.44 6 cavity Mold hunt

[gwocni]

Hi Guy's,
Just new here and am hoping to get some info on a 6 cavity mold for my 44 Marlin. I would like a .429 240gr RF if possible but can come up with everything but this... Doh!!

I wondered if someone could point me in the right direction.

Thanks
David.

[Grmps]

gwocni- welcome to CB. If you decided to start casting to save money, forget it. You won't, you'll just shoot more.

Lee makes a 429-240-2R and a 430, TL 240-SWC, both are good for a decent price. For RF you'll have to go lighter or heavier:(
https://leeprecision.com/bullet-casting/hand-gun-bullet-molds/

https://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index.php?topic=1144.0

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=37_418

Casting boolits (lead bullets) properly is a science, once you know the basics, not a hard science.
There is a lot of good information on CB. The Google search (top right of every forum page) is a gateway to all the knowledge on this forum. IF you can’t find your answer there ask the question (Please be as detailed as possible, pictures help http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?344661-Capturing-amp-Posting-screen-shots I would be very surprised if there wasn’t someone on this forum that could answer ANY (firearm related) question you might have)
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm
1. Boolits need to be cast .0005 to .003 (normally .002) over the slugged diameter of your barrel for accuracy and to avoid leading. If the fit is wrong nothing else will work right.
a. slugging a barrel (it is safer to use a brass rod or a steel rod with a couple of coats of tape to avoid damaging your barrel http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm
b. chamber casting https://www.brownells.com/guntech/cerrosafe/detail.htm?lid=10614
or pound casting http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356251-Pound-Cast-instructions-(for-rifle-chamber)
2. the right alloy needs to be used for the velocity and purpose of the boolit (don’t fall into the trap of going with too hard an alloy
https://i.imgur.com/FD4XW69.png
Economical way to easily test lead hardness
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?355056-Easier-pencil-lead-hardness-testing
https://i.imgur.com/TrOTWFb.png
Some alloys harden over time
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_3_alloySelectionMetallurgy.ht m
different alloy’s different end hardnesses
https://i.imgur.com/O8uvZ8i.png
https://i.imgur.com/MHPjxfp.png
Lead alloy calculator
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45784&d=1341560870
3. velocity the bullet needs to be pushed hard/fast enough to get the proper spin, have the proper velocity to accurately reach the target but not so hard as to be dangerous or strip the lead off in the grooves instead of spinning the boolit..
The boolit needs to be the right weight for the riffling/twist rate of your barrel
Powders range from fast to slow, you need to choose the right powder for your barrel length & application.
Loading manuals list the best powders for certain calibers and boolit weights.
NEVER use any posted noncommercial load data without first checking commercial load data to see if falls in the safe parameter for your firearm!! There are several firearms out there that can handle much higher pressures than others!!
Link to free online load data
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?337910-CB-load-data-online-sources

[gwocni]

gwocni- welcome to CB. If you decided to start casting to save money, forget it. You won't, you'll just shoot more.

Totally agree, and I am. I need the RF for my Marlin as they shoot very well. Lyman did a six cavity in brass I think under the 429667 part number but it seems to be discontinued. I didn't want to change to SWC which doesn't seem to have the accuracy that RF has but I may have to change anyway :killingpc

[Grmps]

There are many other mold companies out there. I haven't had a need to purchase from them. Maybe someone else will weigh in on MiHec or some of the others. Give it some time and some more research before you throw in the towel :)

[gwocni]

Thanks Grmps :)

[2011redrider]

Both NOE and arsenal have molds, arsenal has a 240 and NOE has a 230. Both are listed at 432 diameter, arsenal says they can modify the mold.

[Petander]

It's also very easy to do international business with NOE.

[gwocni]

Thanks for the comments Guys, I think I have found what I need... A 5 cavity 432-240 with Arsenal Molds and they say that I can specify 429 if I wish... Result!!

[skeet1]

I know that you said you were looking for a 240 gr rf but I just wanted to mention that I have had very good luck with the old Ranch Dog 265 gr. rf. This bullet is ideal in my Model 1894 Marlin .44 mag Cowboy Limited. NOE makes a mold that I think is inspired by the Ranch Dog. You might consider it. This bullet is a tumble lube design but I run mine through my lubrisizer and size to .431 and it lubes and seat the gas check beautifully. You can also get a plain base design.

[gwocni]

Thanks Skeet, I will look into that too. It may be that I need two different types of mould :guntootsmiley:

[gwpercle]

Thanks for the comments Guys, I think I have found what I need... A 5 cavity 432-240 with Arsenal Molds and they say that I can specify 429 if I wish... Result!!

Get the mould a little larger , throat / bore diameter +0.01 or 0.02 , Marlin's with Micro-Groove rifling may require a larger boolit....you can size them down but making them larger is tough.
See what some of the other Marlin shooter's use (I've got a Winchester ) or ask the mould maker his advice. Slug your bore and still seek advice.
In the post above you will see the NOE mould is .432.....there's a reason for that ! .429 may be too small and if so will lead...you wont be happy .
Gary

[Walks]

I have the N.O.E. TL-432-243-RF, I bought a 4cav but 5cav is available. It is accurate as you could want. I've tried it in an old BROWNING 92, a mid-80's WINCHESTER 94-20" bbl, a early 2000's WINCHESTER 94 Trapper, an old pre-safety MARLIN 1894 and a MARLIN 1894CB 24" bbl.
Every Rifle shot that Bullet extremely well. It's also been used in RUGER SA & DA .44Mags, S&W M29 & M624 plus various COLT SAA's & Clones in .44Spl's.

I Really Recommend this Bullet.

[gwocni]

Get the mould a little larger , throat / bore diameter +0.01 or 0.02 , Marlin's with Micro-Groove rifling may require a larger boolit....you can size them down but making them larger is tough.
See what some of the other Marlin shooter's use (I've got a Winchester ) or ask the mould maker his advice. Slug your bore and still seek advice.
In the post above you will see the NOE mould is .432.....there's a reason for that ! .429 may be too small and if so will lead...you wont be happy .
Gary

Yep, sorry, I did realise that it had to be 432 to get 429 after I posted. Doh!!

[gwocni]

I have the N.O.E. TL-432-243-RF, I bought a 4cav but 5cav is available. It is accurate as you could want. I've tried it in an old BROWNING 92, a mid-80's WINCHESTER 94-20" bbl, a early 2000's WINCHESTER 94 Trapper, an old pre-safety MARLIN 1894 and a MARLIN 1894CB 24" bbl.
Every Rifle shot that Bullet extremely well. It's also been used in RUGER SA & DA .44Mags, S&W M29 & M624 plus various COLT SAA's & Clones in .44Spl's.

I Really Recommend this Bullet.

Thanks Walks :)

[knifemaker]

The Marlin 44 mag. I used to have was not very accurate with cast lead sized to .429 or even .430. I had to size to .432 before I was able to get decent accuracy. Most Marlins in 44 mag have larger groove dia. then .429. slug you barrel and I bet it will have a .431 groove dia. maybe even .432.

[gwocni]

The Marlin 44 mag. I used to have was not very accurate with cast lead sized to .429 or even .430. I had to size to .432 before I was able to get decent accuracy. Most Marlins in 44 mag have larger groove dia. then .429. slug you barrel and I bet it will have a .431 groove dia. maybe even .432.

Mine is deadly accurate with .429:guntootsmiley: