Historically Correct Colt Double Cavity Bullet Mould

[Big Al Mass]

Does anyone make a quality historically correct Colt double cavity bullet mould? I want one that casts pointed conical bullets, not like the Lee and Lyman round nose conicals. I know about the Pedersoli double cavity moulds and have read that they are hit and miss in terms of the projectiles they cast. I have accumulated a sizable stock of scrap lead and would like to start casting. Does anyone make a mould like I describe, or will I have to get it custom made?

 

[Skinny 1950]

This is a historically correct double cavity mould made in the 1860's, it casts a ball and a conical. This one is in .31 cal for Colt's 1849 Pocket others were made in .36 cal. not sure about .44 cal?
Not sure where you would get a modern reproduction of these moulds, I have a couple of brass moulds in .36 cal. stamped "Colt's Patent" that came with cased guns along with powder flasks.

 

[Big Al Mass]

That is the style bullet I am looking for, just in .44 caliber. Thanks for the photo. It's not so much the appearance of the mould that matters as much as the bullets it casts. A historically accurate bullet is what I am after.

 

[StrawHat]

I have not ever seen a mold such as you want. However, there are several mold makers out there who would build it for you.

 

[Willie Sutton]

Originals are not that hard to find. Suggest gunbroker, as well as poking in the glass cases of antique stores in suitable areas. Powder flasks and bullet molds are not uncommonly found.


Willie

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[rcmodel]

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13061&osCsid=hruirr37289ngfpmcabdtuu3c5

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Conical-BP-Revolver-Bullet-Mold/740354.uts

I'm still trying to figure out how those old timers held onto those steel handle bullet molds when they got them up to casting temperature?

rc

 

[VA27]

...I'm still trying to figure out how those old timers held onto those steel handle bullet molds when they got them up to casting temperature?

rc

Those weren't wolves howling out on the prairie, those were the old timers sitting around the fire, casting bullets.

 

[Willie Sutton]

Yeah... never saw a compartment in a Colt case for a set of asbestos gloves! Always wondered about that myself.

Guy on Gunbroker has a 6 gang mold for conicals now, offered as a civil war armorers mold. Unsure if that's so, but it looks like a very nice mold. Handles and all. Cast a cylinder load at a time.


Willie

.

 

[BowerR64]

These would be the conicals i would think would have issues loading.

The lee have more of a round point that seem to fit better in the rammer. These have such a sharp point i can see these loading crooked in the chamber.

I would think these would have better aero and straighten up quicker though.

 

[StrawHat]

The rammer on the revolver was shaped for the conical bullet. It helped shove them in straight.

 

[Willie Sutton]

You mean the pointy end isn't designed to help it slip into the chamber? And all along I thought these were wadcutters shaped for comfortable loading...


Willie


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[Big Al Mass]

Thanks for all the contributions, guys. I made a deal with whughett and will be receiving a mould like I am looking for from him soon. He tells me it is a Rapine 454215. It casts 2 .454" diameter 215 grain bullets with sharp points, not like the round nose Lyman and Lee conicals. I will post pics when it arrives.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Does anyone make a quality historically correct Colt double cavity bullet mould? I want one that casts pointed conical bullets, not like the Lee and Lyman round nose conicals. I know about the Pedersoli double cavity moulds and have read that they are hit and miss in terms of the projectiles they cast. I have accumulated a sizable stock of scrap lead and would like to start casting. Does anyone make a mould like I describe, or will I have to get it custom made?

Too bad for both of us that I'm now retired. I have made quite a few bullet molds in my life and curiously enough, the round ball molds are, in my opinion , the most difficult.
My only question is a "pointed" bullet using pure lead . Is the "point" deformed in loading?

 

[Big Al Mass]

That is a possibility, I guess. I will find that out when I receive the mould.

 

[StrawHat]

Form the rammer nose to fit the bullet.

 

[Big Al Mass]

I just received the mould from whughett this morning. Here are some photos of the mould and 2 bullets cast from it.
The box:

Overview of mould:

Nomenclature:

Cavities:

 

[Big Al Mass]

Lastly, picture of the bullets:


StrawHat,

How do you recommend reshaping the rammer to accommodate the nose of the bullet?

 

[PRD1]

I think you'll find...

that the rammer nose cavity in the reproduction (and original) Colt revolvers is already properly shaped for the conical bullet - at least close enough that you should have no problem properly loading the bullets from the mold you just received. Try it!

PRD1 - mhb - Mike

 

[Tommygunn]

Best to check the individual rammer piston.
Pietta uses a concave (rounded) nose and in recent years have been cutting them pretty shallow.
Uberti have always cut nice deep conoidal shaped piston noses which while maybe not perfect should work pretty well with the pictured bullets.
I don't know what Euroarms rammer noses are like but do check.

 

[Big Al Mass]

I concur with Tommygun. The face of the piston on my revolver does appear rather shallow, not very concave. I will pull it and take a picture or 2 tomorrow.

 

[StrawHat]

IF you do not have a lathe, the easiest way would be to degrease the cavity of the rammer and fill with epoxy. Grease the nose of the bullet and place the base in the cylinder. Pull the handle as if seating but only enough to seat the bullet in the rammer. Set aside for thriple the cure time.

You did grease the front of the cylinder didn't you?

When the cure is complete, pull the bullet from the rammer and if there are any voids, you can fill them with epoxy or leave them.

I have done many bullet seating plugs this way to customize them for some of the cast bullets I load.