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Author Topic: .30 cal round ball mold  (Read 6944 times)

Offline Cajun72

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.30 cal round ball mold
« on: October 25, 2019, 05:22:33 PM »
Well in the process of acquiring a .30 cal percussion muzzleloader. Current owners does not have a mold?
Any ideas to size/diameter I would need?
Thanks
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Online rich pierce

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2019, 05:30:35 PM »
Small calibers load really easily. If you are comfortable unbreeching it I’d take a much larger ball and pound it into the muzzle with a soft hammer - brass, copper, rawhide, or plastic. I’d drive it out the breech then measure groove to groove diameter and aim for a ball that size.
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Andover, Vermont

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2019, 11:20:31 PM »
Cajun's PM answered.
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Offline Robin Henderson

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2019, 01:09:42 AM »
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/mobile/Lead-Buckshot/products/65/2/0

I would think buckshot would work. Check out above link for sizes.
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Offline smokinbuck

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2019, 02:23:27 AM »
I have an old ML with a .29 caliber Bill Large barrel. I shoot .285 round ball from a Lee mold.
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Mark

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2019, 04:02:37 PM »
Unfortunately Lee Precision no longer offers a .285" RB mould.  Their smallest is .310", but the buckshot option in a previous post may be a good place to start.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2019, 06:21:31 PM »
The buckshot listed in that side is hardened, thus very much less than ideal.
I found in my .32, it was difficult loading Hornady's .320 buckshot, yet my cast
balls of .320" loaded easily. Yes- they were bore size and I loaded them with
a .022" denim or .023" ticking patch.
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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline WadePatton

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2019, 07:11:16 PM »
Anybody know the smallest size produced by Eddie May?  He is/was a roundball maker in GA as I recall.  I'm not going to call him until I'm ready to place an order, but do have a 30 bore bbl that I'll be feeding someday. 

I like pouring the bigger balls, but expect the tiny ones are tedious. 

Also I've never yet found "un-hard" shot.  Some say hardened shot works fine, and others say it doesn't.  I'd rather have soft.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #8 on: October 26, 2019, 08:12:30 PM »
Unfortunately, the small bore produce quite high pressures - it's all part and parcel with their tiny bores.
Grossly undersized balls can be loaded if hard, using thicker patches but the higher pressures can be
problematic, in that blow-by and gas cutting can happen with much undersized hard balls and their patches.
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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline smokinbuck

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2019, 08:56:11 PM »
Try Flinlocks Inc, Mike Eder, for a .285 mold. He ha a few and may have something available.
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Mark

Offline Dave Marsh

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2019, 10:27:39 PM »
Probably get a Tanner mold in that size as well.

Dave
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Offline WadePatton

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2019, 10:41:58 PM »
Quote from: Dave Marsh on October 26, 2019, 10:27:39 PM
Probably get a Tanner mold in that size as well.

Dave

Oh sure.  Tanner moulds come in any spec you name.  Not sure the smallest-[EDIT- .185" is the smallest they offer.] 

BUT as Daryl noted once, it might be a tedious chore clipping sprues on balls so teeny.   

Anybody running sub .400 Tanner moulds? 

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Offline smylee grouch

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2019, 10:59:54 PM »
Wow a 35 grain round ball in .285, that would be smaller than a 22LR!  :o I don,t think my crippled up fingers would even be able to grasp it.   ;D :)
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Offline WadePatton

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2019, 11:22:37 PM »
Quote from: smylee grouch on October 26, 2019, 10:59:54 PM
Wow a 35 grain round ball in .285, that would be smaller than a 22LR!  :o I don,t think my crippled up fingers would even be able to grasp it.   ;D :)

I think you meant .185"

There's a guy near me who made a .22 cal m/l back in the 70's bump.   It's long gone though.  I went and met him and he told me about it. Said it was a great shooter, and I'm sure it was ultra efficient and short-ranged.   I figure 30 cal is as small as I'm going, but it's too early to tell.
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Offline smokinbuck

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2019, 11:37:24 PM »
I have a .22 ML that I built for my grandson. Shoots unpatched .22 lead pellets with a .22 longrifle case full of FFFg powder.
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Mark

Offline RichG

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #15 on: October 27, 2019, 12:15:18 AM »
keep an eye on Ebay. I've seen all sorts of odd ball size moulds.
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Offline smylee grouch

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #16 on: October 27, 2019, 12:16:36 AM »
Actually Wade I was thinking of the weight of a .285 RB which would be around 35 grains as compared to a 40 grain 22 long rifle.  I guess I should have worded that better. Sometimes my word smithing lacks.  ;D
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Offline Levy

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #17 on: October 27, 2019, 03:13:54 AM »
I bought a .29 cal. bag mold from Larry Calahan at the CLA Show a couple of years ago.  I think he is located in Missouri.  James Levy
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James Levy

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #18 on: October 27, 2019, 04:31:01 AM »
Quote from: Daryl on October 26, 2019, 06:21:31 PM
The buckshot listed in that side is hardened, thus very much less than ideal.
I found in my .32, it was difficult loading Hornady's .320 buckshot, yet my cast
balls of .320" loaded easily. Yes- they were bore size and I loaded them with
a .022" denim or .023" ticking patch.
I have used the Ballistic Products 1-1/2 buckshot (.310”) in a 32 Pedersoli and don’t find them that hard or difficult to load. I’m only using a 12 grain fff powder charge, and use a wad under a wet patched ball. Just not enough powder, at least to my opinion, to put the wet patch directly on the powder. Find inconsistencies if the i let that wet patch and ball combo sit too long on the powder.
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Offline Cajun72

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #19 on: October 27, 2019, 10:56:29 AM »
Waiting to hear back from Tanner Moulds
Think a .290 or .295 mould would work?
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Offline awol

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #20 on: October 27, 2019, 02:00:50 PM »
I have a Tanner .290 in. mould. It was such a long pour into the cavity that I could not mould bullets with it until I hack-sawed some off the top and increased the diameter of the sprue hole. Now I am getting good round balls with it. I also have a Lee .285 " mould which I purchased from Eders several years ago. Maybe they still supply that size.

Who is the maker of your barrel?
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Offline Robin Henderson

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #21 on: October 27, 2019, 02:45:54 PM »
Quote from: Anonymous on October 27, 2019, 04:31:01 AM
Quote from: Daryl on October 26, 2019, 06:21:31 PM
The buckshot listed in that side is hardened, thus very much less than ideal.
I found in my .32, it was difficult loading Hornady's .320 buckshot, yet my cast
balls of .320" loaded easily. Yes- they were bore size and I loaded them with
a .022" denim or .023" ticking patch.
I have used the Ballistic Products 1-1/2 buckshot (.310”) in a 32 Pedersoli and don’t find them that hard or difficult to load. I’m only using a 12 grain fff powder charge, and use a wad under a wet patched ball. Just not enough powder, at least to my opinion, to put the wet patch directly on the powder. Find inconsistencies if the i let that wet patch and ball combo sit too long on the powder.

I've never had any problems using Hornady "0" buckshot in any of my 32s....two flint long rifles and three target pistols. Starting the ball hasn't presented any problems and once started the ball has gone down fine. Accuracy is good as well. The problem I see is the amount you would have to order with a possibility it didn't work for you. I wonder if you could call Ballistic Products for some samples to try out before you shell out for that big bottle?
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Offline WadePatton

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #22 on: October 27, 2019, 04:13:27 PM »
Quote from: awol on October 27, 2019, 02:00:50 PM
I have a Tanner .290 in. mould. It was such a long pour into the cavity that I could not mould bullets with it until I hack-sawed some off the top and increased the diameter of the sprue hole. Now I am getting good round balls with it. I also have a Lee .285 " mould which I purchased from Eders several years ago. Maybe they still supply that size.

AHA!  some tiny Tanner mould feedback.  Thanks

So keeping the mould hot and/or running slightly hotter lead might alleviate the depth of pour/cooling issue.  OR did you try those remedies?

A 285 mould could be lapped out a bit if desired I figure, but have not tried it.

by the way I noticed that Tanner is now selling patches in lots of thicknesses and diameters for the pre-cut patch folks.  No specifics on the weave other than "cotton".
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Offline Bob Roller

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #23 on: October 27, 2019, 04:29:41 PM »
Quote from: Cajun72 on October 25, 2019, 05:22:33 PM
Well in the process of acquiring a .30 cal percussion muzzleloader. Current owners does not have a mold?
Any ideas to size/diameter I would need?
Thanks

A set of small hole gauges would be helpful for these situations.
Most industrial supply hoses have budget priced sets that go from
1/8" to 1/2".Larger holes will need a telescoping gauge or "snap gauge"
as some of us call them.
Bob Roller
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Offline smokinbuck

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Re: .30 cal round ball mold
« Reply #24 on: October 27, 2019, 05:09:52 PM »
All of the Tanner molds have long pouring channels. These based on the size of the mold blocks and size of the ball being created. Snipping off the long sprue is not a problem but I have had a flat milled on the mold block and installed sprue cutters on some. Not difficult.
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Mark
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