Dumb question time

[armoredman]

When you cast a hollow point boolit, do you have to remove the pins to drop it free every time? How does that work? Can you cast at a rate similar to standard molds? I would love to cast HP for my 9mm, don't know of a good mold to get for that or how to use it, any thoughts?
:lovebooli thanks.

[MtGun44]

Look at MP's molds on his web site or go to Hollowpoint Services web site and look at the ones
that Erik has modified. He has dozens of great pix.

There are two broad types. Single cavities with a removable pin are workable but slow and
hard to keep the pin warm enough. But they do work just fine.

The best are the newer designs, taken from a version originally made by the defunct Cramer
mold company - with floating pins called the "Cramer style". MP uses all Cramer style pins.
Erik will add Cramer style pins to a multicav mold, and has added his own twist of putting the
HP pins on a chunk of steel and inletting the whole assy into the bottom of the mold, and it
still will slide on Cramer style pins.

I hope this helps. Pix are very useful, go to Erik's site and spend some time looking at pix
and thinking it through. Basically, with a Cramer style HP mold, you cut the sprues, flip the
mold over and open it. You may need to bump the pins to push them out and pull the boolits
out of the cavities, and there will be two (or however many) boolits just sitting there on their
bases. Very fast and easy, sometimes the pin tips need a touch of Bull Plate lube.

Bill

[cbrick]

Was going to answer your question but Bill pretty much nailed it. I'll add the link to Erik though.

Hollow Point Bullet Mold Service (http://www.hollowpointmold.com/)

I've never needed to put any lube on the HP pins but if it helps . . . I do use a tiny amount of Bull Plate on the horizontal pins to aid in them sliding through the blocks.

I use a gloved finger to slide the pins out instead of tapping them, other than that as Bill said, fill mold, open sprue, turn upside down, open blocks & slide the pins out & bullets drop. The Cramer style HP and Erik or Miha made making HP's a joy.

Rick

[Rangefinder]

I'd LOVE to do my HP'ing with cramer pins... BUT, since all my HP molds are my own mods, they're all old-style base pins. BUT, I can cast pretty darn quick with 'em. Pour, twist and pull the pin, knock the sprue, and drop. Close, reinsert the pin, and repeat. I get a pile in no time at all.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF6762.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF6292.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/DSCF5794.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l259/hillsjim/357HPjpg.jpg
With a good rhythm I can get 3 a minute on any one of these on single cav... ;)

[Sonnypie]

I spurred off of Rangefinders method and modified my 45 cal mold when it arrived.
It has been working hard for the last several day producing pounds of cast boolits.
I was having issues with two separate pins today. One or the other seemed to fall out randomly as I positioned the mold under my furnace.
So I made a handle that holds both pins. That really cut down my cyclic time. So much so I was having the other end of the spectrum troubles, too hot of a mold.
So I slowed down and still produced about 20 pounds of boolits today.
And I made a guide for that mold that positions it perfectly for me, and my way of casting.
You can modify your chosen mold yourself, or send it out.
Rangefinder and I both did our own.
Polish the pin(s) used for the HP cavity and it will drop right out.

Take a look at this thread. (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=125533)

[armoredman]

I have zero tools to do any self modifications, nor any expertise or experience with such. Heck, I don't even own an electric drill!
So, I would have to get something made elsewhere. I guess the "floating pins" makes it easier, just snap them back into place before the next pour.

[pdawg_shooter]

My pappy always said "There are no dumb questions, just dumb answers." How else are you going to learn?

[fredj338]

If you use a Cramer style HP mold (right pic), it casts almost as fast as a non HP mold. The single cav, removable pin style, like the lyman, are much slower, but if the bullets are for hunting or SHTF SD, who cares how fast you can make them. Anything but a round style HP needs to be done on a Cramer style mold to get the pin to release. Mihec makes a great mold in HP or solid, just change the pins.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/452-268-1K.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/9mm-136-1200.jpg

[armoredman]

That Cramer mold looks good. Can that be done to Lee molds, or do I need to buy something better?
Never mind that question, looked at the website. That would be great, but the cost is higher than I can afford, dang it. Oh well.
Next question - the case trimmer hollow pointer drills, any luck with those? I'd rather cast good ones, but the drill idea seems to be cheap, too.
Sorry, I am a cheapskate, the economy is murder right now.

[armoredman]

Nobody uses one of these? OK, that might say a lot right there.

[MikeS]

There's a difference between being cheap, and being frugal. In these economic times there's nothing wrong with being frugal.

[armoredman]

That's true. :)

[armoredman]

Ok, getting a Lyman single cavity 356402 mold cheap, so I guess I'll need to figure out how to get it hollow pointed, since most people say the hollowpointer deal is erratic at best.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

If you have a drill press, doing the HP thing on loaded ammo can be fast and precise. The Forster unit is very easy to use.

Rich

[armoredman]

No drill press, or place to put one unfortunately.

[MikeS]

If you send it to Erik to have it hollow pointed, you might want to see if he can do a cramer type HP, or his inset bar type HP, rather than the cheaper Lyman style HP as they work faster and easier than the older style with a removable pin.

[Christorbust]

I also wanted a 9mm hollow point, but am a little shy about the prices. Those phantoms get hungry! perhaps if I get one I could "rent" it to you so you could make a heap o' boolits, making my initial purchase cheaper and getting you a load of hp's

Just curious what bullet/powder are you putting through your phantom now, and with what luck?

[armoredman]

I have a mold on the way to get HP'd next payday.
I am having fun right now using the Lee 125grain single lube groove boolit, tweaking for the right load, had to bump the COAL back to 1.080 to keep the fat ogive off the lands,

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/Phantom%20targets/830111.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/Phantom%20targets/824112.jpg

I was using the 124 grain tumble lube, but among other things the mold is starting to show some wear, and not lining up right over half the time. Using the OLD data from Accurate Arms I could get this,

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/Phantom%20targets/Phantomcastload.jpg

However, AA changed testing and this load is now a full 1.1 grains OVER maximum. Oops.

[Christorbust]

It seemed to like the hot TL pretty well!

That's the bullet I'm using currently. I've been bouncing around with different powders. Titegroup, Red Dot, 700x....

As soon as I fix a primer problem on my press I'll try and post up what works for me.

I agree with the short OAL, I am sitting around 1.105 with this bullet. With the "Black Bullet" I had to be pretty much under 1.095

[armoredman]

I cast my first ever with the new mold today, (off work by Dr order for cardiac "event", NON event in my mind), and realized - I don't have the right seater plug for my Lee die. Dang. Boolits look REAL good, once I got the mold up to temp - got used to aluminum, and steel has a little bit different heating curve. :)
Gonna have to
call Lee, see if they have one already made to that dimension or not.

[Christorbust]

Boolits look REAL good

I don't see any boolits!!!

Eye candy please:D

[armoredman]

OK, Ok, hang on, hope these are good enough. Sized to .357, no lube.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/casting%20stuff/124grainLymanConical.jpg

Box o' conicals, and yes, the purists are going to howl - they are lubed with Lee Liquid Alox - all I have.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/casting%20stuff/conicalsinbox.jpg

This was basically what lead was left in the pot after I got done with the other ones, the one on the right, here.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/casting%20stuff/Newpairofcastboolits.jpg

Nice boolits, nifty single cavity mold, but this is the one I may get hollow pointed, especially if I can find a Lee seater plug for it.