Conical Mold

[saz]

I have been shooting No Excuses conicals in my inline .50 (1:28 twist) and I have been playing around on the mountain molds website kicking around ideas for a conical mold for my .50, but also for my 58 kodiak. How much larger than the bore should one make the mold?? I know that you can order a sizing die on here but how much can you actually size down a pure lead bullet? Also, my kodiak has a 1:48 twist, and I was playing around with the bullet weight and it was saying that about a 600gr bullet at .580 is a good match for that twist. Seems awful heavy for a slower twist but it would be awesome if it worked. I love shooting heavy conicals- the 495gr out of my .50 are tack drivers!!!! I have printed a few sub 1" groups with them @100yds- absolutely unbelieveable! I need a sledgehammer for a griz hunt I am planning when I get home. Any advice is welcome!

[Underclocked]

If I were designing a mold, I wouldn't go more than .003" over desired final dimension. Depending upon the bullet design, you can go as much as .006" and still have a very shootable bullet, but it will show some smearing from the sizing.

I've sized .457 to .451 and still got very decent accuracy.

http://www.missouri-whitetails.com/data/500/49Elite020106.jpg

http://www.missouri-whitetails.com/data/1/49bigboys.jpg

saz, Bull Shop can sell you some great boolits at prices that make it hardly worth the effort to roll your own.

[Nobade]

If that 58 Kodiak you mention is the Pedersoli double, I would strongly recommend against conical bullets in it. The recoil from the first shot can dislodge the bullet from the second barrel, with none too good results. If it is a single barrel rifle, then go for it - just keep in mind you'll lose a lot of velocity and gain a lot of recoil. And there's not a whole lot of things a 58 roundball can't shoot completely through anyway. You'll want to spec the mould so it's maybe .001 over bore diameter, and size them to .001 - .0005 under bore dia, so the weight of the ramrod will seat them. Cast from nearly pure lead with a stout charge of real BP, they'll seal the bore and shoot well. Make sure you spec big lube grooves to keep the bore nice and wet for easy loading.

[saz]

I shoot the Lee minnie in it and I havent had any problem with the second barrel's bullet walking off the powder. I also shoot roundballs in it with a rather stout charge of 2f and no issues there. I was very careful when I first got the rifle because I had heard of that very problem. I am just looking for options with shooting a big conical- costal brownies get pretty big in AK....... I will have a buddy backing me up with his 416, but I'd rather not have to rely on him.

[mooman76]

Have you tried Dixiegunworks? They have a good selection of 58 moulds.