Lead VS Jacketed

[tx gunrunner]

Excellent work tx gunrunner
Could you please give a brief explanation of the mold making operation? Do you have to make a cutter (cherry?) that is exactly like the bullet or is it done in several gradual steps? Thanks

I chuck a old single cavity 30 cal bullet in a 4 jaw chuck and find center and then square up the mold which is the hardest part . I drill it for like a 32 or 40 cal . I made a tool to cut the nose and another tool to cut grease bands and another one for the rear band . My molds are cut to 4 different dia in each mold . And being lathe cut the are perfectly round and if they are center and square the bullets will fall out of mold . If there not square or centered you will need to beat them out like the mold that are cherry cut mold like Lee , Lyman and RCBS . Here 2 more I cut . Remember these bullets must be pan or hand lubed since each bullet band are different sizes to fit in a bore , free bore and rifling .

[JEBar]

I can only admire the level of expertise required to build your own molds ....

[Travlin]

Outstanding work and thanks for the photos and explanation. The great barrel maker Harry Pope used to make lube pumps for the bullets that fit his barrels.Did you ever use a false muzzle with your muzzle loading rifles and if so was it worth it for improved accuracy?

[tx gunrunner]

Outstanding work and thanks for the photos and explanation. The great barrel maker Harry Pope used to make lube pumps for the bullets that fit his barrels.Did you ever use a false muzzle with your muzzle loading rifles and if so was it worth it for improved accuracy?

I owned #425 ballard made in 1906 made by Harry Pope with false muzzle and all the loading tools , bullet mold and pump in 32-40 . It was in new condition and A buddy in San Diego own it now . I also own the book about Pope barrels too which I sold with gun . I lost all my pics in a computer of that gun when a computer when south .

[tx gunrunner]

Did you ever use a false muzzle with your muzzle loading rifles and if so was it worth it for improved accuracy?

I forgot to answer this part or your question . If you are shooting black powder Yes .. With smokeless powder there is no advantage and it just slows you down and your condition keep changing because you are to slow .

[Travlin]

tx gunrunner, Thanks for the reply. Did you ever shoot the 32-40 maybe with black powder? I understand some very tight 200 yard groups were shot with a 32-40 many many years ago.

[Travlin]

PS: That must have been a special experience to hold a rifle that Pope had made the barrel for.

[tx gunrunner]

PS: That must have been a special experience to hold a rifle that Pope had made the barrel for.

The rife was design to offhand shooting and it was little long for me to shoot offhand but it was super on the bench . It
fit my buddy Russ perfect who owns it now . I mirror my #3 to hold and feel like the Pope but to fit me . note the Pope type loading tool and palm rest. My ballard was like the in pic but no scope with all the tool and I had a the Pope nose pour bullet mold not pictured not pic .

[Travlin]

Most Excellent work. Thanks for posting. I fear that your level of craftsmanship is almost lost . I am glad to see what a real gunsmith can do. Start with steel and a good piece of wood for a stock and end up with beauty and precision. The only other time that I have seen this level of skill was in the building of my friends two bore cartridge rifle. Thanks again for sharing and the photo of the the target.