Preferred BPCR bullet mould for Silhouette/Long Range?

[ShortStake]

Gents & Madams,

Regardless of caliber, what is your preferred manufacturer of bullet moulds for BPCR Silhouette/Long Range.....

Your personal thoughts/experiences are desired and solicited.

From the Land of Enchantment

Thanks,

ShortStake
aka Windcutter, SWNM

[SINGLETREE 45]

I have very good luck with my RCE swaged paper patch bullets.

[RPbump]

Having a custom mould made for your rifle after making a chamber cast of that rifle is one of the best ways to improve the quality of your loads. Brooks, Jones, Mos, and several other mould makers do first rate work and will make a mould to cast bullets from from a specified known alloy that is just for your rifle. Rbump

[John Boy]

I shoot the DD/PRS 400 and 500gr 45-70 bullets.  Since the molds are only made by Lee ... Lee.

As for 38-55, I'm using the old Lyman standby ... 378674

[Ray Newman]

Paul Jones 540 grn Creedmoor LR bullet #45001

http://www.pauljonesmoulds.com/

[iowa]

ShortStake:  I prefer the Lyman Postel style bullet at about 535gr for either silhouette or LR.  It seems to shoot in my Shilohs and Brownings as well as anything.   Paul Jones has a new Postell style mold available and it is excelllent.  Second choise is PJ Creedmoor 540 gr.    Best regards steve witt

[ShortStake]

Gents and Madams,

Thanks for the continuing replies.  We tend to think in terms of the caliber that is presently used by one's self.

My Browning 1885 Highwall in .40-65 prefers the Lyman/Snover (Lyman #2640663), cast 25-1 and sized to .410, lubed with either SPG or my own blend.  Having acquired a bronze .40 caliber NASA mould at the Arizona State BPCR shoot last November (2005) made by Bernie Rowles, Old West Bullet Moulds, Fruita, Colorado, it will be my next concentrated cast bullet effort with the .40-65.  It comes well recommended.   

The Browning 1885 Highwall in .45-70 has yet to assimilate a preference in cast bullets.  Most likely due to my minimal attempts at serious load development.  So far, using GOEX Cartridge Grade powder,  I've learned a wad thicker then newpsrint under the bullet is required!

The original 1885 Winchester pistol grip action rebarreled with a Green Mountain barrel and chambered to .45-100 (2.6) has seen a small amount of load development at both, Raton (Whittington Center) and at the Las Cruces Butterfield Trail ranges.  So far the preference is towards GOEX Cartridge grade powder and a Paul Jones #45001 cast bullet mould, with all driving bands @ .459", SPG lube.  The entire gun and loading project is on hold while Mike Connor, Stockmaker in Hurley, New Mexico, puts the finishing touches on the forearm and checkers both pieces of wood.  The wood confirmation and checkering patterns will replicate the 1885 Browning, excepting for a "V" ebony insert on the snaubel forend.

Hope some of you folks have the oppurtunity to engage in the BPCR Nationals at Raton/Whittington Center this Month of August 2006.

Keep those individual preferences coming.

From the Land of Enchantment,

Shortstake       

[zrifleman]

In .45-70 and 45-90, Paul Jones 550 gr followed close second by 530 gr Hoch mold from Colorado Shooters supply in.  In 50-70 and 50-90 Lyman 515141 and 515142. In 40-70 SS an RCE PP bullet.

[ShortStake]

Gents and Madams,

Previous poll lost during website update.

NEW poll added.

Thanks for looking and contributing.

From the Land of Enchantment,

ShortStake

[Rambunctious]

I started out using a Lyman 457132 (Postell) and didn't have very good luck with it.  The bullets cast out-of-round by .003 to .004 and I would get flyers in every group.  I know that a lot of shooters have had very good luck with Lyman's molds and maybe mine was made on a Friday afternoon or something so I bought one of Steve Brook's molds and have been completely satisfied with it and the consistent quality of the bullets that I am getting (as in ROUND!).  One of the best features is that the front driving band is designed to slide into the rifling with just a bit of pressure (you can just notice it) and that means you can use it for more than one load.  In other words, you can have an easy shooting load for silhouette and also pack in a bunch more powder for the Quigley if you like by just letting the bullet seat out a little further.  With this feature you have to have a little more neck tension than what you would have if you were hard against the lands with a conventional nose design.  I'm currently having good luck with about .003 to .004 of neck tension.

Just my dimes worth...

[Lead pot]

I have all sorts of moulds over the counter and custom. I favor the Steve brooks moulds over the Paul Jones moulds mostly I know Steve and the price is less. I have several of each in the .40, .44, .45, and the .50. The creedmoor or the Lyman postell type of design works good for me.
The best and most reliable bullet is the Brooks 563 grain creedmoor.

Kurt

[ShortStake]

Gents and Madams,

Always of interest to all BPCR shooters is the availability of a new bullet mould design, or a fresh design from a known manufacturer.

RCBS has introduced a new .45 caliber bullet of interest to BPCR shooters.  The RCBS Part Number is 82084, .45 - 530 - RN,  and is listed as producing a round nosed bullet weighing 530 grains.

Searches of various catalog companies indicate a ready supply of RCBS bullet mould #82804.

The new RCBS #82084 mould that I have received is NOT round nosed as advertised.  The very tip of the bullet is flat.  The flat is approximately .100" across.  The three wide grease/lube grooves measure +/- .180" each.  Otherwise the bullet is very much in the shape of the Lyman Postell. 

When time permits a bullet casting session with 25-1, led/tin, will happen and the results will be posted.   

[ShortStake]

Gents and Madams,

Additional informatioin pertinent to the RCBS 82084 bullet mould, .45 - 530 - RN.

From the enclosed flyer with the RCBS bullet mould "Weights and diameters of RCBS rifle bullet mould were established using an alloy of 85% lead, 4% tin, and 11% antimony.  An alloy of a different formula may be equally acceptable.  However, the bullet caster should realize that a variation in the alloy will create a variation in bullet weight and diameter.  A harder alloy containing more tin creates a lighter bullet of larger diameter.  A softer alloy containing more lead creates a heavier and smaller diameter bullet."

"RCBS Cowboy Bullet Moulds were established using an alloy of 20 parts lead to one part tin."

Am unsure which alloy was utilized in determining the RCBS advertised weight of 530 grains for the 82084 bullet mould.


My first efforts with the RCBS 82084 bullet mould produced the following results:

With 25/1, lead-tin @ 800° F. the RCBS 82084 weighs 542.7 grains +/- 1.0. 

Length is 1.410".

The three tapered grease/lube grooves measure .100" wide and are .400" diameter at full depth.  The bottom grease/lube groove widiths measure .060".  The three large grease/lube grooves should hold sufficient bullet lube to satisfy longer length barrels. 

The four drive bands are all .458" diameter.  The bullets are about + .002" out of round at the seams.  The bottom most drive band is .150" wide, the two middle drive bands are .075" and the top drive band is .070.  Perhaps a bit more tin may increase the finished diameter.

After cleaning the mould with Acetone and inspecting for burrs it took about two dozen bullets before the mould begin to drop bullets that were not wrinkled and with all grease/lube grooves entirely filled.  Dipper method was used with soy wax fluxing as needed. 

If the appearance of these cast bullets are indicative of how they will shoot in .45 caliber Black Powder cartridge Rifles, RCBS has a winner.  Compared to the past three new Lyman Bullet Moulds that entered my inventory the RCBS Bullet Mould obvioulsly has much more quality control in the manufacturing process.  The mould is well vented, opens and closes easily.  The nose area does warm rapidly and some whiskers will occur if the lead alloy and mould get too hot.        

[John Boy]

Well, back in 2004 - 2005 when I was still green and turnips were growing out of my ears, my BPCR mold collection could fit in my pocket ... Times Have Changed and so Has the Number of Molds!

Here are my choices for Long Range based on shooting the bullets:
 Silhouette.... Modified Gunn 530gr in 1:20 - made by Fred Leeth
 1000 Yard ... the Dan Theodore Mini Groove - made by Paul/David Jones and Buffalo Arms, 535gr in 1:20
And for the 'little guy' (38-55) the re-make of the Ideal 375166 by Lyman (330gr) has plenty of bearing surface and can shoot excellent groups to 300yds and with a good set of eyes can take the Rams down at 500 meters

[Jim47]

I've only ever tried Lyman and Lee molds. I doubt if I'll ever cast anymore Lee bullets, not worth the trouble or time. I don't have the Lyman mold in front of me but its a .54 cal 415 gr. I am using pure lead as far as I know, and I use my own home made bullet lube.

I'm considering buying a .50 cal Plains bullet mold. Have any of you used this and are you satisfied with it?

Question here, do all you guys use a sizing die? I was under the intenntion that if you used pure lead there was no need as the bullet conforms to the barrel during loading, which brings me to another question--- why the need to have your barrel cast if the bullet conforms to the barrel when loading.

I've casted a variety of regular rifle and pistol bullets, one RCBS and the rest are Lyman. I'm very happy with the Lyman bullets.

[H. Boson]

For Stevens 44 1/2 40-65, the Brooks 410ish new Postell. Is excellent for this rifle/heavy barrel combo.

The Snover does not shoot well - at all.

For a bunch of varied 45-70's, the brookes new Postell again and the BACO tapered band Money bullet in 530ish variation. Both are working and more testing with 2 specific ribles, a High Wall 30" and Shilo Sharps 34" is still going on. The Brooks has worked in all rifles for a long time and I look at it as as the universal wrench for all my 45-70s. It shoots very well, not yet excellent, in all of them. The BACO is new but shows promise with heavier loads of Swiss 1.5.

The Paul Jones Creedmoor is only average.

There are a bunch more not worth talking about, like that disasterous Lee hollow based 405. Projectile vomit is more accurate at any yardage.

[Seth Hawkins]

KAL Tapered Gibbs adjustable paper patch mould - 0.432" dia., 380 - 540 gr.
Lyman 457677 tapered greaser mould - 0.459" dia., 495 gr.