JonB_in_Glencoe
02-15-2018, 01:18 PM
About a month ago, I started seeking a Lightweight SWC for 41 cal in a 4 or 5 or 6 cavity mold.
I couldn't find anything I wanted in a current design, maybe there isn't much of call for a lightweight SWC?
I learned that Arsenal Molds will consider some custom work. I've never owned a Arsenal Mold and thought I'd like to give one a try. I sent them a request for a Lightweight SWC in 41 mold via their "Contact us" section of their website, and Jared promptly sent me a response.
I guess others have made contact with him via a more direct route.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?349680-Arsenal-Molds
He and I exchanged several emails including him sending me a drawing of what he thought I wanted from my description, after a couple changes, and another drawing, it was exactly what I wanted (41-205-SWC version 2).
214286
I told him on 1/25 to "go ahead" on a 5 cav alum mold. I received a paypal payment invoice on 1/26 and promptly paid it ($95 plus shipping). I thought the price would have been higher, due to added time for the two drawings. The invoice also said to allow approximately 2 weeks for delivery.
about 2 weeks later, a shipping notification email arrived :guntootsmiley:
The Mold arrived yesterday, Happy Valentines day to me [smilie=l:
The mold looks beautiful ...the look, feel, and quality is as good as I've seen from the other popular mold makers. In a word, "Excellent".
I proceeded to fire up the Lead furnace with 15lb of 50-50 (COWW-soft scrap lead). I cleaned the mold with hot water, dish soap, and a toothbrush as I usually do with a new mold. I preheated the mold and started casting. I started with the alloy hotter that I usually would (710ºF). I had some wrinkling and fillout issues with the first several pours. I adjusted the temp up and down...tried a few different things until I found the sweet spot which was after a 100+ boolits (about 20 pours), then they were dropping in a excellent fashion. 201gr and .413 on both sides.
214277
214279
Right after the successful casting session, I assembled 3 dummy rounds (seated to Crimp groove, COAL 1.642) and cycled "the set of three dummy rds" a few times each through both my Marlin 1894s and my Henry Big Boy steel. I was extremely happy how they cycled in both guns. Of course, actual live fire at the range will tell the real story.
Great custom mold at a great price. Great conversation with Jared. Great boolits.
I couldn't find anything I wanted in a current design, maybe there isn't much of call for a lightweight SWC?
I learned that Arsenal Molds will consider some custom work. I've never owned a Arsenal Mold and thought I'd like to give one a try. I sent them a request for a Lightweight SWC in 41 mold via their "Contact us" section of their website, and Jared promptly sent me a response.
I guess others have made contact with him via a more direct route.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?349680-Arsenal-Molds
He and I exchanged several emails including him sending me a drawing of what he thought I wanted from my description, after a couple changes, and another drawing, it was exactly what I wanted (41-205-SWC version 2).
214286
I told him on 1/25 to "go ahead" on a 5 cav alum mold. I received a paypal payment invoice on 1/26 and promptly paid it ($95 plus shipping). I thought the price would have been higher, due to added time for the two drawings. The invoice also said to allow approximately 2 weeks for delivery.
about 2 weeks later, a shipping notification email arrived :guntootsmiley:
The Mold arrived yesterday, Happy Valentines day to me [smilie=l:
The mold looks beautiful ...the look, feel, and quality is as good as I've seen from the other popular mold makers. In a word, "Excellent".
I proceeded to fire up the Lead furnace with 15lb of 50-50 (COWW-soft scrap lead). I cleaned the mold with hot water, dish soap, and a toothbrush as I usually do with a new mold. I preheated the mold and started casting. I started with the alloy hotter that I usually would (710ºF). I had some wrinkling and fillout issues with the first several pours. I adjusted the temp up and down...tried a few different things until I found the sweet spot which was after a 100+ boolits (about 20 pours), then they were dropping in a excellent fashion. 201gr and .413 on both sides.
214277
214279
Right after the successful casting session, I assembled 3 dummy rounds (seated to Crimp groove, COAL 1.642) and cycled "the set of three dummy rds" a few times each through both my Marlin 1894s and my Henry Big Boy steel. I was extremely happy how they cycled in both guns. Of course, actual live fire at the range will tell the real story.
Great custom mold at a great price. Great conversation with Jared. Great boolits.