I purchased it new from midway a little while back, when RCBS was offering a rebate deal. This is my first experience with RCBS moulds, and I must say Im impressed. I am going to use it for 30-30 in an early 70s winchester 94.
I thinned my lee handles to fit it. Then it was cleaned with lighter fluid and a toothbrush. I set it in the melt a few minutes to bring it up to temperature.
I dabbed some synthetic 2 cycle oil on the under side of the sprue plate, at the junction of the sprue bolt/plate, and on the alignment pins. Then, I wiped it off with a cotton rag.
Alloy was straight wheel eights. I wanted to see how well it'd do, if i'd get good fillout without having to add tin, and because thats what I keep in my pot for pistol bullets.
I started to cast, and right off started getting good bullets. Release was excellent. I found it needed a large sprue puddle. Fillout was okay. Once the temperature got evened out, I probably got about 70% that was filled out excellent. Not bad considering I didnt have any extra tin in my mix.
I normally cast fairly fast and keep the mould hot, just below or right at frost temperature, which helps with fillout in a low tin mix. And I did the same with this new RCBS mould. I try to keep my melt temperature medium, not cold, but not so hot it turns yellow and purple on top. I dont have a thermometer yet, so yes, im guessing.
The mould started out being just a touch hard to completely close, and I had to tap the handles on the side. Thats pretty well my routine anyway, instead of trying to slam the mould halves together. However, after a couple hundred, it loosened up just a bit and is perfect.
I weighed 3 from the batch, and they hit right on 195 grains. I forgot to measure any for this posting. Edit, I went back and measured them, and they are running
a solid .310. Some of them Measure .311 around their fattest with .310 on the thinnest, but its not enough to say im getting .311 with any consistency.
Thanks for reading.