Hoch tapered nose pour mold
The mold arrived today via 1st class mail and I immediately set to work on it.
I cleaned it with alcohol and dried it, then scrubbed it with soap and water and poured hot water on it to dry it again.
Then I sprayed it with Frankford Arsonals mold release and lubed under the sprue plate pivot with Bull Plate lube I got from forum member JDNC.
The mold is unconventional in design, the sprue plate is held on by a thru and thru bolt, the cavity has a stopper in the bottom, that may allow weight adjustment with different stoppers, and of course it is nose pour and tapered from the base of 258 to the driving band of 250.
In theory it allows you to press fit the bullet into the lands and requires no sizing.
I cast 30 slugs from pure lead and got a weight of 111 grains, the advertised weight was 105, but as yet I have no idea what the alloy was for that 105 weight.
I just cast up some more of 40-1 and got a weight of 109 grains.
The big question was whether my 1-14 twist would stablize them.
I shot the pure lead 111 grain bullets at 212 yards, I got a chrony reading from 980 to 998 PFS, which would give me a top FPE of 233 FPE.
I took quite a bit of adjustment with the regulator to get the velocity where I wanted it, I settled on 3750 PSI.
I shot two 5 shot groups, one was 2.25 inches and the other was just under 4 inches. So I would say so far yes the 1-14 twist does stablize the 111 bullets, next I will try the 40-1 and the 25% Lyman #2/75% lead alloy.
The mold is very well made.
The mold requires special handles, altho other brands can be made to fit.
257420’s and Hoch bullets
Yeah I know what the F is that, I ran out of black paintand used white, then while walking away remembered to take a picture. there is a 2.25 in h 212 yard group there under all that mess.
More to follow,
Roachcreek
All Replies
RJ,
I would love to.
One experiment I want to do is to compare spitzers against round nose and swc of the same weight.
I have been told that Dr. Mann said that a subsonnic bullets profile nose has no bearing on trajectory.
I have never been able to find the quote from him on this and want to try it myself.
How do they shoot in your rifle? What velocity?
RC
RC,
u ready to test some 101grn spitzers. Ced said they have good potential .
Mike,
It does look like you could drop about 10 grains of weight with a longer plug.
If I order a 90 grainer, I think I will just have it cut as a two band bullet.
RC
I need to order another one in 90 grains.
Yeah, you could start freezing blue ice bullets.
RC
So that’s white paint? I just thought you got excited or something! 😯 😆
That plug is interesting. So you could change the weight with it?
So many driving bands. I wonder how it would do with only two. One at the front, and one making up the base. Seems it would give less friction.
Just thinking out loud as usual. 😆
Mike
There’s an idea! Regular ice as a bullet has been debunked, but, what about frozen crap? Time to call mythbusters again! LOL
Jerry,
It is a crap shoot with molds.
RC
Looking good RC!
Those Hoch molds are another breed, well made but a little odd. I’ve got one as well and it’s different from yours. Mine has the normal spru plate (that cuts the spru off the nose) but it also has a plate on the opposite side that seals the base end of the mold. That’s why they have that through bolt design that requires their handle or some grinding on another maker’s handle set.
I like the plug better than the swinging base plate but I have not had any problems and always get a good base. Sadly, the slugs come out great but don’t really shoot that well… win some, lose some!
I’ve had molds that no matter what I do, I can’t get more than one out of 10 decent slugs poured, and I’ve had molds that no matter what I do, produce a perfect slug that doesn’t shoot worth a damn!
Does the 1-12 stablize the 109 grain bullets?
40-1 alloy, 10 shots, 212 yards, 9 of 10 into .90 moa 248 FPE
RC
C’Mon man, show us the pics before you paint it.
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Gee RJ, why don’t you send him 10, so we can see.