Cutting a boolit mould

[dromia]

How fast do you want to shoot it?

[Alpha1]

Thinking about it not very fast it will mainly be used at the Yarners or on a 25 yard out door range occasionally it will be used at 100 yards. If I was shooting longer distances I would switch to jacketed. At the Yarners I would be using probably 3.7grains of N310.
I have other rifles I would use for longer ranges.

[dromia]

If you used the crimp groove as a lube groove with a good lube then there should be plenty for up to 1800 fps (600 yrds), especially in the shorter barrels.

[Blu]

Alpha 1.

I have never been out of work the thought of not having a job scares me. I can not imagine not having to get up and go into work. The other thing is I like what I do I have never had a job that s ever caused me to think oh do I have to go and do that again. I know I'm just a sad person but I find it difficult even contemplating giving it up.

Yeah I used to think like that, until I did retire that is, I've never looked back since and believe me when I tell you that your missus will find you plenty to do

[Alpha1]

I went into my shed with the best of intentions. First thing I did was fill the lead pot with wheel weights then I left that while I changed the chuck on the lathe from 3 jaw to a four jaw. I centred a piece of rectangular aluminium bar in the chuck then went back to the lead pot. That's as far as I got with the lathe it turned into a casting session. I dragged moulds out of the cupboard and set to like some one possessed. Id forgotten how much fun it can be. Only down side is none of the moulds cast over .313. I tried modifying one but it did not turn out very well. I did not get round to beagling either I left the tape at work.
One thing I was reminded off Lee moulds are pap.

[Alpha1]

I found a Lee mould its brand new never been used its .311 100grain I tried casting a few boolits. they were all pap. I'm going to use it as a donor if I ruin it does not matter.

[Alpha1]

I ruined it.
It does not matter I learned from the experience. Prepping the blocks is a job in it self. Cutting the mould it can be done I have had limited success. its a on going process. See my thread about NOI moulds.

[Demonic69]

Come on, spill the gory details :-)

[Alpha1]

I'm in my workshop all day today. So we will see Iv got a box of new custom HSS ground cutters
( They were ground for me. I did not grind them some of them are tiny I don't know how they did it.) of different profiles and some very small groove cutters that will fit into very tiny holes. I'm going to have another play at mould cutting. I have a custom expander to alter. A new knurling tool to play with and a raft of other stuff to do with shooting thingy's. I love weekends.

[Alpha1]

I binned the expander and made a new one for the 7.62x39.
I did some other stuff then moved on.
The knurling tool works.
I prepared some mould blocks that went Ok.
I then moved onto the mould I believe that I can eventually cut a mould as long as I don't want to seat gas checks a plain base mould is easier.
I was doing great cut the blocks faced the ends off then faced the mating surfaces. Drilled the blocks on opposite corners tapped them and fitted grub screws to hold them together. Secured them in the four jaw chuck and centred them. Drilled a pilot hole. Then run a custom ground cutter into the block this is were it all went pear shaped my lathe is not rigid enough for this step it started to vibrate so the hole ended up out of round.
This is best done on a mill. I need a mill. Ill perceiver but its one step forward and two steps back at the moment.
I'm pricing up mills but I need to do my home work I don't know anything about mills what I do know is that I can not afford to buy anything like the ones at work. Unless they decide to get rid of one of course. Hmm