45 heeled bullet molds

[vagrantviking]

I have an 1873 French revolver and am looking for a heeled bullet of about .452.

Currently I have a handful of gas check bullets that are seated to cut off the first ring and crimped but I would rather find something a bit more elegant.

Just looking for suggestions on what others have used or found out there that gives good results.

 

[trevj]

Do you know the dimensions required of the heel?

Hypothesis on my part, but like as not, a single cavity mold designed for a .41 (other than the heeled .41 LC) might be a place to start. Zero it up on a lathe and open the grooves out to increase the diameter in front of the heel portion.

.41LC heeled molds are a bit thin on the ground to be suggesting them for mod purposes, but I have seen a fair few molds for the .41 mag come and go.

Wouldn't get you a hollow base though, if that was needed.

Have you posted over on the Castboolits forum? Someone over there may have a better idea.

Cheers
Trev

 

[apu]

This is the heeled bullet you want

.451" 210 Grain 1-Cavity Heel Base RNFP Cast BulletMould, It was made with the 1873 french in mind, it will probably easily drop to .452 if that dimension is really required.

http:// buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=160225&CAT=4157

It's one of their house moulds which incidentally are excellent iron moulds. The heeled 44 remington bullet mould I have from them is really nice..

 

[vagrantviking]

Did a bit of searching on the Cast Boolits site but didn't uncover much. Posting there was going to be my next avenue of attack.

The mold that apu linked too looks very promising. Thanks for the heads-up on that!

 

[cuerno de chivo]

NEI makes the best mould for the French 1873.
It is not in their catalog, you have to ask for 220gr 1873 ordnance bullet mould.
It was designed by a French Guru of the 1873 that asked NEI to produce that mould about 10 years ago. You can also buy the bullets directly in some French webstores like this one http: //www.naturabuy.fr/lot-100-ogives-moule-N-E-Y-1873-1874-11-mm73-chamelot-delvigne-item-841982.html

This is a very hard hitting bullet when reloaded in 18,5mm brass.