Poll: Best mould material

[Catshooter]

So which do ya favor? Why?


Cat

[Heavy lead]

Iron, in my short casting career, I just seem to get more consistancy from iron. I have aluminum and like it I think I need more practice with the Lee 6 bangers though, seems like I can make just as many keepers with a Lyman 4 banger. This new brass mould shows promise though, may have to order a mountain mould in brass to try another.

[Bent Ramrod]

Brass. Holds heat more like iron, resists rust more like aluminum. Haven't had a lot of experience with brass moulds but those I've worked with seem to have all the advantages.

I thought I checked the "brass" button; will try again.

[Bret4207]

I like the idea of Nickle or Bronze or another non-rusting material that is free machining, wear resistant and harder than Aluminum. For now, I guess I like iron and aluminum about the same. The NEI grade of aluminum I like much better than Lees.

[bullshot]

I like iron also. Seems like my casting tempo agrees more with iron. I do use aluminum and they work fine but-but -but I like iron. Never used brass so I can't comment.

[44man]

I make good boolits with anything. I just hate the soft aluminum Lee uses because they take more care to prevent damage.

[dromia]

I voted for brass but I like iron too. Over half my moulds are aluminium though and they cast OK, I just find iron and brass less fickle.

If I had a choice of the same mould in all three then it would be brass, iron and then aluminium with Lee's aluminium last of all.

I have NEI and LBT moulds that are fine pieces of work.

[runfiverun]

i have mostly iron molds and like brett would like to try a nickel composite.
i do have a couple of aluminum molds which i really like,but no lee's.

[monadnock#5]

I haven't tried brass, although I'd like to at some point. I prefer iron to aluminum. Iron seems less fussy and easier to decontaminate. I have 2 Lyman 452374's, one purchased new and the other from ebay. The ebay mould came to me with light surface rust in the cavities, and casts like a dream. It drops beautiful boolits faster and easier than any other mould I own.

[1z-bar]

My first mold was a Lee's aluminium mold. It didn't take long to wear it out. I've stuck with steel since then. I did have one brass mold {round ball} it worked good, but I didn't have much use for it so I sold it. To bad they don't make them out of stainless steel!!!

[10-x]

Make mine Iron, all my molds are iron, RCBS & LYMAN. The brass molds I have are 18th -19th century Colt molds and I have not cast with them.

[JeffinNZ]

Brass all the way. Jim at CBE has it sorted.

[seagiant]

Hi,
Even though I use Lee six-bangers and have a nice aluminum NEI mold, I had to vote iron because it is easier to use to me. The RCBS mold being the best quality to money spent to me!

[Dale53]

When it comes to mould material quality - the best moulds I have ever used have been the H&G (iron) moulds. So, I voted iron.

However, by far the best value in moulds has to be the Lee Six Cavity moulds if the bullet design available is of your liking.

I have bullet moulds from all of the major manufacturers. I even have several custom moulds (Borton/Darr, LBT and at least one other I cannot recall the name of). The custom moulds cast wonderful bullets and the Borton/Darr is arguably the best. However, it is a single cavity mould and was made for a particularly accurate match rifle. For pistols and revolvers I HAVE to have a multi-cavity mould. NEI makes some great moulds as does LBT (both are in aluminum in my four cavity versions).

The bottom line is a good bullet caster can get excellent results from any material out there. If you are careful with tools and lube them properly all of them should last a couple of lifetimes.

If money is no object (keeping in mind that I have 65-70 moulds) then, of course, an H&G (now Ballisti-Cast) is my first choice. However, money is ALWAYS a factor for most of us and that colors this discussion (as it must unless we happen to be independently wealthy).

FWIW
Dale53

[Cap'n Morgan]

I prefer 18 carat gold!

[GLL]

Captain:

BEAUTIFUL work !

Jerry

[Heavy lead]

I second that Cpt. Morgan. Too nice to pour lead into, a work of art.

[Catshooter]

Lovely Cap'n. I take it you built that fine looking tool?


Cat

[jim smith]

Saeco cast iron moulds are the greatest. Brass moulds are nice too. jim

[deltaenterprizes]

Saeco cast iron moulds are the greatest. Brass moulds are nice too. jim

I used Magma,SAECO,Lyman, H&G and RCBS molds on my automatic casting machines and like the SAECO the best.