My new boolits! (Pictures)

[.44rich]

Being a tool and die maker I have certain freedoms that many others don't. Such one would being able to make just about anything that comes to mind that I would like to try out at almost no cost except some time. One adventure I've been working on is making a few of my own bullet molds. Recently I made another 44 mold but have incorporated a HP pin. I think they came out really nice and I would like to share some pictures of them. Feel free to comment, I'm relatively new in the world of casting and would like to know what you think. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160708/b119dbfb080794925b5a80ff32a24488.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160708/e6116440333eb7552d1155681d5342b1.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160708/f5fb6aab92fd3bf3889ef0fa6a772d40.jpg

[Shiloh]

Well Done!!

Pics are great, your skill is fantastic.

Shiloh

[.44rich]

Thank you

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[.44rich]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160708/f8468eff6d2fb639d2c0c93ba266a2a4.jpg

[John Guedry]

Very nice work. Everybody here is envious.

[Echo]

One more envious guy. Beautiful work.

[.44rich]

Thanks guys! Sorry for being a show off. I'm from CT and there aren't many people around here I can show this stuff off too without getting "the look".

[OS OK]

Beautifully executed...Let me know when you start selling molds, I want to be first in line for a .45ACP 230 grain!

[GWM]

Really nice!

[flint45]

Cool boolits

[RoadBike]

We need a jealous/envious icon :) I'd use it.

[Yodogsandman]

:mrgreen: This one?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Looks excellent.

As I scrolled down the thread and first only seen the boolit, I thought the crimp groove looked larger than necessary...but when I seen the loaded ammo in the speed holder, it looks excellent. Maybe the photo of the boolit being sooooo close up, it made the crimp groove look large?

[.44rich]

I didn't use a cherry, I profiled it all with a ball mill so there is a .015 rad on everything which makes it looks exaggerated. The mold has an identical twin so I turned this one into a HP.

[osteodoc08]

I think it looks really nice.

My personal preference would be for a fatter nose and more of a WFN profile. I'd be afraid the hollowed out area would not stay together on game, but I could be wrong. There is also
slight finning at the base on the seam line, may want to investigate that.

Well done sir. I wish I had the tooling and the skill. If I attempted that it would be an atrocity.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

yes envious here to, feel free to show of with that kind of skill! I also think the cavity could be a little less deep and slightly wider. and the bottom of the cavity being rounded helps the nose keep from shearing off upon expansion. great work, and great boolits as is! looking forward to seeing more! Travis, aka The OK kidd

[Oklahoma Rebel]

yes envious here to, feel free to show of with that kind of skill! I also think the cavity could be a little less deep and keep the cavity more open coming to a rounded end. the bottom of the cavity being rounded helps the nose keep from shearing off upon expansion. great work, and great boolits as is! looking forward to seeing more! Travis, aka The OK kidd

[lightman]

Beautiful work! You have some serious skills! Have you shot any of them yet?

[Geezer in NH]

Great job!!![smilie=w:

[bedbugbilly]

Beautiful work!! How do they shoot?

[GWM]

I really like the nose profile. And the crimp groove.

[Nick Quick]

Stunning looking bullet. Beside the skills you have to make a such mold you're also a skilled photographer.

[Victor N TN]

WOW...! Those are neat.

[.44rich]

I'll try them out hopefully next weekend. The twin non HP bullet loves 2400 so I'm starting with a close load. See what happens. My only problem was 4227 was my go to with most of my lead and this design didn't give good results with it.

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[MrWolf]

Envious is spot on. Nicely done and keep us posted how they shoot. Very nice job.

[runfiverun]

4227 gets squirrely in the 44 mag, especially as things warm up.
2400 is about a perfect match for useful velocity and consistency.

[Bzcraig]

That is just the worst example of craftsmanship I have ever seen! If you send me the mold I will properly dispose of it. [smilie=s:

[big bore 99]

Nice work! Toolmaker here too. Retired after 48 years of turning cranks. Keep up the good work.

[ammohead]

Truly impressed. Did you lathe bore it?

[Artful]

Yes, Impressive work and envious here too. Tagged for shooting report

[tdoyka]

excellent!!!!

[longbow]

Indeed, very nice work.

Now since no-one seems to have asked (unless I missed it)... what is the weight? And what gun are you shooting them from?

IMR 4227 is my go to powder for my .44 mag Marlin though I have not tried 2400. Availability is an issue around here so I take what I can get and IMR 4227 is pretty versatile and has been available. I've never had any trouble with it. I use it in my .308 and .303's as well.

With a softish tough alloy those should expand nicely. If the nose is a bit fragile or expansion is too violent you can easily make a smaller diameter and/or shorter HP pin.

I like it. Great work!

Longbow

[44man]

Just gorgeous and that is a REAL sprue plate.

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

And I thought I was being self sufficient making my own boolits and ammo. You definitely kicked it up a notch. Nice work!

[zomby woof]

very nice!!!!

[Freightman]

I would like a .460 HP 330-350 gr when you start selling.

[.44rich]

Truly impressed. Did you lathe bore it?
No I programmed it with a 1/32 ball mill.

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[.44rich]

I really like the nose profile. And the crimp groove.
I got the idea from Berger's hybrid design. When I was designing it I brought the ogive almost all the way back to the crimp groove, but left about .050 of bore riding diameter. Also read a lot on beartooth boolits about shooting a heavier boolit in the 44 mags. I combined a hybrid nose ogive design with the heavier boolit ideas and threw Keith's large lube groove in the mix and this was the end result. The non HP mold shoots like a dream, so I'm hoping this will do the same magic down range.

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[Beagle333]

Very nice! I am a fan of a thick sprue plate too! http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/images/smilies/new/tee.gif

[Ole Joe Clarke]

Looks mighty good, if you are happy, I'm tickled to death. :-) I spent 40 plus years in machining/manufacturing, I love to see good work. I'm still amazed at modern machining technology. I watch the machine demos on U tube sometimes.

Have a blessed day,

Leon