John Ross here...

[John Ross]

I'm new here (joined 5 years ago at someone's request for a question but lost track) and have a few questions.

I focus on the .500 S&W Magnum (some of you may have heard of me) and am interested in molds for that caliber.

Has anyone had Lee make some 6-cavity molds for the .500? They say they can make a 6-cavity for any bullet up to 1" long and .52 caliber. This would be 400-450 grains, depending on nose shape, in the .500.

If so, how did the molds turn out? I'm not too worried about overheating as I cast with up to 7 molds at a time.

I would be interested in getting some .500 molds made in my designs with as many cavities as possible(from anyone, not just Lee). Dan's molds are great but limited to 2 cavities. Check out the pictures below and you'll see why I like gang molds...

Casting room



Day's work...



Loading area. Dillon 1050 at left is .500 S&W only.

[45nut]

can you supply the drawings? If so,, that is a huge step forward and this is the right place to start.
I would venture we have a few that are more than capable of taking this on.

Any idea when I can get a few paperback copies of your book?

[John Ross]

All my designs have been created with Dan's design page. I like lots of thin grease grooves but he now limits the groove-to-band ratio to .7 because people kept trying to have him make tumble lube bullets.

Paperback copies are coming, there's a production holdup that's being addressed right now.

[45nut]

If you can do a screenshot ,, then we can probably make it work.

[John Ross]

If you can do a screenshot ,, then we can probably make it work.

How do you do a screen shot, other than using a camera?

[45nut]

alt=printscreen will copy the active window,, then paste it into paint and save as a .jpg

[targetshootr]

How can you find anything in a shop so organized. It's disgraceful.

[timbuck]

I think you will have plenty of interest here.
So many options now. A great time to be a cast booliteer.

[500bfrman]

I would think al nelson of NOE molds could make a five cavity.

[John Ross]

alt=printscreen will copy the active window,, then paste it into paint and save as a .jpg

I can't seem to figure out how to do this. I have an "ALT" key and a "PrtScn" key, but when I push them together, nothing happens. I'll use Google to see if I can find an answer.

Also I don't think I have MSPaint.

I didn't realize I was quite this computer-illiterate...

[357 Voodoo]

MSpaint can be found in start, all programs, accessories, paint. with paint open press "Ctrl-v" and the image will be pasted into paint.

[69daytona]

We have ran a few different designs for the 500 in 6 cavity, the 465gr keith style from Lee in a six cavity and a 400gr pointed nose 4 cavity by NOE. Miha makes some great molds and will do a six cavity solid for the 500. He is just finishing our 700gr Cramer 2 cavity mold HP/FP. also the Cramer 440gr HP/FP 2 cavity brass mold. Most people are wanting HP options which will rule out anything larger than a 2 cavity.
For the price and quality you couldnt go wrong with MiHec (Miha) or NOE. by the way I enjoyed your write ups on the S&W 500.
If you need any help getting your designs drawn up just ask there are some people here that are willing to help.
Im trying to get a 400gr button nose wadcutter done now and a 600gr for the 500. You might want to check out some of the molds that have been made for the 500 in the last 3 years here on this site.

[bdutro]

Daytona is right John, Mihec will make you throw rocks at a Lee mold.

[John Ross]

Here's one I'd like to see in a 4-Cavity RG Hollowpoint mold I saw NOE show. I'd like the hollowboint pin to be as big as possible at the nose and tapering to a point about .600" from the front of the bullet. Massive expansion at low velocity.

Comments?

[SwedeNelson]

Something to look at:


We would offer a 4 cavity using our 5 cavity block.

Swede Nelson

[Spartacus]

We would offer a 4 cavity using our 5 cavity block.

Swede Nelson

I would be up for that.

[happy7]

John,

I have at least 4 Lee six cavity molds for the 500 from group buys I and others have run. They are fine, but keeping them cool is a challenge. It can be done, but it is a bit of a learning curve. Also, on heavier bullets the molds have to be emptied upside down to keep the bullets from being damaged by the opposite mold half. The NOE 4 cavity in five cavity blocks are better.

If it interests you, I could send you samples of the bullets from the Lee molds.

[timbuck]

Maybe one more mold.

[Blake Stephenson]

Looks good to me. I would buy one.

Blake

[nicholst55]

MSpaint can be found in start, all programs, accessories, paint. with paint open press "Ctrl-v" and the image will be pasted into paint.

That's why I L-O-V-E this forum! I learn something new every time I come here!

I sure wish that Al Gore had invented the Internet 20 years earlier; I'd be one smart feller by now...