DIY mold making.

[Gordoncourtney]

Ah. So did they copy Pedrosoli lovely bullet Will engrave the riffling with the tap of a mallet Yes nice

 

[Erwan]

France is generous on black powder guns and we were looking at a place there But what with Colvic and Brexit moving is a nightmare, and I cannot carry guns in my motor home when we visit

Yep, generous on BP guns...... but now it's the cross and the banner to get the powder: there are too many BP rifles and pistols to establish real oversight of them, so the simplest action is to stop the easy acquisition of BP and lead : then no more guns in circulation......
Simple: the government says nothing about guns, you can buy them easily, but you dry up the sources of powder and lead and revolvers become paperweights....
I shoot more and more with air guns too to save powder: possession is limited at home to only four pounds maximum and when you know that my 100m rifles eat bullets of 500 grains and 60 grains of powder and those of 50m an average of 40 grains, it's quickly gone in smoke: I shoot four days a week (I can: I'm 74 years old, so I'm on vacation )...
Stay where you are and don't come in Absurdistan except for vacations and Hungary is not so bad in this season........ OK, the problem is the castle and the park...

 

[45man]

My lathe is not accurate enough to lath turn blocks. It is a Smithy. I bought two cast iron risers from a foundry and made my own vise that I fitted to the base of my milling table with gibs.
I turn cherries from drill rod. My blocks are cut from a huge piece of aircraft aluminum United was tossing. Ray Pine sold me handles cheap.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Well after this Plymouth shootings yesterday Shooter and 5 others dead pump shotguns will be banned No doubt

I see where you are coming from Erwan Abbey du Vale Swiss Normandy mates place mine for €200k. He shoots there. Me too old to move , anyway 78 with cancer but i am as fit as hell. Shooting squirrels with my BSA pcp 177 or 22 Scorpio in my garden, is about it ,it out shoots a shotgun at 50 yards ....magic, one dead squirrel this morning, I had one for lunch yesterday, but I prefer lamb chops and mint sauce Seems everyone I chat to is 75 Ha ha Not done La Rochelle So the castle ??? But fear this one in days of old, You should know it.....lMaybe France in September found no hogs or gunshops in France , I gather many closed down, nobody shooting either....but with three ranges locally to you a lot of powder and lead is being burnt . 777 is just gone on explosive certificate , parodex OK over the counter Great to chat but we will bore our friends across the pond I wish you well . French in western France never met such lovely people, unlike Paris , Think it's Vannes in September all things being equal DFDS ferries Must do Courtenay SE Paris where my ancestors came from, but not this time coming. I wish you well

My double 577-500 no2. Eats 140g BP ......but my 450-400 double is nitro, Ha ha. I am not allowed to shoot either in uk now just A wall hanger.........just having fun with you , we ain't got much time left, and my kids ain't interested in guns ,

Ps. Beware there was an explosion at my mates range , a Flint priming flask on the bench exploded whilst shooting, yes poor guy a bit blooded , shaken but ok, lost a bit if skin on his chest, not much, My mate is into BP but not ML Flint stuff

I shoot bow and arrows too. But you cannot hunt with them in UK. It's a hard life

 

[AFord]

Where can I find a .58 mold like this?

This looks like the style of bullet T/C uses. Or, used. I have a few for my .50 cal T/C

 

[Elkhorse]

This looks like the style of bullet T/C uses. Or, used. I have a few for my .50 cal T/C

Yes it is the T/C. I've got the . 50 cal for my T/C Hawken Flinter. Got the round ball .50 too. I think it was in '83 and they are Lyman.

 

[Ironoxide]

Gordoncourtney, I'm sorry to hear that. I used to live in UK. I spent half of my adult life there(various cities, Leeds - 6 years, London 5 years and others, I used to travel for work all over) so I have fond memories of the time.

Fortunately I became interested in shooting once I moved back. Here in Poland you can buy shooting black powder guns including revolvers (except metallic ammo kind) over the counter, or via online shops delivered by post. Basically there are no permits required for any replica of or an original made prior to 1875. So if you're ever going to think about that second home on the continent I propose my country

We also have lots of ranges and shooting clubs in my local area. Other people in other parts of the country are not so fortunate.

The only annoyance is obtaining black powder. The current law is such that if you own a black powder weapon you are allowed to have black powder. You can get it as a gift, or if it is a commercial purchase it has to be sold by licensed firearms seller and he or she needs a traceable way to ensure you indeed do have a gun for it. It is properly silly, but wait for it... To satisfy this requirement people came up with an idea to get so called European Firearm Certificate local police produces on request. It is a purely administrative operation. They have no choice in allowing or not allowing you to get one. If you ask for one, they just have to see the gun, write down the serial number and two weeks later you get your certificate. As a bonus the same paper allows you to travel with that gun all over EU(some other countries require that you notify local police).

Modern guns are a different story, but if you're persistent you can get anything as long as it doesn't have full auto function, no caliber larger than 50 in modern guns and no detachable silencers.

Where can I find a .58 mold like this?

The design is called a maxi ball. Currently the largest caliber Pedersoli sells is. 54. Hopefully you'll get that TC mold from ADK Bigfoot

 

[olfuzzy]

Titan reloading shows blank Lee molds in stock.

 

[Ironoxide]

Titan reloading shows blank Lee molds in stock.

Thanks. I haven't seen that shop before.

Unfortunately they suspended international shipping as they had issues with delivery due to covid :-(

I bookmarked them for potential future use.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Lucky guy. Explosion above

The chap injured yesterday went to A&E today as his wife wanted a proper medical opinion. He was there all day. The doctor had a look at the 2x1 wound, couldn't see any fragments but wanted a X-ray to be certain. After he'd seen the X-ray results - no problem - he decised he wanted a CT Scan. There was nothing there but by the time the scan results came through there had been a shift change and the new doctor wanted to poke about a bit. He couldn't find anything in there so finally put a couple of stitches in to hold everything in place. I can praise their thoroughness as I wasn't the one spending all day in A&E.

Roy

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Gordoncourtney, nice. Those bullets must be for a very fast twist barrel being so long. Here is Poland we also can't hunt with black powder rifles :-( The law doesn't prohibit it, and some people used to few years ago (subject to minimum projectile energy requirements) until some beaurocrat in the government decided to publish "hunting guidelines" where black powder weapons are specifically forbidden. Ah, one of those years I'll go to Hungary for a muzzleloader hunt They have a special area for black powder and muzzleloader hunting. T This restriction is aspecially annoying because I'm right in a deer country. Two weeks or so I had two guys set up a tripod and shoot a deer 100m from my house.



They are for an "unmentionable" (breech loader, Swedish made kammerlader for Navy model M1851). So range report will probably be in the English section of the svartkrutt.net forum in few weeks

Philip Lebow, Someone told me they make NOE molds on a mill with a cherry and they cut them one half at a time! I have to try that some time. I didn't know lyman sold blank blocks. I have to check out some local lyman distributors.

From a dear friend in Norfolk

The old rule on rifling twist was the Greenhill formula. That was bullet diameter squared divided by bullet length multiplied by 150. There were other constants for high velocity and for bullets made from less dense materials. The classic need for a change in rifling twist was when NATO adopted a heavier .223 bullet and had to introduce a faster twist barrel. NATO surplus ammunition with the heavier bullet isn't accurate in commercial rifles with the slower twist for 50 and 55 grain bullets.

Roy

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Gordoncourtney, I'm sorry to hear that. I used to live in UK. I spent half of my adult life there(various cities, Leeds - 6 years, London 5 years and others, I used to travel for work all over) so I have fond memories of the time.

Fortunately I became interested in shooting once I moved back. Here in Poland you can buy shooting black powder guns including revolvers (except metallic ammo kind) over the counter, or via online shops delivered by post. Basically there are no permits required for any replica of or an original made prior to 1875. So if you're ever going to think about that second home on the continent I propose my country

We also have lots of ranges and shooting clubs in my local area. Other people in other parts of the country are not so fortunate.

The only annoyance is obtaining black powder. The current law is such that if you own a black powder weapon you are allowed to have black powder. You can get it as a gift, or if it is a commercial purchase it has to be sold by licensed firearms seller and he or she needs a traceable way to ensure you indeed do have a gun for it. It is properly silly, but wait for it... To satisfy this requirement people came up with an idea to get so called European Firearm Certificate local police produces on request. It is a purely administrative operation. They have no choice in allowing or not allowing you to get one. If you ask for one, they just have to see the gun, write down the serial number and two weeks later you get your certificate. As a bonus the same paper allows you to travel with that gun all over EU(some other countries require that you notify local police).

Modern guns are a different story, but if you're persistent you can get anything as long as it doesn't have full auto function, no caliber larger than 50 in modern guns and no detachable silencers.




The design is called a maxi ball. Currently the largest caliber Pedersoli sells is. 54. Hopefully you'll get that TC mold from ADK Bigfoot

It's a nice bullet, that handsome guy on utube hunting in hungry , uses them Always liked this bullet shape Time to make one , two even one .580 for my 577 martini and one in .628 for my cape rifle , although it's realy for a two grove ball.....watch this space. Be a bit slow got a lot on this next two weeks

 

[Treestalker]

Gordoncourtney, nice. Those bullets must be for a very fast twist barrel being so long. Here is Poland we also can't hunt with black powder rifles :-( The law doesn't prohibit it, and some people used to few years ago (subject to minimum projectile energy requirements) until some beaurocrat in the government decided to publish "hunting guidelines" where black powder weapons are specifically forbidden. Ah, one of those years I'll go to Hungary for a muzzleloader hunt They have a special area for black powder and muzzleloader hunting. T This restriction is aspecially annoying because I'm right in a deer country. Two weeks or so I had two guys set up a tripod and shoot a deer 100m from my house

Ah, yes, those dreadful muzzleloading guns. Can't have hat kind of stuff in the deer woods! And to think there was a time when you only had to worry about being sent to a Nazi death camp. I think some modern bureaucrats missed the train...

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Just been doodling and blowing up bullet size on iPad Looks an easy mound to make, Big decision as a gin and tonic sounds a better deal...no squirrels in the garden this morning....we are 17 miles from London city in a village called Claygate , we are separated from the dual carrage way , 3/4 Miles away, A3 heading for London together with houses everywhere , by teligraph hil, big hill , hence 1800s telegraph station , KT10 0RQ Google Earth It's the one with a little round pool next to a big oblong one.......reason for mentioning it is we see foxes and deer roaming the hill, occasional stag too, Not sure who actualy owns it think it's some trust that owns a surrounding farm .......but I watch the deer 100 yards away from the bedroom window , and I cannot shoot them.....life is tough with UK laws and the country packed out with people But getting back to subject matters this is the bullet dimensions from my iPad using digital vernier Watch this space

 

[Elkhorse]

Yes it is the T/C. I've got the . 50 cal for my T/C Hawken Flinter. Got the round ball .50 too. I think it was in '83 and they are Lyman.

It was a T/C mold, not Lyman, sorry 'bout that!

 

[Billy Boy]

Who here makes their own molds?

I recently made my first proper mold and I've learnt quite a few things in the process. If there is interest I'll describe it in detail. I would like to also hear any tips other people learnt when making their own bullet molds.

Here are few pictures.
The cutter before being heat treated:
View attachment 89302

And after the first test cut (what's left of it) :-(
View attachment 89303
Not to worry, enough of unhardened shank was left to machine another one. This time with better relief angles.

Here it is making a cut in the mold blocks.
View attachment 89304

Mold blocks were made with 7xxx grade aluminium rod. 2in diameter. Flats and other features were milled, surfaces were surface ground.

I borrowed a sprue plate from a Lyman mold. I initially planned to use lyman handles, but I ended up using Lees as they work better with long blocks like this one.

Here is the mold completed.
View attachment 89305
And during use
View attachment 89306
Results
View attachment 89307

Those bullets are 0.612 for an original rifle I have.

Never made a mold cutter but used the same process to make one-off ‘D’ chambering reamers. Learned the hard way to ‘grind them in half’ after heat treating them. Seemed to loose some to warpage if ground to shape first then cooked. Very nice result there Ironoxide!

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Gordoncourtney, nice. Those bullets must be for a very fast twist barrel being so long. Here is Poland we also can't hunt with black powder rifles :-( The law doesn't prohibit it, and some people used to few years ago (subject to minimum projectile energy requirements) until some beaurocrat in the government decided to publish "hunting guidelines" where black powder weapons are specifically forbidden. Ah, one of those years I'll go to Hungary for a muzzleloader hunt They have a special area for black powder and muzzleloader hunting. T This restriction is aspecially annoying because I'm right in a deer country. Two weeks or so I had two guys set up a tripod and shoot a deer 100m from my house.



They are for an "unmentionable" (breech loader, Swedish made kammerlader for Navy model M1851). So range report will probably be in the English section of the svartkrutt.net forum in few weeks

Philip Lebow, Someone told me they make NOE molds on a mill with a cherry and they cut them one half at a time! I have to try that some time. I didn't know lyman sold blank blocks. I have to check out some local lyman distributors.

Yes you are right a bit long for. .36. and 1/26" twist this pedrosoli bullet .5/.58 discussed below I have always loved and it got me thinking outside the box Ages ago I sized some 375 bullets down to .365 but dumped them as stupid.... So I put some in my little lathe and made them into a jacketed pedrosoli bullet......now 179 g I think they could be magic in small bores if only I could take the rifle off the wall and test them They will load and engrave easily And will be great in say .32 rifles..........tiny cast bullets are a bit fiddly and don't mention paper patching them Thing is theses modified bullets will hit 2250 ft sec if your barrel will take it Slightly beyond BPs expansion rate of 2000 ft sec Maybe one if you could try it, it's what I do invent experiment and pass into others

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Gordoncourtney, I'm sorry to hear that. I used to live in UK. I spent half of my adult life there(various cities, Leeds - 6 years, London 5 years and others, I used to travel for work all over) so I have fond memories of the time.

Fortunately I became interested in shooting once I moved back. Here in Poland you can buy shooting black powder guns including revolvers (except metallic ammo kind) over the counter, or via online shops delivered by post. Basically there are no permits required for any replica of or an original made prior to 1875. So if you're ever going to think about that second home on the continent I propose my country

We also have lots of ranges and shooting clubs in my local area. Other people in other parts of the country are not so fortunate.

The only annoyance is obtaining black powder. The current law is such that if you own a black powder weapon you are allowed to have black powder. You can get it as a gift, or if it is a commercial purchase it has to be sold by licensed firearms seller and he or she needs a traceable way to ensure you indeed do have a gun for it. It is properly silly, but wait for it... To satisfy this requirement people came up with an idea to get so called European Firearm Certificate local police produces on request. It is a purely administrative operation. They have no choice in allowing or not allowing you to get one. If you ask for one, they just have to see the gun, write down the serial number and two weeks later you get your certificate. As a bonus the same paper allows you to travel with that gun all over EU(some other countries require that you notify local police).

Modern guns are a different story, but if you're persistent you can get anything as long as it doesn't have full auto function, no caliber larger than 50 in modern guns and no detachable silencers.




The design is called a maxi ball. Currently the largest caliber Pedersoli sells is. 54. Hopefully you'll get that TC mold from ADK Bigfoot

You can catch me more favourably on [email protected]

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Yes you are right a bit long for. .36. and 1/26" twist this pedrosoli bullet .5/.58 discussed below I have always loved and it got me thinking outside the box Ages ago I sized some 375 bullets down to .365 but dumped them as stupid.... So I put some in my little lathe and made them into a jacketed pedrosoli bullet......now 179 g I think they could be magic in small bores if only I could take the rifle off the wall and test them They will load and engrave easily And will be great in say .32 rifles..........tiny cast bullets are a bit fiddly and don't mention paper patching them Thing is theses modified bullets will hit 2250 ft sec if your barrel will take it Slightly beyond BPs expansion rate of 2000 ft sec Maybe one if you could try it, it's what I do invent experiment and pass into others

Better photo

 

[4575wcf]

I have not ventured into mold making as of yet, but I do possess the engineering and machining background to accomplish the whole process. Aluminum would be my last choice for block material, an appropriate cast iron would be the thing. You can buy a cast iron Lyman, or an aluminum Lee, among others. The difference is that the Lyman will still be with you in 50 years.