H&G Molds - what are they worth?

[schraubermani]

Hello,

Manuel from Germany again.
Need your help please:

I have the option to buy the following molds and was very thankful, if you could give me the price this molds are traded for today.
They are all used, but the seller told me, they were in good condition.
Prices without handles.

H&G #68 .452 SWC 200grs 8 cav.
H&G Keith SWC .357/358 10 cav.
Prices for big handles?
H&G .452 230grs. RN 4 cav.

And please tell me the actual price for quite new (1-2 times used) 4 cav. NEI Molds.

Thanks for your answers, please hurry, i will meet the seller in 12 hours.

Best regards,

Manuel

[TheBigBang]

In the USA the 8 & 10 cav. molds can easily fetch $200-$250, sometimes, quite a bit more. 4 cav. can bring $100-$150, sometimes even 4 cav.s will bring $200+. The handles are usually INCLUDED in the sales I've seen, so the prices reflect that. I might deduct $50 or so per mold if it doesn't have it's own handles. Handles alone? around $50, can really only give a "rough" number as depends alot on seller knowing what they have & buyer's desire for it. The bullet designs you list are all popular, still useful designs. All prices are in US dollars, all values are US values, I don't know how difficult to obtain these molds are in Germany, or how much demand there is & those factors can affect prices quite a bit. Hope this helps.

[schraubermani]

Hello Big Bang,

thanks a lot for your helpful answer.
The seller wants 200 € for a H&G mold (8-10cav.) without handles.
We will see tomorrow.
I will try to buy them inc. handles for that price.
I think they are worth it, because if i bought them from the states.... + shipping+customs...........

Best regards,
Manuel

[TheBigBang]

I just remembered you also asked about NEI 4 cav.s - the price for these brand new is $150-$200 US, depending on size & whether it's iron or aluminum - iron is more expensive & you rarely see iron NEI molds. If it really is as new, I would figure not more than maybe $20 US off the new price, of course, if you buy new, you have shipping charges and, in your case, any other costs/problems with importation into Germany. So, even at the "full" price of new, it may be cheaper for you than actually buying new from NEI. One thing about NEI molds, the guy who started the company died some years ago & his, I believe, daughter's husband now runs the business. I have heard some bad things about the quality of NEI molds & their customer service since the original founder's death. I would check any NEI mold I was considering purchasing VERY CAREFULLY for any defects, maybe the reason the mold was only used 1-2 times was a quality issue. I don't know if there's much chance of this happening, but you might try to get him to let you "test cast" the NEI mold before purchase.

[schraubermani]

Thanks for the informations about NEI.
I didn't really know, very interesting.
I'll arrive at Austria in about 5 hours and then will take a very very careful look at the NEI.

Best regards,
Manuel

[TheBigBang]

So, how did it go, did you get the molds?

[tward]

Let us know if you get the molds, also send pictures. Was stationed in Nuernberg in the late 1960's, nice city. Tim

[schraubermani]

Hello,

i got the molds! And a lot of linotype, too!
I bought the following molds:
#51 -10 cav. .38 S& W Special. 160 grains. Design by Philip B. Sharpe. Plain base or bevel base or gas check base available. One grease groove, one crimp groove, semi-wadcutter shoulder, gently rounded nose, to meplat.
#68 BB 8 cav.- .45 Auto. 200 grains. "By Crawford". Available in plain or bevel base. One rounded grease groove, no crimp groove, semi-wadcutter shoulder, then nose straight taper to slight round-off to meplat. Very popular, very accurate .45 ACP target bullet. See Outdoors Magazine February and September 1940 issues. Also "Roper, August 1940 issue American Rifleman". American Rifleman issue June 1948 page 46 "Giles .45 Shop-l 1/2" at 50 yards, 1 1/32" at 25 yards" "11/5/70--Don Scott, Clackamas, Oregon, machine rest tested twenty ACP's, all 2" or under at 50 yards".

One Aluminium mold 4 cav. LBT 430-260 WFN
As you can see at the pictures, i have already casted with the .430 mold, it throws 243grs. .4295 Boolits. Very nice.
The molds are all in good condition.As you can see, the H&G molds were well greased, every time they were stored.
Also got 2 large handles and a small handle.
But the worst thing: I forgot to take the screws to connect the molds with the handles! Holy ****! Contacted the seller, he will send me the screws next week. So i am sitting here with two pairs of wonderful H&G molds and can't start casting!

http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/p1000318khpqlyeic9.jpg (http://www.fotos-hochladen.net)

http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/p1000319dkhbncs4u8.jpg (http://www.fotos-hochladen.net)

http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/p1000321tvj64dleni.jpg (http://www.fotos-hochladen.net)

http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/p10003229xot3g80up.jpg (http://www.fotos-hochladen.net)

All together i bought the three molds and 2540 lb. of linotype for 1500€ ( 1000€ for the Linotype)

Best regards,

Manuel

[fecmech]

I think you did very well ! As an owner of H&G molds myself you will not ever regret the price you paid for them. You will however have some huge arms after handling those 8 & 10 CAV MOLDS.:kidding:

[TheBigBang]

I'd say you got a good price on the molds, about $628 US for 3 "top-quality" molds, each with it's own set of handles. I'm guessing the NEI you mentioned in your original post turned out to be the LBT? That 1 mold alone, new from LBT, is $175+shipping US + AT LEAST $35-$40 US for a set of handles. That's a real "bummer" about the screws for the H&Gs, I HATE it when I do stuff like that, I hope they make it to you OK & SOON! Meanwhile, have a few Warsteiners to "ease the pain"! ;)

Looks like you got a GREAT price on the linotype, at just under $0.50/lb. US, in this country, that would be considered a "steal"!

I think you can look forward to many happy hours of casting, followed by many happy hours of shooting, followed by more casting, followed by more shooting, followed by... :mrgreen:

[schraubermani]

Thanks for your answers.
I am looking forwar to casting with the H&G.
Already tried out the LBT.......casts wonderful bullets. You are right, NEI turned into LBT
The Linotype was a really good deal, that's what i am happy about, too.
In my hometown is a dealer, that sells 2,2lb pure soft lead for 1€.
I have to go there and get 600kg to mix it up with some of my linotype.
For the ,45 ACP i mix it to 10HB, for 44mag, 45-70 and .357 i do cast 14HB hardness.
I will show you pics, when i've casted with the H&G molds.

Best regards,

Manuel

[finishman2000]

my hy&g's are the finest and at 8-10 per pour...it rains boolits.
I hate lee and aluminum molds and will always buy a good condition h&g.
I had to buy a lee slug mold and used it the first time yesterday, what a ***, it won't close tight after it warmed up and had to be tapped to close right. after 6-7 at temp i gave up on it.
so yes they are worth the extra money. keep in mind that if you keep them in goos shape you will never loose a dime on them. they will only go up in value over time, like most things that were worth the higher price new. no different than my rolex.

[MtGun44]

Heavy molds, but the H&G 68 is THE reference standard for the .45 ACP as far as
feeding reliability is concerned. Load to 1.250 LOA and taper crimp (required) to .471 or
so at the case mouth and you will have dead reliable ammo. I load 4.8 gr of Titegroup,
or 4.7 of Bullseye, or 5.7 -5.8 of W231/HP38 for IPSC ammo and have shot well over 200,000
of these - although mostly commercial cast versions. I do have an original H&G 68 mold
but only 4 cav and not BB. BB seems fine, but I tend to prefer the square based designs
in my own molds.

Those molds look near new, very nice, highest quality molds, superb design. If you can
get lino cheap, 50-50 mix of lead and lino is a wonderful alloy, but a bit expensive and
harder than required for .45 ACP.

Bill

[schraubermani]

Hello Bill,

thanks for your advice.
I Load my .45 ACP with 4,3 grs. solo 1000 or 4,7 grs. N320
Works superb.
For this load, 8 Brinell are enough. About 3/4 pure lead and 1/4 Lino + 3% tin.
Looks good.....shoots good....what more could i ask for??

Best wishes,

Manuel

[MtGun44]

Yes, and I find that even in .357 Mag 8 BHN is enough with a good design.

I don't konw the two powders you mentioned, what velocity are you getting?

Bill

[schraubermani]

I suppose about 240 metres/second.
I haven't measured it yet with a chrony.
N320 is from Vithavouri (Kemira) and Solo 1000 ( burns very clean) is produced by Accurate.
For the .357 with a 180grs. bullet i load 7,8grs. 3N37 (Kemira)
A good design and a good lube are the most important things to avoid barrel leading when shooting lead bullets .
and the velocity mustn't be too fast.

[MtGun44]

240 M/s is fairly slow, I normally load the H&G 68 to ~900 fps (275-290 m/s)

For example. The .45 Colt load is about 12-14 BHN, velocity should be about 1300 fps (~400 m/s)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=161&pictureid=3951

Or this one. The book speed is over 1500 fps, but in my 6" revolver, I expect more like
1400 fps (425 m/s) or so.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=161&pictureid=929

Hard is not required for fast and accurate cast loads with good design, proper launch rates
plus fit and lube.

I guess I need to chronograph those loads one day.

Bill