Obviously this involves Lee molds. I'm aware there are other mold manufacturers. Unfortunately, I have finite funds to spend on my hobbies as ultimately, my kids being clothed and eating takes precedence lol.
Looking at Lee's line-up, they offer very little selection for those of us interested in casting to feed our mil-surps. There is a .324 mold for 8mm mauser, but bullet weight is too light and BC too low for my taste. My plan there is to get the C329-205-1R, which is exactly the weight I am looking for, and size the bullet down to .324. I feel this is solid and I'm committed to trying this.
Then on to casting for Mosins and Arisakas (and one day an enfield). I don't care for their .312 diameter mold options, again bullets are too light. On top of that, I've slugged my Arisaka bore and .312 might work for that as dropped with PC but I'm almost positive it will be a no-go for a mosin or enfield.
Lee does have a 30 cal mold (C309-200-R) that is pretty much what I'm looking for in weight and profile, absent the obviously smaller diameter of .309. Has anyone ever honed a mold to open it up .005 or so? I've read that a bullet cast from the mold with a stem added, coated with flitz, can open up the mold. Anyone ever actually do this? What was your accuracy like? I'm guessing said process would introduce enough inaccuracy in bullet roundness to mandate pushing through a sizer. What are your thoughts?
Looking at Lee's line-up, they offer very little selection for those of us interested in casting to feed our mil-surps. There is a .324 mold for 8mm mauser, but bullet weight is too light and BC too low for my taste. My plan there is to get the C329-205-1R, which is exactly the weight I am looking for, and size the bullet down to .324. I feel this is solid and I'm committed to trying this.
Then on to casting for Mosins and Arisakas (and one day an enfield). I don't care for their .312 diameter mold options, again bullets are too light. On top of that, I've slugged my Arisaka bore and .312 might work for that as dropped with PC but I'm almost positive it will be a no-go for a mosin or enfield.
Lee does have a 30 cal mold (C309-200-R) that is pretty much what I'm looking for in weight and profile, absent the obviously smaller diameter of .309. Has anyone ever honed a mold to open it up .005 or so? I've read that a bullet cast from the mold with a stem added, coated with flitz, can open up the mold. Anyone ever actually do this? What was your accuracy like? I'm guessing said process would introduce enough inaccuracy in bullet roundness to mandate pushing through a sizer. What are your thoughts?