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Thread: Casting with Lyman hollow point molds?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    Casting with Lyman hollow point molds?

    I picked up a long discontinued Lyman single cavity mold for a hollow base minie bullet and it looks like a typical Lyman hollow point mold with the pin in the bottom. I haven't had a chance to cast with it yet, but is there a trick to it? How do you get the bullet off the pin without deforming the relatively soft, freshly cast bullet?
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master



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    You twist the pin and pull it out with the mold blocks still together, then open the blocks. Boolit falls out, repeat a few thousand times.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    Aha. Thanks. Since this will be a shoulder shaking 54 caliber conical meant for hunting charges, I suspect a few hundred will be more than adequate.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by 45workhorse View Post
    You twist the pin and pull it out with the mold blocks still together, then open the blocks. Boolit falls out, repeat a few thousand times.
    This is how I do it as well. Makes it super easy to get nice quality HB.

  5. #5
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    The Lead cools enough in a few seconds, and doesn't stick to the pin.

    Single cavity HPs are a little slow and tedious, but you won't have any problems with it.
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    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


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  6. #6
    Boolit Master



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    To heavy of a charge and you can blow the skirt, base of bullet apart.
    Last edited by 45workhorse; 01-22-2020 at 04:11 AM.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master brewer12345's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 45workhorse View Post
    To heavy of a charge and you can blow the skirt, base of bullet apart.
    With a traditional minie, yes. This is a discontinued mold that was designed with a short, heavy skirt for heavy hunting loads. I will be trying these and maxi balls to see if I can do better than a Lee real.
    When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    One additional bit of advice: pull the pin/plug before cutting the sprue.

    I learned this the hard way while casting some 457122's, no fun trying to twist the pin out when the freshly cast boolit is just spinning in the blocks.

    Robert

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check