NEI - what do you think?

[bubblehead]

NEI has an impressive catalog of boolit designs, but I hear very little of their moulds.

Are there any opinions about them? (I'm mostly interested in BPCR)

Thanks

[moodyholler]

I have 4 and like them very well. .45 1881 GOV'T design, .257 75 grain, and 38 Long heeled bullet, and 235 grain .38-55 mold. FWIW moodyholler

[9.3X62AL]

I have two 25 caliber molds made by the late Walt Melander, and they are works of art. Moody--are any of your molds newer editions--made after Mr. Melander passed away? I am curious about the quality of the products after his passing.

[moodyholler]

DA all but one made after he passed away. I can provide you with some samples if you like. moodyholler

[Bret4207]

Walt Melander (RIP) was an artist. I am glad to hear his sucessor is doing good work.

[HickoryCreek]

I do not own any personally. Have never heard or read anything negative about the company or their molds.

[9.3X62AL]

That is good news to hear that quality remained high after Mr. Melander's passing. I sure like the molds two I have!

Moody--no need for samples, just was curious how the molds worked. Thanks kindly!

[trooperdan]

If I am correct, Walt had a gun shop in El Paso TX when I was there in the 60's. I had a Browing High Power with the old ring hammer that used to smack the web of my hand with some warm loads I was making. I took it to Walt to have him mill off half of the hammer spur.. I can still hear him saying '"This hammer is tougher than woodpecker lips! " :) I don't think he was into making molds in those days yet.. RIP good buddy!

[beagle]

The NEIs that Walt made were works of art. I received a double cavity .375 mould from him about a month before his death. I had to get him on the phone and argue with him to get him to make it as I was wanting to put two different designs of .375 bullet weighing over 300 grains in the same block. He said it wouldn't make good bullets if I used both cavities at once and he was right about that.

Think that was about my 6th NEI and every one has been a winner.

I would buy another one in a minute if I ws in the market for a mould right now. Instead of aluminum, I'd spring for the extra bucks and get meehanite as I did for the .375 mould. It's a gem./beagle

[BCB]

Nearly 10 years ago, I inherited a Model ’92 Marlin in 32 Long Colt cartridge. Well, not having any idea where to get the hollow base bullets for this cartridge, I looked into the heel design. I found a company that still produced a mold for this heel-style bullet—N.E.I. The bullet number is #78B and it is designated as .313-95-Heel. After some waiting time, the mold finally arrived. It cast beautiful bullets from the start. Only one problem, the heel was too small to be held with enough force in the case. SO, a quick call to Walt and the mold was back in the mail to him. Within a week or so, the mold was returned to me and the heel cast a couple of thousandth larger which was just perfect. I also got the meehanite mold for the extra $25.00. It has allowed me to shoot an old lever gun that might have just ended up in the gun rack…BCB

[Buckshot]

............In the turmoil after Walts passing, the dust settled and the new owner began production. It's all hazy now as I had only a passing interest, but his daughter was apparently involved with the new regime. Maybe her husband? Well regardless, hearsay at first was that people had had problems with the new moulds.

Maybe this was not that the moulds weren't good, it's that people might have been expecting them to be worse because Walt wasn't the one making them anymore? It was mainly the BP silhuette guys making the noise. Last I heard was that the moulds were okay, and I guess the reports made here confirm that. I only have one NEI and it is a Walter made 58 cal slug.

..............Buckshot

[gutshot_again]

I got one of the first moulds shipped after Walt passed away. Was trash, and it was obvious the new owners didn't know what they were doing. I think it was Walt's daughter and her husband. After a bit of a hassle it was replaced and the new one is just fine. I think the new people ran into a bit of learning curve. I haven't heard anything but good about NEI recently.

[NVcurmudgeon]

I have a single cavity, aluminum, NEI 220358 mould which has been very accurate in .358 Winchester and .35 Whelen. I bought it used maybe 20 years ago. This mould is long discontinued but still one of my favorites. Right
now it is out being rejuvenated, which is not NEI's fault, but my Bubba handling.

[Char-Gar]

I used to live in El Paso and spent some time in Walt's shop. He was quite a talker. He left Texas over a dispute with the State Comptroler over some taxes. I have about 15 molds Walt made in El Paso and later in Oregon. About a year ago I sent one back for repair and they did a good job. I have not bought a new one since Walt's passing, but I would not hesitate to do so.

[Frank46]

Beagle, If I'm not mistaken, NEI still makes molds in iron. Can always check the web site. But they do get more for the iron ones. I have an aluminum one for their 180gr 30 cal with the DD band on the nose. Didn't know iron molds were available at the time. Frank

[475/480]

I have 1 of the new moulds, made for the SW 500, a 360gr TCGC (5 cavity) aluminum ,well made and casts good bullets.

Sean

[bubblehead]

Thanks fellers

I think I will go ahead and order with confidence.

[26Charlie]

I bought a couple of NEI moulds from a friend I ran into at a gun show - he had gotten a 300 gr. Keith-style SWC and another mould with a 325 gr. and a 350 gr. Keith-style SWC cut in the same blocks, both moulds .454 for his Casull. He sold the gun, and sold the moulds to me. I have kept the 300 gr. .454, but not wanting the heavier bullets for the .45 Colt I had a machinist friend open them to .457. These I use in the .45-70 Ruger #3, and they will shoot groups around 2 1/2" at 100 yds without a problem. I have since acquired other NEI moulds, and all shoot well, drop bullets easily, and are a pleasure to cast with. You can't go wrong with them IMHO.

[GLL]

My new NEI #256 4 cavity 429-255 grain SWC just arrived this afternoon. Looks nice ! I will give it a try this weekend and post the results.

Jerry

[RANGER RICK]

I have four moluds from NEI . Two from Walt and two from the new owners .
The last two were a triple cavity 710gr plain base round nose .512 and the other triple cavity 370gr WFNGC .500 both in meehanite . Quality is great . The bullets almost jump out of the moulds . Service is top notch to say the least . I would not hesitate to purchase another quality mould .

RR

[HotGuns]

I just got a single cavity in large blocks. It is an 850 .510 bullet for the .50 BMG.


The mold looked great. The first bullet out of it looked even better.

I have no complaints, the mold does a fine job. That 850 grain bullet sure does suck the lead out of the pot though.... :shock:

[GLL]

Here is my new 4 cavity NEI #256 .429-255grain. I have not had a chance to cast but it sure looks nice.

Service was outstanding !

Jerry

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