First is an RCBS 44-240SWC GC molds p/n 82302. Apparently, RCBS has made subtle changes in the design despite the same part numbers. The unmodified mold is in good shape (no damage and only normal, light wear). It casts a bullet of .432" on the main driving band but .427" on the front band. Plus, the nose is a little longer than the shape of the modified mold. This bullet shot ok in a few trials but I prefer a full diameter front band.
The second mold (without sprue plate) is the same name and part number but I was having trouble with hot bullets hanging up in the mold due to the prodigious crimp groove ring. I'm an amateur machinist and tried to reduce the crimp ring and was successful - except for the fact that I set up on the same cavity twice and effectively removed the ring in that cavity (DOH!) Anyway, the other cavity is like new, casts all full diameter bands, and this design has been the single, best, and easiest to get excellent accuracy for me. (My M69 will shoot it into 2" at 50yards!)
SOLDfive cavity, aluminum, ACCURATE clone of the RCBS bullet. The nose is a little shorter and this one drops bullets around .453" with range scrap. I found this mold to be too cantankerous to keep. I think it's not vented enough as it's a struggle to get all five to fill out. Could be my technique or alloy? The mold is scratched along the outside where the LEE mold guide rides and it's dirty but has no damage other than a modest amount of normal wear.
Fourth is an RCBS 40-350CSA mold bought with the hope that it would paper patch up and work for a .416 Rem Mag. That concept did work quite well but the original seller didn't inform me that somebody went after the cavities with a wire brush and worked over the edges. Even with the resulting fins, the bullets produced from this mold shot surprisingly well - 2 to 4 moa without much work.
I picked up the other, custom bored mold, on a whim and never used it. The cavities measure .408 and .406. The work is not top quality but not totally useless either.
SOLDPlus a few books, some are like new, read once and put on the shelf, some are ok like the gunsmithing book showing its age but all are fully intact.
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Originally Posted by bearingsmith
