Round Ball Mold Recommendations

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BSA1

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Colder weather is just around the corner which makes it ideal to casting bullets. Since I have a large supply of soft lead I want to cast my bullets rather than buying them from the store. .36, .44 and .54 Hawken. Probably .375", .454" and .530" round balls.

Any preferences for bullet molds?
 
Like Rodwha said CHEAP
If you are planning on casting a lot, you need to invest in good quality tools
and yep they will cost you.
Lyman moulds are about $90 but the handles are interchangeable Handles are about $35
Aluminum is ok for heating fast and being light less tiring, but it also galls easily
Lee has been making design changes the last couple years, trying to come up with a better
alignment system during closing of the blocks.
Some times you can find good deals on Ebay but you need to know what you are looking at and getting
 
I use two cav .375 and .454 ideal molds.
That being said if I didn't already have these I would try Lee molds , the Ideal molds do leave a decant sized sprue cut on the ball ,at least mine do anyway,,,,, :evil:
 
I have a pietta and a colt 2nd gen 1851s. I have both Lee .375 and .380 molds. Instead of making different size balls for each pistol I now use the .380 for both pistols, it shaves a little bit more lead off the Pietta but works well. I use W.W. for lead in my .530 mold instead of soft lead. Works great! I save the soft lead for my pistols. Just and idea if you have a bunch of W.W.
 
I have likely cast near 1000 .457" balls and maybe half that from my .490" mold and they are both in great condition. My 320 grn REAL mold is much less used, but my 250 grn REAL mold was purchased used and still in great shape. However the handles I bought for my aluminum Accurate Molds mold has a handle that likes to slide off. If they aren't abused I see no reason why they won't last, and I prefer the quick heating of aluminum.
 
I don't shoot my .54 caliber military horseman's pistol enough to make casting worth it, but it's a fun gun:

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I have trouble wearing gloves, I do have a pair near at hand and may use one on the hand holding the mold after it gets too hot. Also do some black smithing and play with steam boilers. not saying I don't get burned once in a while but when you play with fire!
 
I have accumulated many molds over the years. There was a time when LEE molds were a waste of time and money. LEE Molds in the last 10 years have improved and throw very good castings. I use the LEE molds more often these days.
 
I like Rapine, but they're gone and prefer Lyman steel. I've a few Lee aluminium too.
 
I've got Lee molds over 30 yrs old and still casting fine, aluminum is soft and some care needs to be taken, but as I said some of mine are over 30 and still casting fine. That said, I do also have some steel molds thanks to deals on Ebay, but I wouldn't pay the high price for steel new. Used if not rusted will out last you.
 
I have trouble wearing gloves, I do have a pair near at hand and may use one on the hand holding the mold after it gets too hot. Also do some black smithing and play with steam boilers. not saying I don't get burned once in a while but when you play with fire!

Gloves? I bought a pair, don't use them anymore. Sometimes wear shorts and flip flops too during summer. Nowadays we cast enough for a year and do a big casting session every January or so.

Stem! Stem! I dream of recreating a steam powered stern wheeler, the kind that used to ply the rivers of Florida before the railroad and the Yankee invasion of '61.
 
don't like Lee molds personally . Spend a little extra get a quality mold, Go w/ Lyman RCBS or custom MOOSE mold Moose molds all come w/ handles
 
I use Lyman for .62 round ball and Pedersoli for my '59 Sharps Infantry rifle. Both use large Lyman handles.
 
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