358156 mold mod

[Michael J. Spangler]

I finally got around to removing the gas check shank on my mold.
These are unsized, I'm sure they're going to look great once sized. You can just barely notice that the base is .001" or so smaller than the bottom driving band when they're freshly dropped from the mold.
I coated these in hi-tek but I'm curious as to how they will work with traditional lube and a plain base in hot loads.
Can't wait to load some!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/MJSpangler/Grips/434EABCB-0769-4EA8-B7A5-CED71F463014_zpsx1xiu2al.jpg (http://s286.photobucket.com/user/MJSpangler/media/Grips/434EABCB-0769-4EA8-B7A5-CED71F463014_zpsx1xiu2al.jpg.html)

[brasshog]

How did you remove the GC shank ?

[Michael J. Spangler]

Nothing fancy. I found a drill bit that just slip fit into the base of the mold.
Tightened the mold down in a milling vice and lined up the mill table testing the drill bit with the machine off by lowering the bit i to the cavity. Adjusted so it was centered in the cavity and I didn't see it bumping the side of the cavity or flexing at all from bumping.
Then I switched to a .357 diameter drill bit and ran the mill at about slowly and lowered the bit in.
Then I switched the slip fit drill bit, lined it up with the other cavity, switched to the .357 bit and drilled that one out too.
Nice and easy.

[Dutchman]

I always saw 357446 as the plain base version of 358156, though apparently not exactly the same. I've cast and shot both and they're both great bullets in .38 & .357 Magnum. I've shot 358156 without gas check using 3.5 grs Unique in the Model 28 and they made little groups at 25 yds.

Dutch