Anyone ever see copper boolit bands?

[mikenbarb]

Thanks Garandsrus. Im definatly gonna give them a try as soon as I can find the right material.

[garandsrus]

Mike,

I am intrigued by the Wilk Gas Check also. The correct material is just a gas check with a hole punched/drilled out of the center

John

[Lucky Joe]

I see I am not the only one interested in the Wilk way. Thanks John, more for the electric library.

[TAWILDCATT]

that idea has whiskers on it.after awhile you will get tired of loading the copper bands as it does not do that much good.

[docone31]

Reading the article, and the posts, I got up from the easy chair picked up a gas check, opened my mold and just placed it in it.
Hoh Boy! I can just see that while the mold is hot!
I would have to have a mold modified and keep it as a designated mold to do that.
It looks like it makes sense.
Meantime, I will stick to paper patching.
So far, waaaay simpler.
It is an alternative for down the road however.
Really looks intersting.

[mikenbarb]

Im on my way to get a hole punch and start knocking some GC centers out. Will let you know how I make out after I get some down range thru paper and over the chrony. Even if its not a heck of alot better it gave me something to do for a little bit.LOL.
docone, Just use a long pair of hemoststs that clamp shut to hold it good till its in place.

[docone31]

The GC's do not fit in the lube lands.
No room. I would have to have the mold modified to work.
I tried with it cold, no go no matter what. Even where the GC goes.

[shooterg]

The 1979 NRA book "CAST BULLETS"says bands can be improvised using a pipe cutter and 5/16" copper tube. Apparently molds sold under the Barnes name used 2 bands. Bands supposedly work with 311334 and 311284 molds and others with broad bands. Supposed to be practical with loads close to jacketed bullets. Looks like a lotta effort but have fun trying !

[leadman]

I wonder how a thicker piece of copper than the Wilk gas checks would work if there was no lip on the outside like a gas check? Just a flat piece of metal with a specifis outside diameter and a large hole in the center?
Would this go thru a sizing die o.k.?
Being a former heavy equipment mechanic and a Foreman in an auto repair facility I know there is a wide variety of copper gaskets for drain plugs, fuel lines, etc. available. Might have to check this out.

[NuJudge]

I remember Herters selling the molds and bands to put in them.

[mikenbarb]

I also saw somewhere that Hensley & Gibbs made a copper wire mold where a piece of copper wife was wound around a rod and then inserted into the mold prior to pouring. Has anyone ever seen this type of boolit? Seems like the same idea but may be a little easier to fit the mold.

[docone31]

I can see where coiled wire could duplicate a jacket to a large extent.
If we knew the outer limits of sizing, then, knowing the diameter of the wire, we could modify a mold that a coil wrapped around a mandrel could be inserted into the mold.
To my pea-brain, a wire of .025, or 22guage, could be wrapped around a mandrel, cut to length, inserted into the mold. then it could be sized to optimum diameter for the bore.
In other words, a .30cal mold with a nose of .301, could be opened up to accept the coil with the addition of a gas check. The outer limits of the wire could be then sized to say, .309.
The wire would have to be a solid wire as strand wire would be too unstable.
It probably would not recquire lube to fire as the contact would be wire and not lead.
Food for thought.
Perhaps the coil could also replace the gas check. It wouldn't matter the end of the coil as sizing would square it up.
I just might try that one day.
Wire is cheap enough. Just have to get it either unshielded, or remove the insulation prior to wrapping around the mandrel.