.223mold NOE, LBT or other?

[berksglh]

Been casting 45 ACP lee 6 cavity for my 1911 for a year now. Well over 10k rnds cast from a bottom pour. I just enjoy it.

Been reading a lot about casting for 223 and realize its a challenge.

Last week I started casting 223 with a Bator mold and trying different lube and powders. The bator is too Short for my DPMS 3G2 AR-15. I have shot about 100 so far, and while accuracy is improving with better lube and casting technique, I'm still hoping a better quality mold, more pointed shape, that's also fit to my throat would give better accuracy.

The bator was an easy start at $18.00. But if I'm going to spend $90 or more on a better mold, id like to know I piked a good one...

The NOE molds seem to be out of stock now. LBT sounds impressive, but have to mail in an order form.

Any recommendations.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/10/2a351deb9ca436620a0f4b30b9adc881.jpg

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/Dbrickmirror_zps25947bb1.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/Dbrickmirror_zps25947bb1.jpg.html)

This is the one I'd suggest. It's a HM², it was designed specifically for the 556 chamber. I don't know if JT will be making these again or not??? If you have patience, once in a while you will see one on the Sellin & Swappin forum.

http://heavymetalmolds.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=8&zenid=l54eeqe82od8252oseh6rd0ug1

[bhn22]

RCBS has a really nice 55 gr GC design.

[cs86]

Excess, were those lubed or powder coated?

[kens]

MiHek makes nice MP-Molds.
I think the mold number is 227-65
There is several group buys on that on this forum.

[berksglh]

Ecxess, I'd be happy with groups like that. I get that at 100 yds with jacketed reloads all day, but need I need a lot of work on setup, better mold, casting lubing technique to get to what your showing using CB.

[goryshaw]

Thanks for the info, I picked up the 225-70 mold several months ago, but haven't got around to trying it yet. Going to fire up the furnace and cast a couple thousand NOE 311299 and NOE 225-70 in the next couple weeks.

For the 311299 I'm just planning on starting with 20 gr of SR-4759 in .30-06, with a goal of reliable function in a M1 Garand. Can always fall back to IMR or H4895 if the 4759 won't operate the action.

Would like to find a load for the 225-70 that works in my Rock River NM AR for 100 yard practice on an SR-1 target. I've got a lot of SR-4759 and a bit of AA 5744, but their bulkiness doesn't seem as good a fit in .223/5.56 cases as they are in .30-06 and other full size battle rifle cartridges. I do have several pounds of Benchmark, but I'll see if any LGS have RL-7 available.

[berksglh]

I was thinking 62-70g designs but hadn't looked at measurements to get to same basic length and gas check position as Excess describes. I think ill shoot for that one when my slush fund allows.

Thanks for the great info....

[berksglh]

NOE 225-70 GC mold currently only available in brass mold. Whats the difference from the aluminum molds I'm using now.

[berksglh]

Thanks again.

[dkf]

Brass is just casts different than aluminum, it holds more heat and tends to favor slower casting. I have the MP 75gr Nato and ACE 75gr Heavy molds for .223 in ARs. The MP is brass and the ACE is aluminum both cast very well. The NOE 70gr is a good boolit brass or aluminum will give you good boolits. The more I cast I find my preference is aluminum, despite about half my molds being brass. Biggest downside to brass and iron is the 4+ cavity molds are heavy suckers, 2 cavity isn't bad. My MP 4 cavity mold is cut on 2 cavity blocks so it is light. I never get to buy the HM mold and am kicking myself.

[berksglh]

I ended up ordering the NOE 228-72 x4 mold, drilled for probe and got the probe and a pot thermometer. My AR is a 5.56/223… but i rammed a soft slug with lead filled case and measured the throat right above the shell at 0.228" then quickly tapers to 0.224 an 1/8" farther out. Going to have to pick up 243 expander ball to modify for proper fit for sizing brass.

Got a few spools of old lead free solder, so need to look at alloy options for my WW lead now.

[Bigslug]

LBT sounds impressive, but have to mail in an order form.

Veral is around 74 these days, and his process pre-dates the Internet as we know it by a considerable bit. It's a minor quirk to deal with for the quality of mold you get, and since you want it fit to your throat, that's something he specializes in. In the case of a 5.56, I would simply send him a pound-cast made per his instructions, tell him your rate of twist, and generally what you're after, but let him figure out the exact weight of the thing. His SOP seems to be to set the base of the bullet close to the back of neck, with the front driving band set up in a way that will work with your throat and magazine - usually with a little bit of leeway for some seat depth tinkering.

I don't have an LBT .22 mold, but one characteristic of Veral's molds that will help with the itty-bitty bullet thing is that he vents the beejeezus out of them. Fillout shouldn't be an issue.

[bhn22]

Veral is the man, as far as I'm concerned.

[berksglh]

Here's a couple shots from last nights first attempts with the new mold. It ended up being a bit long to contain the gas check in the neck, but after an hour of reading several post here on the issue, I've decided its of no concern to me as tight as they are on, and if powder coating besides.

No load worked up, just cast and coated a few. At full 2.260" COL and PC blue, they hand cycle and seem to feed and engage lightly to the rifling in my DPMS AR.

Have some RL-7, TAC, Benchmark, 4064, RL-17 to try.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/27/6ea8cf50af5f46b0e31e0b7f5b2faa46.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/27/2c65115f9778589996249f373391802c.jpg

Heres a cast 55g bator laying on the new NOE mold for comparison.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05/27/a2dfa26e37f79a198a91002077122383.jpg

[berksglh]

Started a new thread with my shooting results so far.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=279911