Further .32 Auto mold mod

[Rangefinder]

So yesterday I did the modification on my 93gr. Lee for my .32 Auto that shortened it and lightened to 80gr. Today I couldn't leave well enough alone. I HP'd one cavity. I ended up with a RN FP that is HP'd to the base of the nose. With 50/50 WW/Dead-Soft, it drops at a perfect 71gr. With 1.6gr. Red Dot, I tested at 3.yards on a water jug. It shredded the front, left a large dimple in the back, and dropped out on the ground when the jug fell. It's not the prettiest HP job I've done, but it performs just how I wanted.

Full weight retention and expansion to .473.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF5794.jpg

[OuchHot!]

wowie! that is a very nice job!

[Catshooter]

Can you post a pic of the mould please?


Cat

[Rangefinder]

Will do--probably in the morning.

[Echo]

Nice job, and good performance.

[Rangefinder]

As requested... ;)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF5798.jpg
Still need to do some lapping on the cavities to clean them up--just didn't have time and was in a hurry. It sucks having to cram things into infrequent 1/2-hour windows. But you should be able to see everything I've done so far pretty well.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF5799.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF5800.jpg

Just FYI: It's believed and spread that Lee molds can't be HP'd---Obviously they can be. BUT, you'll notice in the first photo the alignment pin is sticking out. This is a must. You have to tap it out enough for the HP pin to clear. Do NOT attempt to drill through it. I made that mistake on the first Lee mold I attempted to HP. After that little oops, every one there-after have worked out really well.

[gray wolf]

Very nice job, and a good looking bullet.

[Catshooter]

Thanks for the pic.

It looks to me like the pin is loose, not secured to the mould in any way. Is that the case?

If so then when you cast you just place it in the mould, pour, cut the sprue and then when you drop the boolit the pin comes out also?

I can see that working. I mean I wouldn't want to cast 5,000 boolits that way, but I can see the workability there.

I also agree with the idea that you can't hollow point Lee moulds to be false. Just have to move their alignment pin like you did.

Nice work.


Cat

[Rangefinder]

Yup, the pin is loose. They are made several ways, but this is the easiest. It is a little time consuming, but once you get the rhythm down, you can go pretty quick. Temperature is the main thing--not just keeping the mold hot, but keeping the pin hot as well to ensure good fill out around the pin and HP cavity. I pour, give the pin a twist and pop it out, cut the sprew, and drop. Put the pin back, and repeat. I ladle-pour, and still get a pretty big pile pretty quick. Using a bottom-pour pot can really go fast considering you're using a single-cav with a couple extra steps. But then, I cast for fun mainly and not so much for the volume.