I recently purchased a 360 148gr HBWC mold from N.O.E. Using a mix of approximately 30-1 the mold is filling out pretty well. The skirt at the base is not as sharp as I would like it, but the bullets are accurate. The biggest problem I am having is getting the bullet to release from the hollowbase pin. I have polished the pin, blued it, given it a coat of moly, a coat of graphite, and smoked it, but the bullet at times has to be removed with pliers. Anyone have any experience with these molds or any suggestions?
Hollowbase Mold
- 1.8K Views
- Last Post 03 October 2015
You have the symptoms of a burr or undercut defect or a reverse tapered area on the mold pin. High optical magnification should find a burr. A mechanical caliper beak set should find a reversed taper area on the pin.
Scribbling on the pin with a regular #2 pencil leaves a coating that acts as an anti-flux. If you have sticking when you pencil the pin, you have a defect that is catching.
The pin may need to be polished, re-tapered or replaced. If you can point out the defect, it should be easily under warranty.
Gary
Attached Files
Hollowpoint and hollowbase pins need to be really, really hot or the bullets will stick. Do you preheat your moulds? Using a hot plate to preheat NOE pin type moulds, then maintaining a pretty rapid casting pace should work out for you.
Attached Files
I have been experimenting further with casting technique for the 38cal hollowbase mold. The suggestion concerning reverse taper on the pin lead me to closely examine the pin and it was obvious that the moly coating I had applied was uneven and had small irregularities. The pin was cleaned up and the mold started releasing the bullet upon opening or with a light tap. I also found that when using a friends bottom pour pot the bases were sharper, but bullets tended to stick. I have been an avid dipper guy, but now feel I need to try bottom pour again. Thanks for the feed back. Cove.
Attached Files
I have a number of Mihec hollow point moulds. I treat the pins with “mold release” from time to time. Mold release is merely microfine graphite in denatured alcohol. I use a q-tip and lightly coat the surface of the pin which creates the hollow point from time to time. I do NOT do it every time I use the mold as you CAN get build up.
When I open the mold, the bullets fall off the pin. Before I started doing that, the bullets STUCK to the pin.
Now, I have nothing but smiles when I use these fine hollow point molds.
My experience with NOE molds is equally good but I don't have any NOE hollow point or base molds...just solid point and base.
FWIW Dale53
Attached Files
Categories
- All Categories
- General Polls
- Contact Us w/ Forum Issues
- Welcome to The Cast Bullet Association Forum
- General
- Bullet Casting
-
Guns and Shooting
- AR Platform
- TC Contenders & Other Single Shot Handguns
- Shotguns
- Informal Matches & Other Shooting Events
- Gunsmithing Tips
- Gun Cleaning & Maintenance
- Optics
- Benchrest Cast Bullet Shooting
- Military Bench Rest Cast Bullet Shooting
- Silhouette Shooting
- Postal Match Cast Bullet Shooting
- Factory Guns
- Black Powder Cartridge
- Hand Guns
- Lever Guns
- Single Shot Rifles
- Bolt Action Rifles
- Military Surplus Rifles
- Plinkers Hollow
- Muzzleloaders
- Hunting
- Reloading
- Buy, Sell or Trade
- Other Information & Reference
Search
This Weeks High Earners
- jeff houck 20
- Wilderness 14
- Tom Acheson 14
- Aaron 13
- John Carlson 13
- sghart3578 10
- Spindrift 5
- alphabrass 5
- SkinnerD 5
- MP1886 3