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Thread: Making Bullet Mold Handles

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Reverend Recoil's Avatar
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    Making Bullet Mold Handles

    I needed another set of bullet mold handles for a Lyman mold. None were in stock at any of the Internet shooting suppliers. Mold handles are similar to blacksmith tongs. Since I make my own tongs, I decided to try the same technique for bullet mold handles.
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    Start with two pieces of Ό”x1” flat bar 3 ½” long and 5/16” round bar 1 7/16” long.
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    Draw out the jaws.
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    Handle parts heating in the propane forge.
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    Draw out the handle reins.
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    Hot punch and drift the 5/16” rivet hole in the boss of each half.
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    Set the 5/16” rivet and adjust jaw off set and spacing. For a Lyman mold the handle jaws must be Ύ” apart, parallel, and 5/16” thick. Mark the jaw screw holes with a transfer punch. Drill screw holes in the jaws. Make sure they fit the mold block
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    Assemble the handles with drilled 7/8” wood dowels, and a Lyman mold block. Finish with Minwax wipe on polyurethane and paste wax. The next set of mold handles I make will be better. I think I will start with 5/8” square bar instead of Ό” flat bar. That will make the jaw off-set a little easier.
    The hell with the shooting supply shortage. Now go cast a bucket full of bullets.
    Dwayne Vidrine
    Prairieville, LA
    DRB #2276 President's Hundred 2021

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    CastingFool's Avatar
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    Nice job!

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Outstanding.

    Robert

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Nice job building from scratch. I was lucky just got RCBS mold for 45-70 325 gr. Had old set of handles Lyman that wasn’t being used for many years. Too wide to fit belt sander took care of size thickness problem. Punched and drilled new holes for pins. Lined up perfect, will be pouring lead in the morning. After reading your post I may try building a set like you did from scratch.

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    Wow, very nice work.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
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    Very nice, it looks very labor intensive,

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy Reverend Recoil's Avatar
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    Thanks to all for the nice complements. I need to make another set of handles for a three-cavity Accurate mold. It will be something to do on a rainy day. Mold handles could be cut out and cold formed from 1/8" steel like Lee's handles on their two-cavity molds. Hand forging is more work but this case I think it makes a better final product.
    DRB #2276 President's Hundred 2021

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reverend Recoil View Post
    I needed another set of bullet mold handles for a Lyman mold. None were in stock at any of the Internet shooting suppliers. Mold handles are similar to blacksmith tongs. Since I make my own tongs, I decided to try the same technique for bullet mold handles.
    SNIP!!!
    Assemble the handles with drilled 7/8” wood dowels, and a Lyman mold block. Finish with Minwax wipe on polyurethane and paste wax. The next set of mold handles I make will be better. I think I will start with 5/8” square bar instead of Ό” flat bar. That will make the jaw off-set a little easier.
    The hell with the shooting supply shortage. Now go cast a bucket full of bullets.
    Dwayne Vidrine
    Prairieville, LA
    YES!!! That!

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    I think the only thing I would do differently would be to add a ferrel to the end of the wood to help prevent splitting.

    Robert

  10. #10
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
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    it is very good to see that some of the old black smith skills are still around

  11. #11
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    Very nice job! It takes a lot more expertise than 3D printing to do that.

  12. #12
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    Great job. I guess you had all the extra time to do make the handles because of the 2 to 5 inches of rain we are having every day preventing any outside work.
    There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide. Ayn Rand

  13. #13
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    I’ve made handles for some Lee mounds from re-bar. I just ground a flat on the re-bar and welded them to the handles. Found some nice wooden handles at a local Pawn shop that I attached to my makeshift handles. Worked for me.

  14. #14
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    SSGOldfart's Avatar
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    Nice work
    I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.
    Paralyzed Veterans of America

    Looking for a Hensly &Gibbs #258 any thing from a two cavity to a 10cavityI found a new one from a member here

  15. #15
    Boolit Bub
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    I clicked on this because I need to replace some of my wood handles, did not realize you meant the whole handle. Nice project.

  16. #16
    Boolit Bub
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    Thats awesome. Fantastic job Reverand. Big fan of forged in fire and was hunting for moulds and handles earlier in the day....nothing. Very jealous. Necessity is still the mother of invention and will probably forever be.
    This Doesn't Suck!

  17. #17
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    Dwayne, that's an awesome job. I'm impressed. I like fabricating things also. We could be neighbors. I'm in Prairieville too.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy Reverend Recoil's Avatar
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    high standard 40, thanks for the greeting. It's good to know of a local Boolit Master. This Saturday I will be shooting in the highpower rifle match at Palo Alto R&PC. Do you shoot High Standard pistols? I have an old High Standard Supermatic Citation and will be shooting it in a pistol EIC match at Carthage, TX next month.
    DRB #2276 President's Hundred 2021

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    I'm a handgun silhouette shooter. We conduct monthly matches at the sheriff's range. I have a High Standard Trophy. Shot some perfect scores with it, 40X40, thus my online name

  20. #20
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    Very nice to see someone with those skills.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check