Big Lube®LLC Six Cavity Round Ball mold prototype is here.

[Dick Dastardly]

I got the prototype Big Lube®LLC Six Cavity Round Ball mold today.  I prepped it, assembled it, heated it up and cast some bullets with it.  It's a .457" mold but the balls drop at .458" as cast with my bullet alloy.  I suspect that the shrinkage of pure lead would bring them closer to .457".

Balls!  Those balls pile up quick.  They simply roll out of the cavities with no need to tap anything with my wood mallet.  Pour, cut, dump and pour again.  Because the balls weigh less than other 44/45 Cal bullets, the mold blocks don't seem to heat up as fast and production remains high even after the first hundred or so.  Pour, cut, dump, pour, cut, dump, pour, cut, dump.  Do this 17 times and you've already got 100 balls in the box, all shiny and new.  I'm excited.  I've never cast bullets this fast before.  Pour, cut, dump, pour, cut, dump, pour, cut, dump.  Holy lead spheres Batman!  It's rainin' balls here.

Since this is only a prototype it'll be a while before I can get my hands on any to sell.  I'll be pushin' my machinist/engineer real hard to get them in stock.  Soon as they are, I'll be posting them on my web page in the bullet molds drop down section.  http://www.biglube.com

I'll be posting a photo of the mold later today or early tomorrow.

DD-DLoS

[hellgate]

Thanks, DD.
I hope you have kept your list of who wants what. I've been assuming that I'm toward the front of the line for a 6 cav .454 mold.

[Blackpowder Burn]

I'll be waiting for a 0.454 mold. 

[Dick Dastardly]

I've placed orders for three sizes.  .457", .454" and .380".  These will be cut in the Big Lube®LLC Six cavity Professional platform.  All parts, handles and procedures will be interchangeable.  In other words, any one that has used the big six cavity aluminum block molds before will be able to use these with ease.

I'm happy to be able to say that this project is now coming to a favorable outcome.  These molds will become a part of the Big Lube®LLC standard inventory.

DD-DLoS

[Blackpowder Burn]

Dick,

Just let us know when they are available.  I've just got to have another Big Lube mold to add to my growing inventory.  You realize that you're addicting, don't you?  Is there a DD Anonymous group?

[StrawHat]

Good News!  I will patiently wait for the production models to arrive!

[will52100]

Good news, can't wait for the production models.

[Wills Point Pete]

 Yanno, back before the lawyers ruined everything I used to load my off duty revolver with two triple aught buckshot over a stiff charge of Unique. There is no reason the same thing wouldn't work in the .45 Colt case. And now that I'm long retired, I don't give a rat's patootie about the lawyers. In the .38 those balls would hit about three inches apart at ten yards.

Dick, send me a hundred or so of those shiny lead balls, I'll size them right quick and work up a (two legged) coyote load for your customers. Probably have to use that heathen fad smokeyless stuff, though. The Holy Black is most likely too bulky to fit two balls and a powder charge. There is no reason one could not get a double ball load to get 750-850 out of a Colt or clone, more from an old style Ruger. Those balls run, what? about 140 grains, right? It'd be like swatting a goblin with two .38s every time you squeezed the trigger.

[Dick Dastardly]

I'll run some thru the .454" sizing die and see how they look.  If they work out I'll report back.  Never thought of running two of 'em in 45 Colt.  No reason it wouldn't work out tho.  I'd be shootn' 'em in my ancient ROAs via Kirst Konverter cylinders.  That's one tough rig.

DD-DLoS

[Mossyrock]

So Dick...how big IS the lube groove on those round balls?   

[Dick Dastardly]

Here's the photo.

DD-DLoS

[Dick Dastardly]

Ho Mossyrock,

You want lube, buy the EPP-UG mold that emulates round ball size and performance but has a true Big Lube®LLC grove.

DD-DLoS

[john boy]

Dick, should be a seller.
For the good of the order using Lee moulds:
* Screw in the handle bolt nut so the handles don't wiggle up and down.  Mold halves mate exactly then and the mold lines diminish appreciably.
* Stone the edges of the sprue plate and it won't gall the top of the mould
BTW, nice picture!

[Dick Dastardly]

These aren't LEE molds.  They are entirely manufactured and assembled here in the USA.  The handle bolt is adjustable.  It can be snugged up as needed.  It has a very good locking nut that doesn't back up.

The Big Lube®LLC sprue plates are thicker, flatter and better finished than other similar ones.  Bull Plate is supplied with each Big Lube®LLC mold.  Between the fine finish on the metal and the use of Bull Plate mold lube, galling is a thing of the past.

FWIW, look at the picture.  Do you see any parting lines?  The balls were randomly placed on the set with no thought given to orientation.  Should be some parting lines showing, if there are any. . .

DD-DLoS

[Montana Slim]

FWIW, look at the picture.  Do you see any parting lines?  The balls were randomly placed on the set with no thought given to orientation.  Should be some parting lines showing, if there are any. . .
DD-DLoS

Yep..I can spot the partiing line on some of the balls in the pic....but no more than from most of my current molds..nice looking setup.

Regards,
Slim

[fourfingersofdeath]

Hornady balls are the only ones available here and sell for $17 for a box of 100 I'd soon get my money back with that one!

[Smokin Gun]

Well done Dick, that's a real good idea ... temptin' me with that .457" Prototype ... lookin' forward to further reports and the production molds comming in. The only mold size I don't have currently is the .454" ... but all but my Pietta 1860 and my Belgian Centaure 1860 use the .457's ... and of course the ROAs and my Colt Sig Dragoon love the .457" balls.
Good job on them Molds Dick.

[will52100]

real good looking mould.  It looks real similar to lee's 6 cavity moulds, which I like there design.  I never could figer out why lee wouldn't make a six cavity round ball mould.  I tried to get them to make some a few years ago, but they told me they couldn't do it.

Looking forward to the production .454 and .380 moulds

[Dick Dastardly]

Soon as I have a batch in hand I'll put it up on my web site.  .457" first, .454" second and then .380".  They are in the cue, now the darn wait.  I'm not very good at waiting.

DD-DLoS

[StrawHat]

Any thought to cutting molds for the larger bores?  Say .570, .610 and .710 or thereabout?

There's got to be some 58s, Charlevilles and Besses that need feeding.