If I order custom molds from Lee

[nowonder_1999]

Hey guys, Still looking for a good mold. My original Spencer is 56-50, and slugs .518  I've been looking for a .520, or .519 mold. No luck, at least with a big enough metaplat to load the magazine.

If I bite the bullet (pun intended) and order a custom mold  from LEE, would any of you guys be interested in buying some, and would any of you be interested in contributing to the design?

I like their .515, 350 grain bullet, but wider (.520, with deeper lube grooves is what I'm thinking. This is their site: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

I was thinking 2 cavity but could be talked into 6 cavity.

[Two Flints]

Hi Nowonder,

You posted the following comment - My original Spencer is 56-50, and slugs .518  - in your post above.  Would you explain the process involved in slugging your/any barrel?  It would be very much appreciated.

Have any other SSS members slugged their Spencer barrels?  How did you do it?  What's involved? Details, please. Don't leave out anything and explain what you do and how you do it COMPLETELY !

Thanks,

Two Flints

[Harve Curry]

Interesting that Nowonder's "My original Spencer is 56-50, and slugs .518"
My orignal measures .520"groove diameter.Rifling is bright and shiny without pits.
I use a Rapine mold no. 520350, and shoot it unsized with either SPG or 50/50 Alox-beeswax, applied with my fingers or run thru the lubesrizer with a custom sizer made to .521" .  It looks like a giant Keith style bullet.
I used Cerrosafe from Brownells to do a chamber cast that extended into the rifling and then measured that with a micrometer.
I also use pure lead round balls of a larger diameter then the caliber I'm "slugging". Starting with open action and  a clean lightly oiled barrel, tap it into the muzzle with a wood/plastic mallet, tap it down the barrel with a aluminum/wood rod till it falls out the breech. Then measuer the groove and depth of lands.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Lodgewood used to offer a Lee mould that cast a Smith carbine bullet at .518 from the mould I believe. Call 'em.

http://www.lodgewood.com/cartridge.htm

[matt45]

Hello the camp
     There is a product out there called 'Cerrosafe'.  It has a very low melting point, and is reletively easy to use.  I have used it when I wanted a look at the entire bore, or a section of it.  I haven't used it in a couple years, but it comes w/good instructions

[Fox Creek Kid]

Cerrosafe is only for a rudimentary reading & nothing more. Precision Shooting magazine did a test years ago with Cerrosafe and got different readings each time. Buy a box of .530 round balls & use one to slug the bore as you'll get a better reading. 

[Two Flints]

Fox Creek,

Thanks, but can you explain in some detail PLEASE how you use your round balls  to slug a Spencer barrel. I've not done any slugging, so the more I know about it, the more comfortable I'll feel trying it for the first time.

Thanks,

Two Flints

[Black River Smith]

Two Flint,  if you are being serious.  Take a piece of lead slightly larger than the barrels bore(like FCK suggestion of a 0.530" round ball).  Add a little grease/lube.  Place it at the muzzle and hammer it into the bore.  Use wood mallet.  Continue pushing/hammering the lead with a wooden rod (I use wood some may suggest other material) until it comes out the chamber.   Catch the formed 'slug' as it gets to the chamber so that it does not hit floor or solid surface and deform/reshape.

Now make your measurements off the 'slugged' lead.

The idea is that the larger lead piece fully fills the bore and rifling but still can be pushed through.

Sorry did not see your other posting and Harve Curry's response till after I posted this.  Oh well here it is again.

[Fox Creek Kid]

BRS hit the "lead" on the head!    Ideally, you only need to know the bore & groove diameter at the muzzle as invariably that is what the bullet will be when it leaves the barrel, but unless the barrel is a straight shot through, such as on a Sharps, you'll have to drive it all the way through. As BRS said, just be sure to liberally lube the ball before inserting. It's really very easy.

[Two Flints]

Black River Smith,

Yup, I was serious.  Thanks for the information on slugging.  I want to slug my original Spencer.  Appreciate the post! 

Fox Creek Kid, thanks also for replying on the slugging questions.  Always appreciate your posts!

Two Flints 

[nowonder_1999]

for slugging the .530 ball approach works best. I can tell you what not to do. I poured some lead down the barrel plugged with cotton, about an inch and a half or so nead the muzzle. Then drove it through the bore with a brass rod. My slug was too big, and there was prayer involved in getting it all the way through. It dropped out the last 4 inches or so. My bore is nowhere near the same dimensions front to back. You really need to know the minimum dimensions as that is what will contribute to your maximum pressures.

The case lube is a really really good idea. I got my half inch brass rod stuck in the barrel. Halfway in. I should have put the calibpers on it. I ended up threading the part of the rod sticking out the barrel, and running a nut and spacers down the rod, to back out the rod, then thread the newly exposed part, and run the nut down dsome more. Time spent on my knees praying was time well spent.

I tried a smith carbine mold from dixie, but the bullets were very pointed. Scared me. so I passed.

I have not found anyone who stocks rapine molds. 520350 might be just the ticket, Harve Curry, but who carries it? I would appreciate it if you could mail me a bullet from yours. I might get lee to duplicate it.

No takers on design or partners in the mold venture? I'm looking to defray the $100.00 set up cost. Pictures of your favorite bullets would help. my email is kmurphy@houston.rr.com if you are interested.

I have been somewhat distracted from the Spencer of late. Rodeo is in town, and my Open Top just got here, and got it's firing pin replaced. .44 Colt, points like a dream, and groups like a laser. Life is good.

[French Jack]

I checked the bullets from my Lyman 515139 mould, cast with 1-30 alloy, and the base band mikes .520.  I size it down to .515 for my 56-50 Taylor's.  The driving bands are tapered from front to back.  You might try to get some unsized and lube them up and see how they do.  Bullet weight is 340+/- depending on alloy.  Nice big meplat.

You might consider ordering custom moulds from NEI Handtools, they will make about anything you can dream up, and have a very large selection of bullet designs to choose from.  The price is reasonable, and they are far and away better quality than anything LEE turns out.
http://www.neihandtools.com 

[Two Flints]

Hi French Jack,

Visited http://www.neihandtools.com and found this page in their catalog with a Spencer bullet produced by one of their moulds.  Anyone familiar with this mould and bullet?



Two Flints

[French Jack]

That's a close copy of the original bullet for the 56-50 or .52 spencer.