Bullet Mold Materials

A seven-minute video covering the big-three bullet mold materials including steel, aluminum and brass as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Music - I Am Running with Temporary Success from a Monstrous Vacuum by Chris Zabriskie

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

Good information. I have molds in aluminum and steel and both will produce high quality bullets as long as I do my part. I do like the lighter weight and faster heat-up time of the AL molds. I have some old Lyman steel molds that my Dad bought in the mid-'50s, and they are still in great shape, having been properly stored and cared for and used.

[@TATVCanada]

Those Lyman moulds will outlive us all. Built like tanks.

[@wittmurse14]

Great video. You answered so many questions for me. I've been reloading for about 15 years, I have finally decided to try casting. Your video is a must see for people new to casting. Thanks so much.

[@TATVCanada]

Thanks very much; glad to hear you're going to give bullet-casting a try!

[@adhelpatotnen1712]

Apa cetakanya di jual y

[@valdacaughey4024]

Great informative video MP molds have a good selection of brass molds and I’ve never had to wait on any of the ones I was wanting

[@TATVCanada]

Yes Mihec does good work.

[@lucagiordano4562]

Thanks for making this video. Really surprised it does not have more views than it does. As somebody who is just starting reloading and casting this information is really helpful. The video was also straight to the point and presented its content clearly. Subscribed.

[@TATVCanada]

Thanks so much for the feedback and subscription, I really appreciate it. Glad to hear you're getting into casting and reloading; it's a great hobby and opens up a whole new aspect of shooting that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

[@noblej7897]

@@TATVCanada makes me think of getting brass or steel for My favorite cal. Then get aluminum for the rest so I will at least have them without breaking the budget

[@308dad8]

No reason aluminum molds won’t last forever! I have a couple I bought from a friend who went into production for a while commercially. He eventually closed up commercial production and eventually sold me a couple of his extra molds. So after tens of thousands of pours I got them and love them, having poured thousands from each, and no sign of them ever being less than perfect. Also, if you need you can lap the cavities on those cheap aluminum molds to what you need. I like aluminum but that’s me. I like a lot of Lee’s products, while not as expensive as others they’re certainly not lacking in quality and they stand behind their stuff which , if you ask me is amazing.

[@zazkariafrady9152]

Just started watching some of your videos. You do great work with explaining your material. I also like you put the pros and cons of everything. I myself prefer aluminum molds. I enjoy casting, but don't have the time needed to devote prepping a steel mold before or after molding. I lube the pins and sprue plate after and during (periodically) casting. The quick warm up and low weight are a huge bonus. I shoot competition so as much as I love the entire reloading process, I have to spend much of my little free time devoted to shooting to stay competitive. Anywhere I can save time at the bench I take it. Same reason I switched from Lee to Dillon progressive press. Lee is a great press and I still use it from time to time, but it required more maintenance to run properly. I hear Lee has a new press coming to address that issue called the Lee Auto Breech Pro. Anyone reading this looking to get into loading progressive without spending a fortune should look into it. They are going to be around $100 street price. Ok done rambling.

[@TATVCanada]

Glad to hear you're finding them entertaining/useful. I agree with you on the ease of casting with aluminum; I still prefer brass overall, but there's something to be said for cranking out 1,000 bullets without feeling like your arm is going to fall off :) I hear you on the Lee/Dillon progressives. I *did* get my Lee Loadmaster working, but it just wasn't worth the hassle compared to the Dillon.

[@zazkariafrady9152]

TATV Canada Oh yeah the Lee stuff is a great value, but the Dillon just worked out of the box. I'm glad you got it going good. I'm still a fan of Lee and still buy lots of their equipment. In fact I still use a lee measure on my Dillon. (Just easier to work with and used it for years developing trust on throws) and also just ordered a new Lee mold. Hope to get the time after work tommorrow to try it out.

[@TATVCanada]

I feel like they're really a hit or miss company. I love their dies and hand tools, I love their single stage and turret presses, and I think they make great moulds obviously. I've never been a big fan of their powder measures, though to be fair I haven't used the newest one. I find their progressives too finicky, and with too many plastic parts. I could not agree with you more about Dillon; everything they sell is expensive, but it works right out of the box, without issue, every time.

[@NOTSOSLIMJIM]

Why not stainless steel?

[@FullLeadTaco]

Great video man!

[@TATVCanada]

Thanks, FLT.

[@jiritrcka9930]

Can I use it for Texan SS cal 50?

[@iijj8607]

Where i can buy one of these for 7.62 mm?

[@justacentrist4147]

Anyone know of a good place in canada to buy a .575 minie ball mold

[@USA_is_a_Republic]

Don't spend a penny. Well, you will need to buy tools obviously... All the metal you need is right under your feet. Need a hot fire? Make charcoal and have a source of blowing air like a manual (hand-crank) forge blower. If you need a stronger air flow, get a solar generator and connect it to a blower. Get s shovel, make your smelting mound, alternate dumping pieces of wood with charcoal inside with dirt with lots of rock in it from the ground. Any iron will be melted to the bottom. Do this for about 2 hrs. and poke a hole in the bottom and let it flow out. Yay! Free iron!

[@bigrickshaberdashery2759]

thanks, some good advice. Personally getting a .735 made up as not any molds I could fine.

[@TATVCanada]

You won't be disappointed

[@marksterlson]

i prefer brass molds with iron a close second and would highly recommend cast bullet engineering moulds from Australia.

[@danilomora6061]

Como lo puedo contatar para compral un moleden calibre 22

[@ZERO_42069]

great video

[@TATVCanada]

Thank you sir.

[@garycorbier9123]

I keep my iron molds in the freezer, they won't rust at well below freezing temperature. Have done this for over 20 years and never had rust. I put them in a toaster over at around 150 - 200 degrees while waiting for the lead to melt.

[@905SONICking]

Making bullets can not only be expensive but when you invest into it down the road you'll save a lot of money. What I want to do is go around places and scavenge metals, you know soda cans, copper wires used in extension cords, lead from batteries and such. Aluminum, copper, brass, & lead. and I know since copper has a higher melting point not only do you need a hotter furnace but pouring copper down a aluminum mold will warp it. So steel mold and a hotter furnace means more $$$. For the ones made by lee can melt lead and brass bullets which is acceptable for not requiring higher mold metal element. So I would still say get a hotter furnace because who knows if you do manage to gather broken phones, laptops, batteries, you could melt them all down and make your own ingots which in return could sell those bars for high amounts of money.

[@sukurali339]

Nice

[@beachboardfan9544]

Anyone know whats the point of the cross hatch pattern of the faces of most molds?

[@TATVCanada]

I was told it's supposed to allow air to escape when the blocks are closed.

[@ahmedareemi2471]

عاوز اشترى وحده

[@andinnuril4297]

Good

[@mooligaivedam3136]

How much this diy

[@Memento-_-Mori-_-982]

What if you want to cast copper bullets, are there any molds out there for that?

[@TATVCanada]

None that I'm aware of as they'd need to withstand much higher temperatures. You'd need a melter capable of reaching higher temps, too. Copper would also be very, very expensive relative to lead.

[@squrilebrain]

ware can i find a 270 , 243 and a 25 -06 bullet mold made out of steel . 130 grain 270 , 90 grain 243 , and the last one is a 25 - 06 100 grain bullet mold ... do you know of a place that i can buy them at online ?

[@TATVCanada]

The only rifle cartridges I shoot are 223 and 308 so I'm probably not the best guy to ask. That said, Lee Precision's website contains a massive selection and they sell direct to the public.

[@pacman10182]

lee has a 270 135 grain mold leeprecision.com/mold-dc-c277-135-rf.html

[@juancamps9601]

25 calibre airpelletsmod

[@songlarrylim5532]

Hi there , can you please tell me where l can nay one of this .22 air rifle mold . Thank you.

[@TATVCanada]

Never seen an air rifle pellet mould, sorry.

[@Magisktification]

mp-molds.com i saw had one. Is quite different shape than the ordinary diabolos. Better or worse? I dont know. Its an 8cavity mold according to the description but shows a 6cavity one in the picture. So thats abit confusing. So that makes me wonder if the bullet representation is incorrect as well?. Direct link: www.mp-molds.com/product/22-air-rifle-mold-8cav-mold/?currency=USD

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

I have to say I really like steel molds but I’ll definitely be trying to find the brass molds too aluminum idk I might one day give them a try

[@TATVCanada]

Not having to worry about corrosion is definitely nice.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

@@TATVCanada I just maintain them just like I maintain my firearms. I see my molds as just important as my firearms. So cleaning them before and after every use isn’t that big a deal to me. But as you said in your video which was very good by the way it isn’t for everyone it’s not that big a deal to me. My practice it to oil them up then store them wrapped in a oily face cloth. I have yet to have a rusty mold.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

@@TATVCanada I finally picked up my first brass mold it’s a MP 125gr alternative coating PB HP .359 mold. The construction of the mold is beautiful quality just dripping off it. Hopefully I made a wise decision to pick the .359 so I can size the projectiles it casts for my 38/357 revolvers and my 9mm autos

[@JB-wj6vc]

Hello I have a brass bullet mold with brass handles and I’m wondering what I could rap around the handle as they get very hot

[@TATVCanada]

You could try wrapping them in leather but wood is generally the gold standard. Some types of heat resistant plastic can work, too.

[@JB-wj6vc]

@@TATVCanada thanks 👍 I just starting to cast my own

[@jungleno.]

You should be wearing leather gloves when casting bullets

[@alexandermoronta5026]

Un molden 4.5 a república Dominicana

[@Bloo0969]

Use brake cleaner to de-grease your molds.

[@curioushooter]

A few errors: -Aluminum is harder than brass, and the quality of the aluminum alloy can vary -The iron molds are a lead-iron alloy, not steel, a carbon-iron alloy -Brass is slightly heavier than iron

[@weld_dat_fakah740]

This guy...

[@BlackheartBob]

The iron molds are NOT a lead-iron alloy. They are classified as "cast iron", containing about 3.5% carbon alloyed with the iron. Machinability is much better than steel. (Meehanite is one trademark). Both steel and cast iron are iron-carbon alloys but cast iron has much more carbon. Steel is usually less than 1%. The extra carbon in cast iron results in microscopic flakes of graphite within the structure which give it very high machinability. P.S. I am a retired metallurgical engineer with 50 years of experience.

[@sandroventania782]

Sempre pensei que o excesso de carbono do ferro fundido o tornava quebradiço, impróprio para usinar.

[@jhonatanreinaortiz4731]

notienes envío a colombia

[@ahmadfaosan9549]

Good 👍👍👍

[@TATVCanada]

Thank you sir.

[@mohammadnoor7398]

i am from india and i want this moled how to get

[@TATVCanada]

Some can be ordered from me at tatvcanada.com, some from retailers in your area stocking the Lee precision brand.

[@CountDown2012]

WHERE CAN I BUY THESE MOLDS?

[@steelzeidan142]

Me too

[@TATVCanada]

Which ones?

[@manuelroblero5036]

@@TATVCanada I want to buy one

[@eliezersaguisag1560]

Great video, Where can i buy those steel molds?

[@smiller509]

they are not steel molds. they are an iron/copper alloy. a lot softer than steel. this iron alloy is very easy to machine. they hold heat best.

[@pacman10182]

and some of them are cast iron, a soft self lubricating material that is easy to machine

[@carlosbarros9900]

Boa tarde faz mold pra vender ?

[@TATVCanada]

Não atualmente, no entanto, tenho alguns projetos em andamento.

[@carlosbarros9900]

@@TATVCanada quando for vender mim avisa quero uma . obrigado

[@Komengmancing]

Bisa kirim ke indonesia

[@TATVCanada]

Maaf, apa yang Anda cari untuk dikirimkan kepada Anda?

[@Komengmancing]

Cetakan mimis 4,5

[@TATVCanada]

Saya mengalami kesulitan pemahaman waktu; Cetakan mana yang Anda inginkan? Bisakah kamu menggambarkannya?

[@pemburujphdi1995]

@@TATVCanada boleh minta nomor WA

[@missingthe80s58]

Saeco and RCBS both use cast iron. No not your grannies cast iron cookware. I've machined 12L14, other than the fact it doesn't gum up cutters, it's really nothing special IMO. Cast iron however although dusty it cuts like butter and makes for easier work especially cutting or reaming the cavity. Cast iron dust is easily and safely handled with a proper large hose shop vac mounted to the table. It's also much less expensive than 12L14 and substantially less so than aluminum. Cast iron is my favorite.

[@TATVCanada]

It's really interesting to hear about the subject from an actual machinist. Thanks for the info; you clearly know your metals.

[@donaldplank54]

My dad's buckshot molds!!!!!

[@TATVCanada]

Oh no way, you're Richards kid? They are the best. Why did he stop making them?

[@donaldplank54]

@@TATVCanada Want to spend more time with the grandkids He will probly fired backup in a little bit