Ballisti-Cast Equipment Modifications

[ballisti-cast]

Ballisti-Cast is under new ownership as of July and we are planning on making design updates to all of our machines as is necessary. Please give us feedback on what you like and dislike about the machines and how we can make them better. Our goal is to create low cost, backward compatible, upgrade kits for the machines to iron out any problems people may have had with them as well as make them faster and more efficient. We are a fully capable CNC machine shop and proud of both our bullet casting equipment and precision needle valve line. We look forward to your input and forging a strong business relationship.

http://www.idealvalve.com
http://www.ballisti-cast.com

[Catshooter]

Well ballisti-cast, welcome to the site and to the mould business.

My input would be: Make the mould cavities large enough (not undersize like Lyman seems to be doing these days) and lower your prices. A lot.

I guess one other thing would be this. I started casting more than forty years ago. In the five years I've been on this site I've learned more workable tips, techiques and technology than in all the reading I did the prior 35 or so years.

Point being, that there are some dang smart people on this site. They know how to make moulds work and how to cast better than anyone ever before. Learn from here, utilize this site as a resource.

For instance, for years so many in this field pushed hardness as the best (and sometimes only) solution to leading. We now know that boolit fit is King, hardness is way way down the list.

Pre-heating a mould does wonders for your casting session. Often the very first boolit out of my moulds are keepers. Not before pre-heating though.

There are a number of marketing/product holes in this field. Lyman has gone the coporate America route and won't speak to anyone and won't upgrade their product line. If you can make hand moulds near their price point you could take away alot of their business. My new 429421 mould from them drops wheel weight boolits at .429, too small. They're getting known for that here.

Good luck.


Cat

[BCall]

Consider making 4 cavity rifle molds. Iron 4 cavity molds for rifles are the one thing missing from today's market. Any chance you have the older H&G rifle designa as well?

[kodiak1]

Send out updated production list of moulds.

Ken.

[dromia]

Welcome to the forum Balisti-Cast.

You will get plenty of good, experienced feed back here.

I agree with Catshooters take on this the Lyman part of the market is wide open since they lost the plot. I also concur with BCall's point on the need for 4 cavity iron rifle boolit moulds. Also make sure that your moulds will take Lee sized handles and not the narrower RCBS ones.

Good luck and I look forward to reading your stock and price lists.

[Bret4207]

I've never used or had the desire to use Ballisti-cast products, but I would echo the opinions on making the moulds cast large enough boolits. I'd also consider offering moulds without the bevel base.

I wish you luck in your endeavor.

[sagamore-one]

I personally would like to see a "re-cherry" and "hand lap" offering for existing H&G gang moulds. Occasionally I run into an H&G cut to drop at specified diameter in LINO only. A re-cherry to a slightly larger diameter by someone skilled would be GREAT.

[Wayne Smith]

Welcome to the site. It is very good to find a manufacturer who is willing to listen to feedback, good and bad. Yes, the field is wide open. One of our mold makers left the field earlier this year as well. Lyman is no longer trustworthy, unfortunately. Sometimes good, somtimes not. For most of us price is a big issue. If you haven't been here before take a good look at the Group Buy section, you will quickly see the need. Several of the designs have gone around multiple times. Even something with as limited market as the Oldfeller Frankenstein 8x47R Steyr boolit sold enough for Bruce to catalogue it.

If you can take criticism, realize that consumers don't understand manufacturing and focus only on what we want, and are willing to educate us in the process you will be a valued member here.

[hiram1]

true words.and the guys here will tell it like thay see it.Lyman use to be top dog but lost it to smart mouths and not doing the right thing.look at lee pricing look at rcbs.if you can stay in there your in.and when we call dont be better than us be one of us.that my friend will go a long way .that is all this arkey has to say [for now]

[jsizemore]

Do you go by ballisti or cast? Just want to make sure I got it right when I call.

Most fussing will be that they ordered something and what they got wasn't right.

[jameslovesjammie]

I see you relocated to the other side of the state. I never got a chance to see Ballisti-Cast here in Minot and I wish you all the best.

There have been some good business tips on here already. I hope you are a caster yourself and can appreciate what a fine company you purchased!

Best of luck and thanks for keeping it in ND!

James

[ballisti-cast]

We have the ability to re-cherry any existing H & G Mould to a larger diameter to compensate for different types of lead as ballisti-cast owns all of the old H & G cherries. If you give us the mould, type of lead used, and diameter of the cast boolit or sizing die we can cherry it to exactly what you need. We also can make 4 cavity rifle boolit molds for any of the H & G rifle cherries we have (see our website) or can work with you on a custom design. Thank you for the ideas so far, all are appreciated and being considered.

[LAH]

We have the ability to re-cherry any existing H & G Mould to a larger diameter to compensate for different types of lead as ballisti-cast owns all of the old H & G cherries. If you give us the mould, type of lead used, and diameter of the cast boolit or sizing die we can cherry it to exactly what you need. We also can make 4 cavity rifle boolit molds for any of the H & G rifle cherries we have (see our website) or can work with you on a custom design. Thank you for the ideas so far, all are appreciated and being considered.

There you go guys. Cheers all round.

[Echo]

BC, here's a big Way To Go:

WAY TO GO!

[MDF99]

I own a Mark VI sizer. I’m satisfied with the product but will list my experiences and ideas for improvement.

On my Mark VI sizer I have the bullet feeder mechanism removed because I mostly use gas checked bullets and feed them one at a time. On bullets that have a tight bullet base to gas check fit I will literally drop the handle so the ram slaps the gas check once to seat it before I push it on through the sizer. No problems there.

One area that could use improvement is the adjustment method for shortening or lengthening the bullet punches so the lube is injected directly into the grooves. For a small-time user like myself that has many different molds and makes frequent changes of sizing dies and punches; I’ve found it easier to have a separate punch that I leave set up for each mold that I use frequently. My method for setting the punch length is as follows: I insert a bullet into the die and push it down as far as the handle allows. Then with the bullet inside the die, I’ll push the die up out of the machine and stick a sharp pin through the injection hole(s) in the die into the bullet. Then I’ll push the bullet out of the die and look at the pin pricks in the lead to see where they are in relationship to the lube groove centers and use a dial caliper to measure that distance. Then I’ll remove the punch and shorten or lengthen it according to my measurement to center the bullets lube groove to the injection holes in the die. This process is messy and time consuming and often takes a few tries to get it right.

My idea for improvement is to set the Mark VI up with a micrometer adjustment similar to a Redding Competition seater die and eliminate the adjustable length punches entirely. Just have one punch for each caliber that is a simple solid steel cylinder. Mount the micrometer on top of the ram and redesign the handle to clear it and allow adjustment.

[ballisti-cast]

MDF99, a micrometer on the Mark VI for adjusting the punch is a great idea and it would only take a few modifications to make one fit I believe! The process of finding the right setting on the micrometer for a particular boolit would be a one time job and then become common knowledge we could post on our website.

[MtGun44]

If you are doing CNC, then consider this method for making molds. Make the cherry substantially
undersized, with the proper profile. Run the cherry in a small circle to make the chosen
diameter. This way you can easily make the same designs in several different diameters.

FIT is THE most important issue, so for example, in the .45 Colt cartridge there have been
two "standard" bore and throat diameters. In the early days (and many of those guns are
still out there) the standard was .454". Today, the guns have been moved closer to the
.45 ACP diameter, and now need .452" boolits. With conventional cherry methods, you will
need two cherries. With the undersized "profile cherry" you can make them whatever size
the customers need, no extra effort other than a tiny tweak to the CNC program to change
the circle diameter that the profile cherry is driven around.

Best wishes for success.

Bill

[Skipper488]

Ballisti-cast I'm relatively new to casting and I'm not familiar with your product line. But the fact that you have come here asking prospective customers for their input and experiences is something that gains my respect. I will be looking at your products and as my need for equipment grows (in this hobby it always does) I will seriously be considering your products.

[41 mag fan]

I've got to throw my .02 worth in on this.

Ballisti-cast heres what I seen when I went to your website you listed in your post.
I went on there and looked at your prices on melting posts and molds. Thats as far as I went.
I'm not looking to make a business but to enjoy a hobby I love.

Prices are way too high. Period

Offering a line of products that attract the hobbyist like myself and are within the price range of the majority of us is ideal.
I'm in this hobby for myself, not to become a business, as I think most on here are.

For example, with that in mind, when I look to buy a lube sizer or a melting pot I'm looking to buy one to fit my needs on the hobby aspect not the commercial aspect.
There are lube sizers and melting pots out there by your competitors that are within my budget and their quality and warranty and reputation are top notch.
Same way with molds, theres top notch mold makers on here that I do business with and will over and over.

If you ever develop a hobbyist line of products for people like me toot your horn loud if it was made here in the USA, by USA born citizens. This recession has caused alot of people like myself to rethink and are willing to pay a little more money to keep the jobs here in the U.S. and to give a U.S. citizen a job.

[finishman2000]

I've got to throw my .02 worth in on this.

Ballisti-cast heres what I seen when I went to your website you listed in your post.
I went on there and looked at your prices on melting posts and molds. Thats as far as I went.
I'm not looking to make a business but to enjoy a hobby I love.

Prices are way too high. Period

Offering a line of products that attract the hobbyist like myself and are within the price range of the majority of us is ideal.
I'm in this hobby for myself, not to become a business, as I think most on here are.

For example, with that in mind, when I look to buy a lube sizer or a melting pot I'm looking to buy one to fit my needs on the hobby aspect not the commercial aspect.
There are lube sizers and melting pots out there by your competitors that are within my budget and their quality and warranty and reputation are top notch.
Same way with molds, theres top notch mold makers on here that I do business with and will over and over.

If you ever develop a hobbyist line of products for people like me toot your horn loud if it was made here in the USA, by USA born citizens. This recession has caused alot of people like myself to rethink and are willing to pay a little more money to keep the jobs here in the U.S. and to give a U.S. citizen a job.

Ballisti-cast is geared to the commercial and serious casters. they make small qty's, and have to pay good money to have the casting made for their bases.
the h&g molds were never cheap and never will be. they do however hold their value though like no other.

want cheap,,, stay with lee, they are geared for the small casters.

my sizer/luber from ballisti is a rapid hand machine, to the point that i sold off my star machines and haven't looked back or missed the stars. is the machine perfect? it is now with my changes to it. i hope that they use some of them on their new machines.