Hensley & Gibbs #50 Two Cavity Hollow Point Conversion

[Texasflyboy]

Another hollow point conversion by Erik Ohlen. The original mould was a damaged two cavity #50 that I had picked up years ago. The top of the mould block under the sprue plate exhibited rough handling and had several nicks in the mould base area. I asked Erik to clean up the base and convert the mould to a Cramer style two cavity hollow point design. I asked for two sets of pins, one with a very deep conventional round hollowpoint, which creates an approximate 115 grain wide mouth hollowpoint, *or* a "poor-mans" hollow base wadcutter, depending on the orientation of the loaded projectile.

The other set of pins was a 5 point star, a homage to either Mopar fans or the Texas star (my old home state).

The mould works perfectly. The conversion cost $145 total. 90 for the Cramer conversion, $15 for the repair, and $40 for a spare set of pins. For this post I mixed and matched the pins. I like the 5 pointed star hollow-points, but I think most of my testing will center around the big round hollow point. I want to see if I can gain a tangible improvement in my groups by using these as hollow base wadcutters.

Here are the photos:

http://i37.tinypic.com/2prs3k7.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/2guwrhk.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/6gxve0.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/2ljq9ec.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/21bkfa9.jpg

[Ben]

Can't beat Erik's work. I have many molds in my mold cabinet that Erik has HP'd for me also.

Ben

[Echo]

Man, that looks great! Let us know the results...

[MtGun44]

Those look really impressive.

Erik has done a couple of molds for me, excellent work and I really love
the speed of casting with Cramer HP designs.

Bill

[Texasflyboy]

The targets from both bullets shot on 11/02/2010:


http://hgmould.gunloads.com/a/50.jpg



http://hgmould.gunloads.com/a/50_2.jpg


...and for comparison my standard reference load in .38 Special. A plain base Hensley & Gibbs #50 wadcutter loaded with 3.5 grains of Bullseye, W-W Brass Wadcutter cases, small pistol primer, loaded as cast with Lee Liquid Alox. Loaded on a Dillon 550B with a light crimp. Range 10 yards, standing, same weapon.


http://hgmould.gunloads.com/a/50_3.jpg


Same load as above, range reduced to seven (7) yards, slow double action fire, 12 shots:

http://hgmould.gunloads.com/a/50_4.jpg

[Glen]

That might just be the perfect .38 snubbie bullet.....light enough to go fast, big enough cavity to expand, not likely to ricochet and go a long ways....good stuff!

[Rangefinder]

I want to see if I can gain a tangible improvement in my groups...

I'd have to call that one "Mission Accomplished". Very nice all the way around.