oldhenry
08-05-2019, 07:25 PM
I recently acquired my 1st. brass mold through a group buy: the MP 359 Hammer. Fortunately Curioushooter started a thread under "Casting & Reloading"and through the many responses I was able get my tail gate casting equipment assembled early this morning (before the heat wave) and produce some decent boolits. That MP mold is so nice that I found myself being very picky & returned some shootable boolits to the pot...…...I just wanted the nice ones.
I made the right choice going with the 2 cav. for the weight factor. In less than a week I'll be 80 & my hand strength is not what I was when I was 75. I used MP handles and anyone that has them knows what a fine product it is. I would rest the poured mold momentarily against the wood on which the elevated furnace is mounted & rest it on the padded surface that I drop boolits on while I opened the mold & tapped the boolits free. I found myself wanting a shorter handle. The MP handle positions the mold so far out that it was a lever system with a disadvantage.
I happened to have a fairly new Lee handle that had experienced an unexplainable failure (see photo). I know that I could call Lee & they would send me another, but I'd have the expense & trouble of sending them the failed unit. This lee turned out to be the donor for a set-up that puts the mold closer to my hand (the weight of the mold is no longer like a divining rod).
The photos are self explaining. You'll note that the end result is only a 1.5" reduction in OAL, but the hinge point is nearer the hand giving the feel of a 2" reduction. Any advantage is welcomed.
Henry
I made the right choice going with the 2 cav. for the weight factor. In less than a week I'll be 80 & my hand strength is not what I was when I was 75. I used MP handles and anyone that has them knows what a fine product it is. I would rest the poured mold momentarily against the wood on which the elevated furnace is mounted & rest it on the padded surface that I drop boolits on while I opened the mold & tapped the boolits free. I found myself wanting a shorter handle. The MP handle positions the mold so far out that it was a lever system with a disadvantage.
I happened to have a fairly new Lee handle that had experienced an unexplainable failure (see photo). I know that I could call Lee & they would send me another, but I'd have the expense & trouble of sending them the failed unit. This lee turned out to be the donor for a set-up that puts the mold closer to my hand (the weight of the mold is no longer like a divining rod).
The photos are self explaining. You'll note that the end result is only a 1.5" reduction in OAL, but the hinge point is nearer the hand giving the feel of a 2" reduction. Any advantage is welcomed.
Henry