I'm about to find out how I like the iron vs the aluminum. I have only four molds, all alluminum but about to buy the RCBS 35-200 and those are cast iron I believe. I'll report back with my limited experience. John
Brass
Iron
Aluminum
Something I missed?
I'm about to find out how I like the iron vs the aluminum. I have only four molds, all alluminum but about to buy the RCBS 35-200 and those are cast iron I believe. I'll report back with my limited experience. John
I own a number of moulds both commercial and custom. I have casted with Iron and aluminum extensively but have limited casting with brass. I voted for aluminum because of the calibers I cast for the most. I love to shoot my 500 linebaugh and 45 colt handguns. I like the aluminum because I can cast longer w/ out the mould overheating. With iron moulds I have a hard time casting the big 500l bullets w/ out frosting w/ lyman #2 alloys and a bottom pour pot. Now If I was casting the big Black Powder style long range 40-45-50 caliber bullets w/ 30-1 alloy and a ladle I would be using iron moulds only ( never tried brass for these) as I can control the mould temperature better and quality is more important than quantity. Brass-Iron-aluminum moulds all have their advantages depending on the alloy, weight of bullet, casting style (ladle vs bottom pour), and melt temperature you are casting at.
Krems
Never cast with Iron. Alum molds I have work great. Have a 4 cavity brass that casts great, but it drops 4x 255 gr Keith bullets and beats my poor old repaired rotator cuff shoulders to death!
I currently favor my Mihec Brass and a Lyman steel as a close second. The aluminum molds that I have seem really touchy.
Rick45Colt
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 |