So Much for using 2 molds.

[LenH]

I cast 2 piles of bullets the last 2 Saturdays. I was casting 2 different .45 molds. One from an 8 cavity H & G S242 and a Lee 6 cavity .45 190 SWC.
I had 2 towel lined cake pans sitting next to each other and was alternating the 2 molds. I got thing set up to size size the bullets. That is when I realised
that I got the pans mixed up while casting. The Lee mold has 2 lube grooves and the H&g has a single deeper lube grove.

Needless to say I had to sort through both plies and sort. by the time I got finished with that I had lost interest in sizing and lubing. Getting old is starting to stink
and getting mixed up stinks even more. The thing is that H&G weighs a ton more than the Lee and I should have been able to keep them separated
but I was just going to town casting.

I think I'll just to stick with one mold from now on, especially with 6 or 8 cavity molds.:smile:

[redhawk0]

Hahaha....I've done that...I cast Lee 358-200s and Lyman 311041 at the same time. They look very similar but obviously one is larger diameter. I just dumped them all in the same tray as well....figured I'd easily sort them out. It took forever to sort several hundred of each. I'll be doing vastly different boolit designs from here on out when running multiple molds. But then again...it is a good mental game...and I have time to kill most days.

[Maineboy]

I cast with two most of the time and drop the boolits in the same place. I use different caliber molds (eg. 30 and 35) when I do that so sorting them is a breeze.

[JSnover]

Oh yeah. I'm so clever I've outsmarted myself more than once...

[dverna]

When I had an H&G 10 cavity there was no way to keep up with it. I used a damp cloth to freeze off the sprue so I could cast quickly. IIRC, it would produce about 1000 bullets an hour.

I think you will be happier using one mold at a time and do not believe you will lose much procducivity.

BTW, I am old too and have learned that KISS is what works best for me.

[country gent]

Set a small bar over the pans and rest each mould on the top if its pan. This way the open pan will be the one to drop into.

[waksupi]

I did a worse bullet mix a couple years ago. I was casting round balls, .595, and .600. I spent a lot of time with a micrometer sorting them!

[lightman]

I've tried casting with 2 molds and found that it worked me harder than I liked! Its easier if the molds are similar.

[metricmonkeywrench]

I toy with 2 moulds with my single cavities doing bullets for pistol, generally they are different bullet types and all get dropped in the same towel lined pan. I find that it gives me time to load the next mould and then grab the "set" one chop the sprue and refill and repeat. It seems to keep the moulds from overheating in my neck of the woods. I never seem to cast more than 100-200 at a sitting when I do this. Multiple cavity moulds are used by themselves, i tried once with a pair of 2 cavities and didn't like the results.

Sorting and culling happens at the same time with the pile dumped on the bench and the "passed" bullets making their way into the storage container. If I do it weighing for tolerance (+/- XXg) happens prior to sizing depending on the intended use. Loads intended for the chrono are held to a closer weight tolerance than general plinkers.

[ShooterAZ]

Yeah, I had some mix-ups when attempting to cast similar looking 41 and 44 caliber boolits with two molds. I tried to drop them separately, but some still got mixed up. I then went to two pans to drop them in, and I still got some in the wrong pans. My sizer usually lets me know if I don't catch it when sorting. I usually just cast with one mold these days...

[Finster101]

i did a worse bullet mix a couple years ago. I was casting round balls, .595, and .600. I spent a lot of time with a micrometer sorting them!


ouch !

[pworley1]

I usually cast with two molds at the same time so neither one gets to hot. If they will both be used in the same caliber, I will usually just put them in the same container. It is no problem to separate them as I take them out of the sizer.

[Winger Ed.]

It is no problem to separate them as I take them out of the sizer.

^^this^^

[farmbif]

one thing at a time is how I try to get though tasks.

[OS OK]

Don't give up on casting 2 moulds. Even if you want to cast both .45 cal's...use different profiles like a SWC & RN or whatever.

[deltaenterprizes]

If I have a particular boolit design that a 4 cavity mold is not available for and I can find two 2 cavity molds I will use both of them at the same time to get a large pile of boolits quickly.

[schutzen-jager]

i also cast with two molds most of the time, but i never again will do 150 gr. .38 + 125 gr. 9mm together - both with single lube grooves - grandson proved that his young eyes are superior to my old ones -

[deces]

https://youtu.be/WjvsYi2DkOs

[Walks]

Don't give up on two molds.

I cast from 2 or even 3cav molds if it's a 1cav mold. I use 2 Different calibers; 9mm & .44 or .38 & .45, casting from 3 2cav molds will get you a whole lots bullets in a short time. Especially if you cast like a speed demon. I like to use molds of the same block size too. I get more consistent weights that way.

My old Lyman Mag-20 mold guide fit the Lyman 4cav & RCBS 2cav molds. They have same width & height.

[ulav8r]

I found it hard to mix up .308-150gr and .429-214gr boolets.

[stubshaft]

I usually cast with two molds as I cast fast and need the time to insure that the bullets freeze fully.

[GregLaROCHE]

Been there. Done that.

[BrassMagnet]

I cast with many moulds at a time.
I set up a large cookie sheet with the wide side toward me. I cover it with two or three dish towels oriented the same direction.
Then I take more dish towels, fold them in half lengthwise and roll up one end until they are just a little longer than the pan width. I put the roll pointed down and on the far side from me. I spread the partially rolled dish towels across the pan.
The first towels in the pan are to cushion the fall of Boolits from the mould as they are still hot enough to be damaged.
I do the rolled towel so I can drop Boolits in an empty, soft area. I use the end of the towel toward me to "roll the Boolits back to the rear of the towel." When I have too many to drop them in a clean area, I use that whole towel to pick them up and pour them in a box.
I keep my unused moulds on a hot plate to warm up and stay warm. No lead in moulds on the hot plate. Moulds should be same metal, same dimensions, and similar Boolits weights.
When mould one is cold I cast with just it. When Mould one warms up I set it on its towel and start with mould two. I cast One, Two, Two until two is warm also. then I add mould three and cast One, Three, Two, Three until three is warm. Add moulds until sprues harden and Boolits do not frost.
The towel without a mould is the one to drop on.

[Thin Man]

Once a long time ago I tried the 2-mold system and soon realized this was to be my only time doing this. Sometimes I wondered, other times I didn't know, and in between I got confused. Back now to one at a time and enjoy the session.

[gwpercle]

" A man has to know his limitations" ... once you figure out that you don't like inspecting each boolit ... and tend to not pay attention to which pan holds what design ... Then casting with one mould should take care of the problem ...
But whatever you do , don't stop casting ... You got to Keep On Keeping On .
Don't let this Age Thing get you down !
Gary

[LenH]

" A man has to know his limitations" ... once you figure out that you don't like inspecting each boolit ... and tend to not pay attention to which pan holds what design ... Then casting with one mould should take care of the problem ...
But whatever you do , don't stop casting ... You got to Keep On Keeping On .
Don't let this Age Thing get you down !
Gary

Never Gary, Never. Trying to kill 2 birds with one stone. The H & G is a beast and I usually cast 2 pots worth and then I'm done for the day.
But that pile of bullets is a great one.

[Rich/WIS]

Tried it with two Lyman 452460 SWC molds, no sorting but found that there was a 5 grain difference between the molds. Said to hell with this and bought a Lee 6 cavity.