A homemade buckshot mold

I recently came across this buckshot mold I made almost thirty years ago. If I recall correctly the plan was to use the buckshot for shooting geese, but I never got around to actually use any of them.

As you can see the principle is quite simple, it's based pretty much on the system used in plastic injection molds, with a central runner and a small inlet into each cavity. I have only tried the mold with a Lee bottom-pour, but it would probably work with a ladle as well.

The size of the pellets is approx .25" - not quite #3buck but larger than #4buck. 16 of these (one full cast) makes for an even ounce. The idea was to have 4 layers of 5 pellets each for a 1-1/8 load with a felt wad & buffer.

Separating the pellets from the runner is quite easy. When cast in lino a slight squeeze will snap the inlet from to the pellet. Cast in pure lead it takes a little more effort, but not much.

The mold was made on a Bridgeport mill, but if anyone should be interested in making his own mold, a drill press with a table with X & Y movement should do fine. Use a two flute ball nose mill for drilling the cavities, and a dremel tool or similar to grind the inlet. Make the inlet larger toward the runner to insure the sprue will snap flush with the pellet.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/6789/mold1xw3.jpg

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9499/buckshothp1.jpg

Pretty cool!

John

Would make great split shot for fishing too!

Would love to have one of them in 4 aught buckshot...!

Sling shot ammo?? Maybe one in 3/8ths inch size!!??

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Originally Posted by jhalcott

Sling shot ammo?? Maybe one in 3/8ths inch size!!??

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He, he... Actually I used them for slingshot ammo - although they were a bit on the small side.

The mold could easily be scaled up to what ever size one would prefer. Only problem is finding the right size ball nose mill. I'm fortunate enough to have acces to a CNC grinder which can produce almost any shape or profile cutter you can dream up.

nice! don't seperate and just shove in the hull and shoot! lol

Way !!! -- Way !! Cool !!!

Okay, so now I just have to figure out how to make my own. :castmine:

SWEET MOLD :drinks:


Now if a feller was also a drift fisherman for salmon and such he could use the "SPRUE PILLAR" as pencil lead if he had a set of lead eye pliars....waste not want not....

That is nice - I've been trying to figure out a good way to make 00 shot and that looks like the ticket. I had not thought about a center sprue design - perfect! I need to find some good ball end mills.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blammer

nice! don't seperate and just shove in the hull and shoot! lol

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That was just my thought. Sic minds think a like.. :mrgreen:

WOW thats sweet! I wish I had somethin like that. Casting em 2 at a time is well,......slow....

Damn, Would work great in .380" for my C&B guns! :-D

Sam :-D

That's great and I'd like to make one but I can't understand how air doesn't get trapped at the highest point as the lead flows into each cavity.:-?

Definitely gonna have a try though. :-D

ATB
Andy

IMPRESSIVE!!


Three 44s

Darn, I just got a 32 pistol and have been thinkking of making a mould. Now I'm going to have to make one of these. Great Idea!

I would up for a mould. 00 and 4 Buck

I'm in.

I just bought a Do-it slingshot pellet mold from Zeiners Bass Shop. Do-it makes mostly fishing weight molds. It came in just a couple of days and it looks pretty good. It makes 9 at a time that are around 0000 buckshot and and eleven at a time that are a little under 0 buckshot. They cost about $30 with shipping. I haven't got a chance to try it out yet.

http://www.zeiners.com/doit/slingshotpellet.html

I have a couple of lee double cavity molds that make approximately the same size which have sprue plates. The Do-it molds require you to cut off the excess lead. I haven't tried the lee molds out yet either. I bought them at Cabellas.

Greetings and WELCOME Vonnieglen...
Thanks for the info on the mold.... I have bought several splitshot molds in the past and modified them fo shot (remove the slit part). There is always room for another option.
Nice Handle !
God Bless You!