Can a mold be modified ?

[Ftsac1]

IF you have a 1 RCBS bullet mould #82153, 309-200-SIL, 2 cavity, mould specs: .310 base, .297 nose, base pour. and you'd like to reduce by 30 gr ... How would this be done ? Could it be done ? Or would it be better to just offer this mold up for a trade.
Thanks

[jlchucker]

Why not just buy a new mold that throws a bullet something like what you want? I would think that this way, you could always go back to the RCBS bullet if your new mold didn't live up to expectations. On the other hand, if the new mold fit your needs, it would probably be easier to sell off the RCBS mold to someone who reads these websites and wants an RCBS 309-200 SIL. I think you'd cover all of your bases this way.

[shotman]

ditto --ditto

[deltaenterprizes]

It can be milled across the top to reduce the weight, I have done it before. Take a file and make a pass on the base ansd weigh it,take a pass with a file weigh it. When it gets to the desired weight measure the length and subtract it from the original length, that is how much needs to be milled off.
You can also just change your alloy to have less lead and more tin.

[RayinNH]

If you take too much off you lose the gas check shank...Ray

[HeavyMetal]

Your orginal post suggests you want to reduce the boolit weight by 30 grains. Meaning you are looking for a 170 grain boolit mold.

You can play with alloy but I don't think you'll get more than a 10 grain difference in weight.

You can mill the top of the mold, thus shortening the length of the boolit, and get your 30 grain reduction. However, as already pointed out, you will lose the gas check shank and, more importantly, reduce the resale value of the mold.

I'm going to suggest you put this mold up and save it for the future! To save some money while you experiment I will suggest you look at several of the Lee rifle molds.

C309-170-F, C309-180-R, C312-155-2R, and possibly the C312-185-1R. The last two are for the 7.62x39 and the 303 Brit. Nice part of these molds is you can play with sizing diameters more than the 309 molds also the 185-1R has a long gas check shank on it and reducing weight here won't hurt the shank or waste an expensive mold.

Experimenting is cool, Experimenting on the cheap......priceless!

[dubber123]

Having Buckshot here on the forum hollowpoint it would take off all the weight you need easily.

[Wayne Smith]

Or find an NEI design you like. They will shorten any mold by as many drive bands as you want.