Accurate Molds

Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Tom finally got back to me about a custom mold for my .38-55. Said my email got lost in his in-basket. It happens. In the interim, I've moved on from trying to get that caliber to shoot 225 bullets out to 500 yds with consistency. May revisit it later. I'm now in the process of getting an original .32-40 High Wall to shoot. I'm a bit disappointed in what I thought was a bore in excellent shape turned out to be a "freshened" bore. Not sure how they do it, maybe an slightly oversized broach, but the grove diameter now measures 0.326 with a 0.320 bore. Tom has been more than responsive and patient with me on this one. After reading his reply and going back to his site, I realized that everything I needed to know was right there. I just needed to be told that it was in the ordering section of the site.

I am going to shoot the rifle with smallish bullets (sized .321) because I got a 1000 with the rifle. We'll see how it does at 300 yds. Not expecting miracles. But hopefully it will give a hint of what it can do. Also have a friend bringing some 0.325 bullets to the club on Wed and a mold that drops .325 bullets and I'll try both of those in the rifle as well. It should do decent with the .325 bullets. If it does, then I'll order a mold from Tom. He has a design that is just about an identical copy of the Saeco 632 which is the standard bullet used in the .32-40 with excellent results. I can tweak his dimensions for my bore.

Then my challenge is a sizing die in .328. Nobody makes one. Biggest from Lyman is .325. RCBS does not make one bigger than .321. I happen to have a .327 reamer so I could machine one. But I really want a .328. So, I'll either buy a small hone and open up a Lyman .325 or bring it to a shop I know and let them open it up for me. Then I have to make a new center punch, but that's easy.
 

300BLK

Well-Known Member
I would expect an original highwall 32-40 to have a 16" twist. Mine had an questionable bore, but shot the tapered Saeco 200gr rather well at 385m using Goex ffg.

You can do without the sizing die if you panlube and the bullet chambers as cast.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
don't forget about alloy spring back when you make your size die.
the softer the alloy the less you'll have, but being under-size about a half thou. or so, is about right for most 10-12BHN alloys.