Bullet Mold Dimensions

[bgavin]

Hello,

I shoot cowboy action.
Is there a source to find drawing dimensions of various bullets?

I'm particularly interested in the bullet length and seating depth for 38 Special and 44 Special.

[Outpost75]

Tom at Accurate Molds posts toleranced drawing for all of their designs on their web site.

The bullets I use in .38 Special and .44 Special which provide correct overall cartridge length for reliable feeding in lever action rifles are:

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-142H-D.png

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-210D-D.png

[gwpercle]

NOE Moulds has dimensioned drawings of their moulds .

Gary

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

bgavin,
Welcome to the forum.

Most mold makers provide a boolit drawing.
If you are buying projectiles, I would think most sellers could provide a drawing or samples.

[bgavin]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm a simple CAS shooter, not a long-ranger.
Proper seated depth is a critical dimension needed by Quickload when experimenting with potential loads.
I have found a few drawings here and there, but find it hard to locate some of the Lyman standard mold types.
I contacted a few of the cowboy bullet loaders with this query, and get sort of a blank look.

The Hodgdon and other loading guides mention "LRNFP" which is generic.
I have no clue as to who's bullet they used for their tests, the seated depth, etc, etc.
I contacted them and was told they all interchange so any LRNFP of the same grain weight can be used.

I'm loading 38SP and soon 44SP, in old model Vaqueros.
OAL is more critical in my Marlin 1894CB than my revolvers.

[Tom Myers]

NOE Moulds has dimensioned drawings of their moulds .

Gary

Yep, and nice ones too.

Click here for the list (https://noebulletmolds.com/site/bullet-dimensions2/432-2)

[tazman]

Here is a link to the dimensions of Lee boolits
https://leeprecision.com/files/instruct/CastBulletLength.pdf

[onelight]

Thanks Tazman , handy chart

[45-70 Chevroner]

I shot Cowboy action for a number of years. I used several different home cast boolits mostly 38 special, and 45 Colt and as long as I loaded them to the suggested OAL in the loading manual I never had a jam. We can sometimes over think the loading process and or the type of boolit style. My favorite molds were a 6 cavity round nose Lee tumble lube bullet mold for both calibers, I could make piles of boolits in short order. At the distances you will be shooting most any cast boolits will do. My 38's were a 150 gr. and the 45 was a 230 gr. Good luck.

[Conditor22]

Any seating depth you find will only be a suggestion for your gun. For best accuracy, you need to see what your gun likes best.