Building bullet molds?

[LEEQ]

I did a bit of looking on you tube. I saw a method for me. The cherry was lathe cut 20% smaller than finished diameter. Then set up like a boring bar on the toolpost. This was fed into a hole drilled into your blocks, which are mounted in your chuck/plate. You then bore it to your bullet size. You should have a look see. there are other methods too.

 

[Rick Leslie]

I started a mold a while back for my 416 Rigby project. The blocks are still on the bench waiting for that magical day when I get a "round tuit". I took a piece of mystery aluminum, squared it up, trued the faces and drilled the locating pins. Then I piloted out the bullet cavities.
View attachment Making Bullet Molds.pdf



The plan was to chuck it up in the 4 jaw, indicate off a gauge pin and cut the final shape using a D cutter.



According to the Youtube videos I watched, you can go as simple or as elaborate as you want. Here's what I have so far. Sorry for the fuzzy pics.

Here's a quick read I picked up. Most of mine is probably too basic for what you're wanting to achieve.

View attachment Making Bullet Molds.pdf

 

[idjeffp]

Fun running into this as I too have a 6061 AL (what I had on hand) block faced off and ready to drill the alignment pin holes and then mill the side slots for the handles. I had previously ground a shear bit for the flycutter which worked really well for facing. I was planning to lathe bore the blocks once I get to that point.

If I remember correctly, one of Guy Lautard's TMBR's has some info on cutting bullet moulds... and as stated by other's there are a few YouTube clips out there. I've got a few moulds that I'd like to recreate for some old rifles as well as a flying "thoup" can for my 44 mag.

Should be a fun project!

Jeff

 

[Andre]

Maybe this will help someone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrzexK55ZBA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb3DkpG4fds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CwRw4oBY9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5BM6dNXFyY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oqMziCHdxQ

Watched it about two years ago, inspired me to make my airgun pellet mold.....which I still have to finish.

 

[bvd1940]

Maybe this will help someone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrzexK55ZBA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb3DkpG4fds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CwRw4oBY9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5BM6dNXFyY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oqMziCHdxQ

Watched it about two years ago, inspired me to make my airgun pellet mold.....which I still have to finish.

Well another project to tinker with. I have about 400 lbs of real good led to start with so this should keep me out of the bars fer a bit:allgood:

 

[Rick Leslie]

Just watched the videos as well as the range videos. I have to say he got excellent results with the most basic of machine tooling he had available. I did cringe at a few points, but there's no arguing with the results. I think the best part was the Father/Son range report. Thanks for the links.

 

[Alphawolf45]

Last year I made this .45 Colt caliber mold using lathe and a homemade cherry. I will say however that mold for short bullets are rather easy but when pondering making a mold for a 490 grain 1.4 inch long bore riding bullet for BPCR silhouette matches I run up against my own shortcomings and decided I couldn't do it good enough to be taking into a competition.