Home made mold

[Leadmiser]

Do to the shortage of ammo and reloading components I have been working on my own primitive mold.

I basically took a piece of 5/8 square stock and drilled holes, shaped them with a milling bit, and polished and sized them with a dremel. Not trying to over simplify,because this has taken a lot of trial and error. The up side is mistake become the next larger caliber.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/01/2ygebubu.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/01/me3usy8u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/01/nu4uze2u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/01/uragehuj.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/01/emu7aqam.jpg

[DeanWinchester]

How are you getting them outta that mold and how are you lubricating them?
What's making those impressions on the nose?

I can see the powder coat crowd really liking this, they have no need for lube grooves.

[Leadmiser]

At first I was using nail for push pins that formed the nose. Thats what is leaving the impressions. Now I'm working on retained spring loaded hollow point pins.

As for lube, I use graphite spray or I roll them between a pair of coarse files and tumble with 45/45/10.

[longbow]

Nice job! These simple moulds can be quite effective and boolits as accurate as from expensive moulds.

I have made push out moulds for many years. In my case single cavity bored then lapped to final size with a very slight taper (maybe 0.0005" to 0.001") and an ejector pin that can provide either FP or HP. The same type of mould can be used to make HB if the cavity is reversed and a "pop out" nose form made.

I usually knurl after casting then tumble lube.

Simple, easy to make and cheap.

Ideal made moulds like this about 100 years ago for paper patching ~ graphic attached:

112319

Mine are a little more substantial and made from 1 1/2" round bar. One day I will get around to making a multi cavity version from square stock similar to yours. I like the addition of the ejector pins though. They aren't necessary for short handgun boolits but they can be when casting long heavy small diameter boolits... like a 215 gr. .30 cal.

Please give us a range report when you get those out to shoot some. I am betting they shoot just fine.

Longbow

[WILCO]

I'm impressed.

[Artful]

Nice - would be great for powder coating.

[HollowPoint]

It is possible to make these types of straight walled (no lube grooves) bullets with Ball-Nosed End-Mills; and you'd get a smoother surface finish.

These Ball-Nose End-Mills can be bought in just about any diameter. Using one that's the closest size above the finished diameter you're wanting will allow you to size down to your exact size.

I kind of like the truncated cone noses of these particular bullets though. The OP has just reaffirmed that necessity really is the mother of invention. Well done sir.

HollowPoint

[Leadmiser]

Thank for all the positive feedback. I bought my first handgun a year ago in April. Got a s&w sd9ve Cali fun. Not that I have much experience but I really like this gun. Since then I have acquired another handgun,a shotty and a Mosin 9130 as well as a 9mm carbine for the Mrs.

Its been awhile but I have shoot some of these put of my SD and my brother has shot some out of his sccy. Better groups than LRN I bought at a gun show and jacketed Winchester. 4" group at 25 feet from a beginning shooter.