Core molds

[abunaitoo]

Do they still make core molds????
I have a few Lyman and one Ideal.
I've looked on the web to see if they are still being made with no luck.

[rancher1913]

corbin makes them, btsniper makes them, and I believe noe makes them. your googlefu is very weak padowan

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I don't believe Lyman makes them anymore.
If you are searching for a price, In January, I sold a couple single cavity Iron Adjustable Core molds in S&S, they looked like they were made by Lyman, but didn't have any markings on them. one sold for $30, the other sold for $22. If you need more details/photos, Search for the thread in "Completed Deals".

[abunaitoo]

Thanks.
I am trying to find out what they sell for.
Saw one on evil bay.
Went for crazy money.

[Humbo]

There were two on ebay earlier this month, they sold for $30 and $36.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I got frustrated finding one at a decent price so I'm attempting to make one. Got a 2 cav mold blank to start with and a 0.185 reamer.

Anyone have any advice on how far down to drill? Should I just make it as long as possible and cut to weight or would it be reasonable to shoot for a 45 grain slug so they can go right into the jacket? I have no idea how deep to make the cavities.

[clodhopper]

Charts for calculating weight of cores are here. www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?276943-A-Little-Math-That-Will-HOPEFULLY-Be-Helpful
Post #8 is where Gitano helped a lot. You still have to do some math.

I have cut a few core molds on my mill. My best results are from placing a piece of paper between the mold blocks. The sticky notes handy are .003 thick so I call X center .6258*+ .0015 = .6273" from the edge of the block.

*measure your block, and spacer paper.

If you happen to be in driving distance, stop by. I will set it up you can click "cycle start"

[Super Sneaky Steve]

That's perfect Clodhopper! Not sure how good of a product I can make with my super cheap Chinese Harbor Freight drill press :razz:

[clodhopper]

You could drill holes ok, but if the holes are not centered on the parting line of the blocks the cores do not want to fall out.

Don't mount the blocks on the handles until after drilling the cavities. The fasteners are cleverly designed to not come back out without a struggle.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

So, what's the purpose of the paper? Wouldn't that slightly increase the volume of the cavity?

[clodhopper]

The paper gives .0015 fudge room on both sides of center. So if your hole is off center just a little bit, the casting will still fall out of the mold.

When you remove the paper the cavity is reduced in volume.

[Good Cheer]

What diameter does the Lyman 38 S core mold produce?
Anyone know off hand?

[Sasquatch-1]

If you are looking for yourself, I would just find a bullet mold that is smaller in diameter then I want and about the weight I need to get to the finished weight of the bullet I am making. If it is heavier, you can always bleed off excess weight. I then let the core forming and seating dies do the rest.

[ReloaderFred]

If you are looking for yourself, I would just find a bullet mold that is smaller in diameter then I want and about the weight I need to get to the finished weight of the bullet I am making. If it is heavier, you can always bleed off excess weight. I then let the core forming and seating dies do the rest.

That's pretty much what I've been doing, too. I use .32 caliber bullets for cores for .357" bullets, .357" bullets of various weights for cores for .400", .410" and .429" diameter bullets. A .400" bullet works for a core for .452" diameter bullets. All are cast from lead that measures Bhn 6.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Ajax111]

Both Corbin's make them. I have one from each, one has longer handles than the other.

[Ajax111]

I will add the core molds I have from Corbin are pretty tall. They don't fit under some of my melters very well.
Corbin recommend a ladle pour and mine are bottom pour models. I have fire brick under the legs, with a homemade rail to slide the molds in and out.

[deltaenterprizes]

I have a warped 10 cavity H&G #50 mold that i am considering making into a core mold for larger caliber bullets.
It is a shame to do it but I don't think it can be rehabilitated to produce good quality boolits.

[SSG_Reloader]

Double post sorry.

[SSG_Reloader]

The paper gives .0015 fudge room on both sides of center. So if your hole is off center just a little bit, the casting will still fall out of the mold.

When you remove the paper the cavity is reduced in volume.

This is genius. My first one I ever tried was definitely off on a couple cavities and wouldnt drop those cores.

[Markopolo]

There were two on ebay earlier this month, they sold for $30 and $36.
I bought one of these…

[Ajax111]

For the .452 boolit, if you are making the core. What grain do you make in the .400 mold.

[pertnear]

I bought mine from RCE for $119+ship
301055

[Ajax111]

The guys are implying they make the cores out of a bullet mold.
Not a core mold. I'm just trying to find out which bullets molds are being used.
I have a 175 grain 40 cal mold and it won't fill out my 452 Corbin jacket.

Like I said, I'm really new at this. Trying to gain some knowledge.

[Sasquatch-1]

The guys are implying they make the cores out of a bullet mold.
Not a core mold. I'm just trying to find out which bullets molds are being used.
I have a 175 grain 40 cal mold and it won't fill out my 452 Corbin jacket.

Like I said, I'm really new at this. Trying to gain some knowledge.

I would suggest you weigh a few of the jackets and then decide what weight bullet you want. After you have done this look for a mold that will bring you a little over your target weight. Your core forming die should be able to bleed of excess lead to bring you to your finished weight.

I use a 30 cal rifle bullet for my core. I don't remember off hand which one. But I am also using 40 S&W brass as jackets. I trim about an eighth of an inch off the brass. With this combination I can easily reach 240 to 300 grain finished bullets.

[Ajax111]

Thank you Sasquatch, that sheds some light on the process.

[KAYDADOG]

As Sasquatch-1 said your jacket being used is going to determine what core weight you're going to need. You'll probably never get one exactly the right weight even cutting core wire.

To do the process correctly you're going to need a core swaging die to get the weight within several tenths of a grain or better. This die would be included in a three or four die set depending on who you are buying them from, and the caliber being made.

If your new to swaging read everything on Corbin's site and when your done read it again.
There is a lot involved in this hobby and will be expensive if you do it the right way.

[ReloaderFred]

The guys are implying they make the cores out of a bullet mold.
Not a core mold. I'm just trying to find out which bullets molds are being used.
I have a 175 grain 40 cal mold and it won't fill out my 452 Corbin jacket.

Like I said, I'm really new at this. Trying to gain some knowledge.

Does this help?

https://i.imgur.com/mXaQI9m.jpg

[ReloaderFred]

The guys are implying they make the cores out of a bullet mold.
Not a core mold. I'm just trying to find out which bullets molds are being used.
I have a 175 grain 40 cal mold and it won't fill out my 452 Corbin jacket.

Like I said, I'm really new at this. Trying to gain some knowledge.

Here's another view that might help:

https://i.imgur.com/hG1xuKA.jpg

[ReloaderFred]

This is using cartridge cases for jackets, but it's the same principal as using commercial jackets. Match the core to the jacket for the finished weight of the bullet you desire.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Ajax111]

Yes, this all helps. I have been reading Corbins site, but still have lot to read.
I'm starting to wrap my feeble mind around some of the things.

Again, thanks to all that responded. Thanks for the pictures!

[Quinnbrian]

I cast 9mm and Squish them into 38....works great and I don't have to buy a core mold, the 9mm mold is a 147 .

[Cane_man]

i just use bullet molds with the diameter and weight I need to make cores using dead soft lead, for my .308/150gr swaged the cores are cast from an 80gr .243 mold