arsenal 358-124 gr. tc mold in 9mm

[toallmy]

Well gentlemen and ladies my wife is going to let me cast for her 1911 Springfield a1 9mm .she noticed I finally got my 45 running with my own cast bullets. I am tickled it has been a whole new experience for me ,I have just started casting.reliable functioning and no leading.I have two saeco bullet molds 2 cavity 185 swc 4cavity 200swc. So that is my only experience,conserding aluminum arsenal 5 cavity 358-124 gr tc .l nead to size to at least .357 and would like to be able to go to .358 for her astra a 70 as well. I am gental on my molds ,but possibly my ignorance could damage the aluminum mold. I don't hit with stick or bang on it but never used different molds.if you have some experience with arsenal molds please advise.thank you New member.

[Char-Gar]

I have well over a hundred bullet molds of different sizes, made from iron, brass and aluminum and have never damaged one by using it. I use the same care no matter the material.

[toallmy]

Thanks I see light marks on top of my mold under spruce plate.

[Jupiter7]

For reference, those arsenal molds are the same designs as NOE, they used to make the NOE molds. Honestly for quick and high volume, I like aluminum. Its about all I cast with anymore.

[toallmy]

Thanks for the reply.I have studded this sight for almost a year .you all have helped from finding lead ,witch pot ,molds ,home made lube .........on and on . without this sight l would still be thinking of casting my own.

[toallmy]

Well I ordered it yesterday . I will see how it holds up and cast .

[minmax]

I looked at that same mold, I went with a N.O.E. I hope it cast well for you. Please keep us updated.

[toallmy]

It is 125 gr tc not 124 my mistake.

[toallmy]

No it was 124 and it came in today ,but waiting on handle from midway. When I ordered handles orderd a lee 124 tc 6 cav standard lube with them.so I can see for myself what everyone is taking about with molds.

[toallmy]

Well I think it is a nice looking mold,kind of sporty real shine but have not got handles yet. Playing with it noticed spru plate humped up in the middle. Took a lot of stoning to get good and level,thick and hard plate very hard. but have not got to cast with it .

[toallmy]

I just started casting with mold after cleaning degreasing.heated it up started filling it up then I could not cut the spruce.so I set on end of cutter on basement floor and smacked it .I have been using 4 cav and have been cutting by hand with no problem .so l was surprised I thought it was cold so I pored real big spruce several times still same cutter is sharp just spent couple afternoons leveling plate.I always cut as soon as the spruce starts to set just couple sec. I had the pot lee 4/20 hot I was also trying out a new lee 6 cav just to see if I like aluminum molds,got it hot and cast till wrinkles stoped put bull plate lube few times liked it easy enough. Then tried the arsenal and couldn't cut spru I had to hit it so hard I thought I would damage the aluminum mold. Well taking break then try again.

[toallmy]

Well got it going smothed up cutter plate ,and wacked it with a stick . This in no way makes me think that this is not a great mold .I am a new caster .so I am the problem.but I am getting it figured out.( with all your help ) .by the way I should have figured more cav harder to cut .I am familiar with machine work I am a commercial fisherman we constantly tear things up .so I got a buddy that over halls my engines and runs a machine shop .I have a pretty good idea about what it takes to make a perfect mold .darn near impossible. Ps the fella at the mold shop offered to send a new plate you can't beat that but I am shore it was just me being pickey and a tinker.

[Wayne Smith]

Until the mold/sprue plate heats up you will need a stick to cut the sprue if you fill all the cavities. Let it heat up and you can cut it with a gloved hand, I use a welding glove. I use a hot plate that I imagine gets to about 300 degrees and have to hit the plate with a hammer handle maybe three or four times before I can use my gloved hand.

[toallmy]

Think I will get a cam on it like a lee but till then work it with a mallet. Again please let me say I think the mold is a work of art the cavities are cut nice and clean the venting is beautiful amazed with the quality for 80 bucks nice .