Bullet Molds--General Information and Product
PRECISION CAST BULLET MOLDS
The pins are made of hardened and ground tool steel. The alignment sockets
are made of stainless steel. They are pressed and staked into the mold
body and then line bored for perfect alignment.
Sprue plates are made of 3/16" steel which are ground and then stress
NEI designs cut in original Magma blocks. Available set
of 8 or singles.
NEI designs cut for Ballisti-Cast casting machines.
All the molds are designed to fit RCBS handles. NEW! Handles
modified with spring plungers for aligning multiple cavity molds
(works even better than Walt thought it would). Prevents damage
to mold face due to pins not striking sockets.
RCBS, Lyman, Star and Saeco. Punches are cut with the same cherry as the
bullet cavity and match exactly. Molds are cherry cut resulting in accurate
multiple cavity molds.
Cast diameters are .002 to .003 larger than the listed diameter.
Molds can be cut without the gas check or shortened by any number
of grease grooves. Molds in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 cavities; may
have different bullets (close in diameter) in the same mold or
different weights of the same bullet in one mold.
Sprue Plate Lube:
A silicon die lubricant, water soluble, quick drying. Will prevent galling.
Graphite suspension used in industry for forming thermal
barrier. Use in the cavities and as rust preventative on
iron and steel molds. Not necessary for aluminum molds.
Finest quality used in industrial foundries.
NEI DOES NOT RECOMMEND NOR GIVE ANY LOADING DATA
Things to consider when ordering a mold
CF Rifles & Auto Pistols: Always size the bullets
to at least .001 to .002 over groove size. If you have a modern
piece made in the US / Japan, SAAMI standards for the bore/groove
are usually met and slugging the barrel is not necessary. If
your piece is made in Europe or South America, I would suggest
that the barrel be slugged by a competent gunsmith to insure
bore/groove measurements. This also goes for old antique arms.
A bullet that is a frog hair under groove size will lead like
crazy. Leading is caused by gas leaking past the bullet and
acting like a oxyacetylene torch cutting steel. In this case,
linotype bullets will lead faster because they won't obturate
and seal as a soft bullet would. The vaporized lead is then
blown forward of the bullet and then smeared into the wall
of the barrel by the passing bullet. Now you have a real problem!
Revolvers: The chamber mouth of the cylinder dictates
the size of the bullet, not the groove size of the barrel! The
bullet must be sized for a tight push fit through the cylinder.
Example: Some 44s have a groove size of .429 and the cylinder
mouths are .432 or more. In this example, size the bullet
to .432+ and don't worry when the big light hits the bullet,
it will fit the barrel!! If the mouth of the cylinder is
smaller than the groove size of the barrel, the pistol will
never shoot worth a hoot. Send it back to the factory or have
it reamed to .001" over groove size. Remember a hard linotype
bullet will lead faster if it doesn't fit.
Muzzle Loaders: Maxi balls are a two dimensional bullet.
The front band of the bullet is usually .004" over bore
size and the back bands are bore size or a couple thousands
smaller. Remember US made are usually cut to SAAMI standards,
but don't bet on that Italian or Brazil piece to be standard.
Paper Patch: Get the book THE PAPER JACKET by
Paul Matthews published by Wolfe Publishing (602) 445-7810.
This will answer most of your questions about paper patching
(and a lot more.) This type of bullet is a real pain in the
posterior, but the results can be rewarding if done correctly.
Tech Note: Bullet lubricants are really not a 'lubricant'
as you may think of a bearing lube. Leading is caused by the
vaporization of lead by hot gasses, usually leaking past the
side of the projectile and then being smeared on the side of
the barrel by the projectile. The 'lube' only prevents the
vaporized lead from tinning the steel barrel. The properties
of the 'lube' therefore must be opposite that of a tinning
flux. It also must help seal the projectile to the barrel either
as a solid or a semi-solid under heat and pressure. There is
a lot of 'stuff' out there and we're still looking. Let us
know if you have an idea for some 'good stuff'.
(Here is another piece of government BS instituted by pin heads)
Using this equipment in poorly ventilated
areas, cleaning firearms, or handling bullets or ammunition
may result in exposure to lead, a substance known to cause
birth defects, cancer, reproductive harm, and other serious
physical injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times.
Wash hands and face thoroughly after handling and before
coming into contact with food, chewing material, and smoking