Need .550" round ball mold

[LAGS]

I was having trouble finding a .550 mold for my TC .56 Renagade smooth bore.
And the accuracy was only Fair with a .535 RB.
So I opted to send the barrel to Bob Hoyt two weeks ago and have it bored and rifled to .610.
Then I will use a Lee .600 ball with .010 or .015 thick patch.
I had picked up the barrel and stock for next to nothing a few years back.
So I have wiggle room in the cost of what I invest in the additional work to the rifle.

[Michael J. Spangler]

My LGS has a Lyman 2 cavity which looks to be NOS

[RBak]

The T/C .550 ain't much to look at, but it is a good mould....should you ever luck into one.
And, they throw a true .550
The actual part number is 7355.
I have quite a few Muzzleloaders, but none of them is any more unforgiving and faithful than that old Renegade .56 smoothie, plus its super accurate with a round ball.
Shooting shot is a breeze too, with good constant patterns.
IIRC, the recommended load of shot is only 7/8oz, which is fine for "Skwerl" and small game, but mine truly shines with 1.25oz and has taken quite a few Grouse, Quail, and Chuckars.

[Buzzard II]

LAGS, Michael J. Spangler, RBak,
Thanks for your input! What patch thickness and brand are you using with the .530 and .550 molds? Thanks very much!
Bob

[Maven]

Buzzard II, Not any of the above, but I too have a Renegade SB and a .550" Lyman RB mold, which actually casts a .550" pure Pb ball. For the .550" RB, I use .010" (compressed) 100% cotton fabric I purchased at Joann Fabrics: It's a snug fit + I add a card stock OP wad (never had a burned out patch). While it never occurred to me to try the .530" RB, I do on occasion use a .535" RB with either a .018" or .021" patch. Accuracy, however, hasn't been as good with the smaller ball/tight patch combination.

Unfortunately, the .550" RB is somewhat of an odd duck, so you'll have to watch your favorite auction sites or post a WTB notice in the Swapping & Selling sub-forum. Btw, the old T/C molds, though aluminum, are excellent, but difficult to find in .550".

[Buzzard II]

Maven,
Thank you for the good info. I got the .550 mold from the gentleman I bought the barrel from. I almost passed it up. WOW, glad I bought it.
Bob

[LAGS]

I was using a .535 ball with a .015 Cotton patch.
I also used some 28 ga.
Shotgun wads for shooting shot , loaded over a felt wad.
The rifle was just too heavy for Wing Shooting.
And here in the desert , game doesn't sit where you can really get even semi aimed shots.
A running rabbit was hard to hit for me.

[Maven]

You're most welcome, Buzzard. Glad you found a .550" mold as well!

[RBak]

I was using a .535 ball with a .015 Cotton patch.
I also used some 28 ga.
Shotgun wads for shooting shot , loaded over a felt wad.
The rifle was just too heavy for Wing Shooting.
And here in the desert , game doesn't sit where you can really get even semi aimed shots.
A running rabbit was hard to hit for me.

Pretty much the same as LAGS....I did, back in the early days, end up with some .022 sail cloth which worked okay.
Still yet, nothing beats a good pure lead .550 with a .012 patch, hard to start (at least for me) but just as accurated as a rifled rifle out to 50 yds....can't say much about anything further than that.

[LAGS]

That was that smooth bores only downfall.
I wanted a Big Caliber that would reach out past 100 yards for Elk.
Our Forests aren't that thick here.
So a shot at 50 yards is not too often, and getting within 100 yards takes time.
Rifling the barrel to .61 cal. "MAY" give me a little more accuracy past 100 yards

[RBak]

I would like very much to hear more about this.
I know what you're thinking, I think, but I would still like to hear from you how this project goes.

[LAGS]

There is another member Edward that already has the same rifle up and running.
You may want to PM him if you are in a hurry for the information.
I was going to have my barrel bored and rifled to .62 and use a .61 RB.
But after talking to Bob Hoyt And Edward I decided to go with the .61 bore in 1:66 twist

[toot]

PM, sent.

[DukeInFlorida]

I have done some PM's back and forth with Toot. The long and the short of it is that since that original post was made, back in May of 2010 (almost 9 years ago!), I have secured a couple of 56 caliber round ball molds. One is a single cavity in brass that I got from a guy in England. You have to cut the sprue off those balls with a side cutter. I also got, in a MP-Molds group buy, a fourt cavity mold, with the sprue cutter plate. So, I now have the ability to make those round balls at will. Side note: Since the round ball molds are made by MP-Molds by using a standard ball type end mill, he doesn't need a massive qty for any group buys. Check directly with Miha if you need one.

[Buzzard II]

Duke In Florida,
Thanks for the good info! I have my molds, but I'm sure there are others needing them.

[4570cannon]

Duke, Just use .535 dia RB's, patch with heavy cotton denim or canvas material. I had a
TC Renegade in .54 that could shoot two in groups at fifty yards. My buddie bought the
Smooth bore .56 Renegade and patching with old tent canvas .025 thick with .535 RB's
would shoot the same. I would try the .530 RB as well, to see what your gun likes.
webfoot10

I have that same issue although I have enough 56 balls to carry me into the next millenium. However that being said.... I miked the balls I have and they are all 545 or 540's with either a 15 or a 20 thousands patch...which when added up is 560 The Tekoa Mountain balls I have left are all 540's with a 20 thousands dry patch. I spit patch those. The other brand ...is a 545 ball with a 15 thousands lubed patch. That's what I have, that's what i'll look for. I have a ton of 54 cal balls I need to melt into 56 cal.

[ogre]

Marty's Arms will sell you a .550 RB mold if that is what you want. I own one of their molds to make #2 buckshot and am very happy with it.

https://www.martysarms.com

[Geezer in NH]

Uh 10 year old post.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...eInFlorida-RIP

I miss him. May he be on the big range having fun.

[bedbugbilly]

Late to the dance here - a while ago I was looking for an odd size Rb mold - someone suggested Moose Molds - I didn't find the size I needed but they did list a bunch of RB molds they make - don't know what is on their menu now but you might check them just for curiosity sake.

Jim