... Having multiple calibers could set you back a small fortune. So... What are ya'lls thoughts? Reputable makers? The good, the bad and the ugly on them? :hatsoff:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Callahan makes the best, Track the worst....Or so the reviews go.....
As for buying one for every caliber.....A good bag mold will run twice or more what a Lee mold costs and they are equally portable.

Do you need a reenactment mold for every caliber?
If not then a Lee mold is twice as useful and half the money.
If you shoot a lot casting with a bag mold and hand clipping sprues one at a time will be a long, slow tedious process.

In a nutshell....I would buy one bag mold for reenacting and conventional ones for actual casting.
:2

 

[Grenadier1758]

Clyde has the right suggestion. I have several of Larry Callahan's bag molds. Too many reenactments to prepare for.

Larry's molds do have a built in sprue cutter. The major con associated with bag olds is that they don't have insulated handles and after casting a few balls, the handles are too hot use comfortably. Lee molds and Lyman molds have get the built in sprue cutters that cutoff the sprue as you drop the ball from the mold. So for casting a large supply of round balls, get the more affordable Lee mold.

Get the Larry Callahan mold for representative casting of a few balls for historical reenactments.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Oh I'm on board with your thoughts for sure. The Lee molds are great and all I've used, figured for reandys and reenactment purposes a good bag mold would be the cats meow. Also, there's just something great about sitting around the fire, pipe in mouth while molding lead for the next days shoot or hunt. Great, absolutely great!

 

[Stumpkiller]

Down side is: "hot, HOT!HOT! HOT!!"



Those little dinky metal handles get unbearable after about three balls. Wrapping with leather helps. They are cute for looks at the campsite but you won't want to feed a plinking firearm with them.

When out "on the hunt" I wonder who opted to carry the bag mold, ladle and lead instead of the equivalent weight in that many ready balls cast at home in a more controlled and comfortable spot. Even if they carried a mold "just in case" they likely didn't resort to it from a campfire unless in desperate need.

Just my guess.

 

[nwtradegun]

the only use for aa bag mould is for looks if you go to strict evens. or for demonstraions.

 

[Crewdawg445]

the only use for aa bag mould is for looks if you go to strict evens. or for demonstraions.

These are the exact reason I desire a bag mold. I'd hope one would exercise common sense and realize these accouterments were never devised for the "mass production" of cast balls. The historical nostalgia and primitive simplicity is what's so appealing. In a very modern world why the heck would one want to carry a mold and ladle with a few chunks of lead? Being able to produce that one ball in the uncontrolled environment IMO just has to be such a humbling experience. I've grown up in a world were history is rapidly becoming extinct... That thought is sickning as most my age honestly can't even recite the first few lines of our constitution! Don't even ask them who the first commander and chief was... :shocked2: Well, sorry for the rant but I so enjoy the history behind everything that I do relating to this addiction. If one child or adult would learn from seeing some random Native American at an event cast a ball over the fire... Mission accomplished! :thumbsup:

 

[jeremiah ingraham]

Well said. I too am appalled at how many do not know their/our history. They don't teach it in school anymore and very few even care to learn it on their own. I have had many debates where the individual used a Hollywood historical fantasy movie as a basis for historical fact. I'll get off my soapbox now.
I can appreciate your desire and willingness to get the little things right at event where the general public (for lack of a better term) can actually see how things were done. Sure a match is easier for some but not exactly HC/PC.
At home it makes sense to use one of the "easier" molds but in camp at an event I say use what would have been used if that's what you are trying to portray.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Thank you sir, appreciate the response.

 

[jethro224]

I agree with Clyde that you should get one bag mould for your favorite re-enacting rifle/smoothbore and use modern for casting at home.

The small handles on a bag mould are uncomfortable and get hot fast. They work for small batches just fine.

Larry Callahan makes very good bag moulds. He has standard sizes for calibers from .32 thru .62 and can make any custom sizes you need for a little more. I have one for my .54 and am very happy with it. http://bagmolds.com/

 

[R.C.BINGAMAN]

There is nothing to compare to a hand run ball from a traditional mould,cast over last nights camp fire,surrounded by a few select friends sharing a drink and good conversations,shot from a long rifle on the next frosty morning into the boiler maker of a white tail deer. The wif of burning powder after the clash of a sharp flint against the frizzen and the thunderous boom sending the sphere that you traditionally run the night before will deliver broiled back strap for that evenings meal, along with memories and the art of the long rifle and its history in the making of our great country. This is to be passed on to our children and the children of our children. We are here but a short time it is the stories told of us that make you live for ever.AN APPALICHIAN HUNTER

 

[dwr]

Well, my feelings have been pretty well said already on the subject.

Yes, I believe Larry's baggers are some of the best out there in my experience. Cut to good tolerance, good craftsmanship, etc.

I would certainly carry some extra balls in the pouch as opposed to a bag mold.

The great thing about them is when visitors ask you at a Rendezvous what you are doing, you can explain to them that this was how ball making was done in the day....most seem appreciative that you took the time to explain and demonstrate.

A little hint....if it is a larger meet where larger crowds are expected, take plenty of extras with you and give one to all the kids who seem interested to take home as a souvenir....they really seem to enjoy it. I usually ask the parents first, if its ok.

Just don't hand 'em a hot ball right out of the mold :haha:

 

[Crewdawg445]

I agree with Clyde that you should get one bag mould for your favorite re-enacting rifle/smoothbore and use modern for casting at home.

The small handles on a bag mould are uncomfortable and get hot fast. They work for small batches just fine.

Larry Callahan makes very good bag moulds. He has standard sizes for calibers from .32 thru .62 and can make any custom sizes you need for a little more. I have one for my .54 and am very happy with it. http://bagmolds.com/[/quote]

Gentleman, thank you all for the great replies! Specific question here, I actually called Larry yesterday and he returned my call but I was tied up and unable to answer. My question was regarding a few mold sizes. Right now I'm planning on the purchase of a .54 caliber mold then a .600 at a later time. He offers .530 and .535 (which I shoot both) then an actual mold listed .54 cal. My question was if the .54 cal mold was an in between size of sorts. I find I'm able to squeeze a little more from a .535 ball, but sometimes it can obviously become a bear to load.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Being able to produce that one ball in the uncontrolled environment IMO just has to be such a humbling experience.

Twice I have sat around a campfire and made my own mold from scratch with just a knife.....A SHTF scenario, just to see if I could do it.....

Once out of wood (which works quite well), and once out of clay....
Neither makes a pretty or perfect ball but they will kill a deer.
And it helps to save your last ball as a pattern.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Very good! Soapstone was another common material used as well. I tried tracking down an individual who produces these, but have had no luck.

 

[coloradoclyde]

With your talent, all you need is a piece of soapstone and a little time.... :grin:

 

[Twisted_1in66]

When I was living in Virginia we had a corn field out back (cow feed corn). I just dried out a couple of ears, cut them down a bit and pushed the corn cobs onto the metal handles of my bag mold. They slide off pretty easily when the bag mold is cold but never seem to when I'm casting balls with it. Dried corn cobs make great insulation for the handles.

I usually rest my bag mold in the lead when I'm not pouring in it to keep it at same heat as the lead. That seems to help with consistency.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan

 

[coloradoclyde]

Corn cobs

So simple it's brilliant... :thumbsup:

 

[Crewdawg445]

With your talent, all you need is a piece of soapstone and a little time.... :grin:

Thank you kindly!

 

[Tinker2]

With your talent, all you need is a piece of soapstone and a little time.... :grin:

Don’t forget cuttlefish bones



William Alexander