Looking for 38 long colt heel based bullet mould

[107ch]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if any of you know if there is a bullet mould for the 38 long colt, heel bases bullet , out there for the 38 long colt. I was wanting to get a couple of '51 navies and use the R and D conversion on them. But I am not interested in shooting hollow based wad cutters. I need all the accuracy I can get.
Thanks,
Dennis

[ButlerFord45]

I don't know, but someone around here has used them I'm sure.  Maybe they'll stop by soon.

[Rustyinfla]

You might try going over to www.sixguns.com and see if you can find Rob Applegate there. He make some special items from time to time.

                 Rusty <><

[Harry O]

NEI Handtools makes two heel-base moulds for the .38 Colt.  They are the #176 that weighs 140gr and is .375"OD at the front.  The #171 is a longer-heel version.  I have had bad luck with long-heel versions of NEI 41LC moulds.

I believe that Rapine also has one.  

I have had good luck with hollow-base moulds.  The heel-base moulds are sometimes more accurate, but rarely.  They are very temperamenta.

[Will52100]

I don't know about acuracy with heel based, but I love the 165 grain hollow base.  I use a rapine mould and even though it's one at a time, I cast while I'm panlubing the 45's and it goes pretty quik.

I haven't tried acuracy from a rest, but with 17 grains of Swiss 3f black powder it shoots better than I can offhand with the curent sights.  Of all the recovered bullets(I have a hard time getting free pure lead) I haven't seen one that didn't open and fully engrave on the rifling.

That said, if your realy serious about acuracy, have the barrel bored out and linned with a .357-358 dia. linner with the correct rifling.  Then you can use regular 38 bullets and have the proper rifling for a bullet instead of shooting a bullet with round ball rifling.  I've thought about it and if I can ever find barrel linners that don't cost an arm and a leg I'm going to do that to mine.

I don't care for the R&D conversions on the colts, though for the remington I prefere it to the Kirst.  The Kirst works like the original cartrige conversions, with the port in the frame and you don't have to remove the barrel and cylinder just to load.

Good luck and make some smoke!

[Cheyenne]

Wil,

   R&D has a new conversion kit for the 1851/1861 Navy which is a gated ring with cylinder which is very close to the R-M in appearence. It has to have the load groove cut, and then loads in a more conventional manner.

Check out  www.randdgunshop.com

[Will52100]

Just found the R&D site and got a conversion cylinder and breach plate on the way.  I do like the looks of the new R&D.  

They also offer barrel linning and ejector modifications to the barrels at a reasonable price.  Where was this a year or two ago?!  

Looks like over time to pay for some new toys!

[wile326]

www.ch4d.com sells one, they list it as a .36 Cal. Conversion bullet. It cast out a pure lead heeled bullet at about 100 grains . They also sell a hollow base round nose flat point type cowboy bullet in 158 or 149 grains for the 38. This is what I use in my Kirst Konverter on a 51 navy. When fired the hollow base expands to engage the rifling. Have been using this mold for years with really good results. I use the hollow base in 44 colt and 44/40 and have had good results with all of them

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

NEI .375-140-Heel   #176        NEI also has the same bullet at 171 Gr.  "Long Heel"

www.neihandtools.com
nei@columbia-center.org

My opologies;  just noticed that NEI had already been discussed.

[Ivanterribleshot]

Will, your post really turned on some lightbulbs over my head. I have been dealing with the joy of either paying an arm and a leg for precast or having to have a mould made or find one ( no luck after 2 years of looking). then casting them myself. I found a 16 1/2 inch liner and have begun the process of relininga pair of 1851 to accept proper 357 cast lead. This should be a fun weekend project.

[shunka]

Whilst "proper" heal based molds are rather pricey I am trying the Lee .36 conical mold. It already works well in my .36 colts and remmies, and incorporates a small heel ( or step) for aligning in the chamber. I have been able to load these into .38 sp cases full of 3F, hand crimping with one of these:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1433&sku=04625

hope this helps
shunka

[Seth Hawkins]

I had a heel based mould made for me by Bernie Rowles of Old West Bullet Moulds.  Bernie is a great guy, and makes a great mould.  He also made the crimp die for me.  You do know that you can't use a regular crimp die with a heeled bullet.  Right?

As for accuracy - it is more than adequate for CAS distances.  It's no worse than a regular bullet.

[buckoff]

Try this site:
 
http://www.cartridgeconversion.com/