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Thread: So Much for using 2 molds.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

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    So Much for using 2 molds.

    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.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master redhawk0's Avatar
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    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.

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  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    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.
    Maineboy

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Oh yeah. I'm so clever I've outsmarted myself more than once...
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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master
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    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.
    Don Verna


  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

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    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.

  7. #7
    Moderator Emeritus / Trusted loob groove dealer

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    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!
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
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  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master

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

  9. #9
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    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.

  10. #10
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    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...

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by waksupi View Post
    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 !

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

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    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.
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  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by pworley1 View Post
    It is no problem to separate them as I take them out of the sizer.
    ^^this^^
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  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    one thing at a time is how I try to get though tasks.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
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    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.
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  16. #16
    Boolit Master


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    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.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master schutzen-jager's Avatar
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    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 -
    never pick a fight with an old man - if he is too old to fight he will just kill you -
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  18. #18
    Boolit Master deces's Avatar
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  19. #19
    Boolit Master


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    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.
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  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    I found it hard to mix up .308-150gr and .429-214gr boolets.
    Spell check doesn't work in Chrome, so if something is spelled wrong, it's just a typo that I missed.

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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