32WS mold has arrived! Bullet pic and targets added

[kjohn]

Got home from a trip this evening to find the mold I ordered from Arsenal Molds in the US.

Very nice looking piece of aluminum!





I fired 20 rounds total, 10 from my carbine, 10 from the rifle.

15 loads were 6.6 700X, 5 were 8.3 Unique. 94C=carbine;, 94R=rifle. 50 ft. range, rested.
Pardon the scribble on the targets. My old eyes don't do well with open sights anymore, thus the "flock shooting". I think these bullets do just fine sized, sized with GC, or not sized at all.

I don't see much difference in the two loads, accuracy wise, but bear in mind the blurry sights and wobbly old guy holding the guns. I think I might size the bullets from here on, more for having them all the same diameter. When it warms up, I plan to shoot some with a decent "hunting load", using the old Ammomart 44, of which I have a good supply. (Yes, the powder is still good. It was kept in the house for all the time after it was shipped, way back when.)

 

[barsik]

looks like a really stout set of blocks, even the sprue plate is HD. I have a few Lee and lyman blocks, and one set from MP but so far nothing from Arsenal. does the female side of the alignment pins have a steel insert, can't see well enough to be sure? let us know how you like them, thanks for posting.

 

[G_Alan]

Nice looking mold kjohn. heres to some good casting with it.

@ barsik
I've got 2 Arsenal molds . I'm really happy with them dropped 1000's out of the 180 grn .40 mold runs really nice.

 

[jamesharrison]

Never heard of them.

Thus far, my custom mould needs have been filled by Accurate & NOE. How would you compare Arsenal to those, if you have used any of their moulds?

 

[BattleRife]

Never heard of them.

Thus far, my custom mould needs have been filled by Accurate & NOE. How would you compare Arsenal to those, if you have used any of their moulds?

Arsenal got their start as a job machine shop. They were contracted by NOE to do some of their outsourced work, when demand for NOE product was growing faster than they could meet in house.

In fact, there are some people who decline to deal with Arsenal, because the partnership did not split on very good terms, and Arsenal designs seem a little too close to NOE designs than can be reasonably expected.

 

[jamesharrison]

Thanks BattleRife

 

[kjohn]

looks like a really stout set of blocks, even the sprue plate is HD. I have a few Lee and lyman blocks, and one set from MP but so far nothing from Arsenal. does the female side of the alignment pins have a steel insert, can't see well enough to be sure? let us know how you like them, thanks for posting.

Yes, they have the steel insert.

 

[kjohn]

Never heard of them.

Thus far, my custom mould needs have been filled by Accurate & NOE. How would you compare Arsenal to those, if you have used any of their moulds?

Sorry, I have never used either. I use almost exclusively LEE molds. I have a couple of Lyman molds that I very seldom use.

 

[Butcherbill]

Looks like a nice mold, how long did it take for you to receive it once ordered?

 

[G_Alan]

Mine were a month wait for one then 3 weeks for the other. I ordered in the late winter so not in a huge rush as I ndo my casting in the spring summer.

 

[Butcherbill]

Is it a make once you order or do they have stock of certain molds, I have been on the lookout for a 210-220gr mold for 10mm.

 

[kjohn]

Is it a make once you order or do they have stock of certain molds, I have been on the lookout for a 210-220gr mold for 10mm.

Not sure on that. If it is a make on order, I would have got it flat based, instead of gc base. I’ll be shooting some without gc anyway, powder coated though.

I powder coated some today, and sized and gas checked a couple in my .323 sizer die. I’ll try seating a few sized and not sized to see if they chamber in my two old 94’s.

 

[Snider shooter]

Is it a make once you order or do they have stock of certain molds, I have been on the lookout for a 210-220gr mold for 10mm.

Accurate moulds will custom make a mould or you can choose from many on file. I have a couple aluminum and brass moulds from them. Double cavities costing about $200
That 32 mould looks good. Your going to have to shoot some now.

 

[kjohn]

Accurate moulds will custom make a mould or you can choose from many on file. I have a couple aluminum and brass moulds from them. Double cavities costing about $200
That 32 mould looks good. Your going to have to shoot some now.

Loaded up 20 light loads to shoot indoors. Some Unique and some 700X. I sized and gas checked 5 to see if they chamber any differently than unsized. They all chamber fairly easily in my 1918 94 rifle, and require a bit more effort in my 50's 94 carbine. All seated deep enough to be not touching the lands.

I think I might need to special order a proper .321 sizer die, as I only have a .323 at the moment. Not altogether sure if it makes a whole lot of difference, considering I won't be taking either of these rifles to the Olympics.

 

[Snider shooter]

I am currently experimenting with the Lee 8m/m 165 gr. Sized 325. Tried a dummies round which showed engraving from the rifling. The nose just goes into the rifling with a bit of pressure on the lever. Closet sized I had was 325. 1/2” group at 50. Only loaded 6 to see if they work. My 94 is a 1926 saddle ring carbine. Most of my cases are 30-30 necked up. I loaded a few more rounds but due to snow I can’t get into the range.

 

[kjohn]

I notice that when sized with my .323 die, the necks on the cases are bulged a wee bit, mostly on one side. I am not necessarily concerned about fuss budget accuracy, so I will keep plugging away. Eventually, I will get around to some 100 yard shooting with these two old rifles. My eyes only barely work good enough without a scope, but I can still flock shoot.

 

[Butcherbill]

Not sure on that. If it is a make on order, I would have got it flat based, instead of gc base. I’ll be shooting some without gc anyway, powder coated though.

Yeah I figure I don’t need a lube groove, not sure about a gas check base though. I’d like to try and make a hard cast dangerous game load, definitely powder coated and on the hot side. Seeing as it’s next to impossible to get my hands on any Underwood or Buffalo Bore 10mm in Canada, I’d like to try and load my own equivalent. I’m getting great accuracy out of a KKM barrel and 165/180/200 gr TC Campro or Speer currently, haven’t had time to load any XTP’s up yet.

Accurate moulds will custom make a mould or you can choose from many on file. I have a couple aluminum and brass moulds from them. Double cavities costing about $200
That 32 mould looks good. Your going to have to shoot some now.

Yeah have a feeling Accurate will be the way to go, they have a lot to choose from already or a custom mold would be good too. Wish there was more off the shelf options for heavy 10mm molds, have both of the Lee molds but haven’t had time this winter to powder coat or load any of the 174gr cast I currently have on hand.

 

[fingers284]

I notice that when sized with my .323 die, the necks on the cases are bulged a wee bit, mostly on one side. I am not necessarily concerned about fuss budget accuracy, so I will keep plugging away. Eventually, I will get around to some 100 yard shooting with these two old rifles. My eyes only barely work good enough without a scope, but I can still flock shoot.

You may have already fone so but slugging your bores will tell you if you need .321 or .323 sizers...If you need the .323 slugs and bulged necks bother you ....well...there you go needing that lathe again, cutting case mouth expanders is one of the most regularly done chores on my lathe.

 

[Snider shooter]

You may have already fone so but slugging your bores will tell you if you need .321 or .323 sizers...If you need the .323 slugs and bulged necks bother you ....well...there you go needing that lathe again, cutting case mouth expanders is one of the most regularly done chores on my lathe.

I have multiple expanders made up out of brass that fit Lyman M dies. Benefits of owning a lathe.

 

[kjohn]

You may have already fone so but slugging your bores will tell you if you need .321 or .323 sizers...If you need the .323 slugs and bulged necks bother you ....well...there you go needing that lathe again, cutting case mouth expanders is one of the most regularly done chores on my lathe.

They don't bother me. I shoot an 8mm-06, now there's some ugly case necks from forming 30-06 cases to accept 8mm bullets. But the rifle shoots like a dream, probably considerably more accurate than I am capable of shooting.

When I am able, I'll post some shooting results with the 94's and powder coated bullets.