Question On HM2 .312" 160 gr Ed Harris Mould ??

[DR Owl Creek]

I have a few questions for anyone who has the HM2 .312" 160 gr mould that Ed Harris designed:

What size to the bullets drop using your alloy, such as, WW, 92/6/2, Lyman #2, Linotype, etc?

How do these bullets perform in your 7.62x39mm in regards to feeding, accuracy, and velocity, particularly in AKs?

Thanks

Dave

[Outpost75]

My molds drop to the drawing dimensions in wheelweights and feed well in my M1 Garand

[L Ross]

I just want to know if they'll ever be in stock again?

[DR Owl Creek]

Outpost 75,

Thanks for confirming that the HM2 .312" mould drops at spec with your WW alloy. I thought I read somewhere that some people were getting sizes a little larger, but there was no mention of what alloy.

The main thing I really like about the HM2 Harris' design (other than the length and weight) are the spacing of the gas check, to the lube groove, to the driving band, for use in short-necked cases like the 300 Savage, 308 Winchester, and the 7.62x39mm. Too many designs are made to work best in longer necked cases like the 30-06, and end up being less than ideal in these shorter ones.

The HM2 mould looks like that spacing would make it a really good choice in 7.62x39mm rifles, as well as in 308 Win, particularly those with more generous 7.62 NATO chambers. The drawings for that mould show a length from the base of the gas check to the top of the driving of .275", a nose length of .570", and a total length of .845". That total length would be about right to fit and chamber in a 7.62x39mm case (.239" case neck) without having the gas check stick out below the bottom of the case neck. That spacing would also work well in other short necked cases like the 308 Win (.304" case neck).

The problem for me with the HM2 Harris' mould is the .312" diameter would likely be too small to work well with the throats in my 7.62x39mm rifles. I need a mould that drops at least at .313", if not larger. I wonder if Ed Harris may have designed that mould to work with the nominal .308" groove diameter that Ruger used in their 7.62x39mm rifles, rather than the standard European 7.62x39mm bore/groove, and throat dimensions which are larger?

When Lee made their version of Ed's design, the 312-160-2R, they got around the problem of the spacing of the gas check, lube grooves, and driving band by using their minie-grooves. RCBS, I believe, with their 7.62-130-SPL, missed the boat entirely by using a spacing more suited for a long-necked case like the 30-06, AND a diameter that's way too small.

Another design that interests me is the NOE 314 155 FN, which is somewhat similar to the HM2 mould. The drawings for the NOE show a length of .306" from the bottom of the gas check to the scraper groove, a nose length of .581", and a total length of .887". The length from the base of the bullet to the scraper groove is a good bit longer than a 7.62x39mm case neck (.239"), but with the .314" diameter, it al least could be sized down as needed.

The only other option I can think of would be to have a custom mould made, such as by Accurate. If I went that route, it would probably be a profile sililar to the HM2 160 gr Harris design, except it would have a nominal diameter of .314" and I would extend the driving band further up to give it more bearing surface.

Dave

[DR Owl Creek]

I just want to know if they'll ever be in stock again?

L Ross,

I'll bet that if enough people are interested, JT would be happy to do another run.

Dave

[Outpost75]

If you add 2 % tin to your wheelweights, you will increase diameter +0.001" or if you blend Linotype 50-50 with wheelweights you will get +0.0015".

Commercial 92-6-2 hardball alloy will get you close to +0.002"

[runfiverun]

if the mold is opened the nose diameter will follow suit, it's just the nature of the cutters used.
you need to either go for a 30 or a 31 cal mold for things to work just right.

[Outpost75]

The .316 version has a 0.004" larger diameter on the tapered nose portion as well. Fine for .303 British, but I'm not sure about how the AK and SKS barrels are throated, as they seem to vary depending upon where they were made.

[DR Owl Creek]

If you add 2 % tin to your wheelweights, you will increase diameter +0.001" or if you blend Linotype 50-50 with wheelweights you will get +0.0015".

Commercial 92-6-2 hardball alloy will get you close to +0.002"

BINGO!!!

That's exactly the info I was looking for! Thank You Very Much!

It looks like the HM2 .312" will do just what I want. I'll contact JT about pricing, etc & then go from there.

Thanks again,

Dave

[DR Owl Creek]

I contacted JT at HM2. He said he's planning on doing a rerun of the HM2 Ed Harrris' design 160 gr mould at some point. He asked me to do an "Interest Thread" in the Group Buy Discussion forum to see how much interest there is for it. If anyone is interested, go over there and say so.

Watch for more!

Dave

[DR Owl Creek]

Here's a link to the "Interest Thread" in the Group Buy Discussion form.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?243393-Rerun-of-HM2-312-quot-160-gr-Ed-Harris-designed-mould