Bullet mould blocks...what material?

[krems]

I'm going to start making my own bullet mould blocks. I am not sure what grade of material would be best for this. Any suggestions.....?

I'd like to experiment w/ both Aluminum and Steel/iron. What grades of material would you work with if you were making moulds yourself. Also how about stress relieving and heat treating of the blocks to prevent warpage. Can this be done at home in an economical way?? Blocks should be able to withstand 800 degree lead alloys.

I need a new project as it is -22 F degrees in Montana this morning....I need to warm up next to the lead pot to stay warm..Thanks in advance

Krems

[Scishopguy]

Krems,

Sounds like a perfect morning for bullet casting!!!

In my days of casting balls and mini bullets for shooting black powder weapons I soon found that aluminum mold blocks are easier to use, cast better bullets, and are far more forgiving of temperature changes in the lead. I have several steel molds for rifle and pistol balls and some ball and conical bullet molds from Lee that are aluminum, that I use. Believe me, the aluminum are much more pleasant to use and produce better quality balls.

You should be able to machine these yourself with only a basic shop setup (Lathe and Mill).

Just my $0.02, you know.

[JCHannum]

Bullet molds have been and are being made od aluminum, brass, cast iron and steel.

There is nothing magic about any of the materials, or any need to go to special heat treats or stress relieving.

My first choice for home shop would be aluminum, steel second. This simply for ease of machining. If you are concerned about stresses, 1144 is stress relieved steel and it machines beautifully.

[krems]

I've used both aluminum and steel/iron moulds for years. I like both for different reasons. For hunting,handgun, and general purpose fun bullets the aluminum works just great for me. Big long range target bullets I like the steel/iron blocks. Aluminum sounds like the easiest route for the first attempt. They both work as long as the speed of casting and melt temp are constant. There is not a lot of info about making moulds but I'm going to make something I just need to know what materials to get a hold of.

I hear one vote for 1144 stress relieved steel. Any preference for aluminum..6061?? ....What is meehenite..I keep hearing this mentioned. I wonder what mould block material RCBS and Saeco use. What about the custom makers like Brooks, Jones, Ballard, LBT, Hoch, and NEI...I wonder what they use. Any idea!..................Brrr up to -13 degrees. I'm going back to casting bullets to get warm.


Krems

[JCHannum]

I don't know about others, Lee uses aluminum and SAECO uses cast iron, apparently their own alloy;

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,66.html

Meehanite is a process of manufacturing cast iron, not a different material. If you want to use cast iron, Dura Bar is a very uniform cast iron that is readily available.

My guess is that most manufacturers use a free machining steel such as 12L14 to promote tool life and retain the accuracy of the molds. It does mention that SAECO cherries one half of the mold at a time.

[RJM]

Why not recut a Lee aluminum mold? That's what I did to get a heel bullet for a .310 cadet martini.

The aluminum cuts easily with a little boring bar made of steel. Center up the cavity in a 4 Jaw chuck using an indicator; use the carrage stop and cross feed to get the groove where you want them.

Regards, Ron

[Bob Ford]

Hi.
I have made molds from Aluminum, Brass, and Steel. Aluminum is the easiest followed by Brass then steel. Aluminum has wear problems with the pins to line the blocks. At least 2000 good bullets. Brass works well. No problems 3000 + bullets. Steel I have had problems with sprue plate gall and or lead build up on the sprue plate. The molds I have made are mostly slugs for muzzleloaders a few for Breach loaders and have just finished a paper patch slug for my F M 2 in 30-30.

Bob

[gzig5]

Krems,
I remember reading on one of the custom mold makers site that he preferred 2000 series aluminum for aluminum molds. Don't remember why. He also made them from brass and cast iron (dura-bar I think). Search for Mountian Molds and try over at Cast Boolits dot com. You could also try calling Lee and see if they will tell you what they use. Personally, I'll be using aluminum when I get around to cutting my own molds. Either from scratch or buying used molds in a smaller caliber and opening them up. I think it has more to do with your form tool and how it will work on the material, than the material you are using. Aluminum is a lot easier to work than the others.

Greg

[deltaenterprizes]

I was in the comercial bulletcasting business for 12 yrs and have made over a million bullets, blocks made by RCBS,Lyman,Hensley & Gibbs,Magma,Ballisticast and SAECO are made from cast iron. SAECO's alloy has some copper in it,giving a goldish color.SAECO's blocks held up the best.The aluminum blocks wore the quickest at the pivot point of the sprue plate and at the alignment pins. Lee suggests a little bullet lube be applied at these points.
Cast iron machines easily and makes the cherry last longer.Lyman Cast Bullet Manual shows pictures of the mold making process.
NEI was making molds from aluminum and brass on a limited basis.?
How much volume do you plan to do withthe molds?

[krems]

I'd never wear out an aluminum mould myself. Each mould will get a limited amount of use. I may give / sell a few to some friends so I would like to start w/ the best materials. I remember reading somewhere that LBT was using the 2000 series aluminum...2024??. Seems to work good for him. The copper gives the saeco moulds that unique color...I always liked the way they looked. So.....2000 aluminum and or cast iron of questionable grade I'll be looking for this week. Should be a fairly simple project. Thanks!

A million bullets..........thats a lot of lead!

Krems