Real progress at Big Lube, finally.

Dick Dastardly · July 12, 2011, 09:08:45 AM

I spent the day yesterday at the plant in Elgin, IL test casting my new production Big Lube®LLC molds. We made up a six cavity mold in 1/1000" increments from two under to three over and test cast bullets. Then, we miked the bullets and chose the size that dropped the proper bullets cast with Lyman #2 alloy at 750°F. This shrink data, gathered from actual castings, was then programmed into the CNC programs that will produce the new Big Lube®LLC molds. The days of out of spec molds are over.

I have one new mold that we made up after that and will cast bullets with it here at the ranch today.

Production has commenced and I will very soon have all the original Big Lube®LLC designs back in stock. We will be adding the Springfield Slim designs for the 38Slim, 44Slim and 45Slim molds soon. Then, we will be adding six cavity round ball molds for .380", .454" and .457" diameters.

Thanks for hanging in there. Back orders will soon be filled. I appreciate the patience of all of you that have placed orders and waited, and waited, and waited. Your wait is soon over and you will be casting Big Lube®LLC bullets from your new very high precision molds.

Best regards,

DD-DLoS

john boy · July 12, 2011, 11:30:00 AM

Quotechose the size that dropped the proper bullets cast with Lyman #2 alloy at 750°F.

Dick, good choice on the alloy. I would have chosen the same Brinell 15 hardness as the Lyman #2. Will work also with WW's that are in the 13.5 to 15.4 Bhn range.
May take some convincing to folks that cast in the Bhn 10 to 11 range, saying they need a softer bullet with original gunpowder reloads

For the good of the order - what are the base diameters for the calibers that was cranked into the CNC program? Does this include all the molds, and if any are excluded, like the BPCR, bullets, which ones are they?

Dick Dastardly · July 12, 2011, 03:38:41 PM

Howdy JB,

We're trying to remain honest to the original bullet designers, so the sizes will be as original, only more precise from batch to batch. I have the original drawings and we want to drop bullets that conform to the original specs. The reason for Lyman #2 alloy is that that way we have a standard. Then, if a pardner gets a mold that drops out of spec bullets we can quickly narrow down his problem. It'll usually be a case of inadequate mold cavity fill and that's usually due to heat or contamination. Actual shrink rates do vary from alloy to alloy, but not as much as many think. A good clean alloy in the BH range of Lyman #2 should answer any questions.

I have customers all over the planet and it's not always easy to have a product returned for correction. That's why I went with an ultra precise manufacturing process and a standard alloy.

As to base diameters, they won't change but they will be more precise and accurate to the original drawings.

FWIW I am pondering the possibility of bringing out a Big Lube®LLC version of your favorite 44-40 cal Lyman mold, but in a six cavity model. Yes, it would haul more lube than the Lyman product, but not as much as the Mav Dutchman. The intent would be for those shooters that shoot longer distances than Cowboy Action main matches.

DD-DLoS

Fox Creek Kid · July 12, 2011, 06:13:55 PM

Quote from: Dick Dastardly on July 12, 2011, 03:38:41 PM...FWIW I am pondering the possibility of bringing out a Big Lube®LLC version of your favorite 44-40 cal Lyman mold, but in a six cavity model. Yes, it would haul more lube than the Lyman product, but not as much as the Mav Dutchman. The intent would be for those shooters that shoot longer distances than Cowboy Action main matches...

Now THAT would be an excellent idea!!

will52100 · July 13, 2011, 07:08:57 AM

Sounds great! And can't wait to see the 6 cavity round ball mould.

Thanks for the update Dick, and for producing a great product and service.

Bottom Dealin Mike · July 13, 2011, 08:27:49 AM

Good work Dick!

Mako · July 13, 2011, 09:58:24 AM

Dick,
When I first read your post I thought you had already determined your ball mold sizes with Alloy #2 as well. Then I read more carefully and saw you hadn't done them yet.

I'm assuming you're going to size them with pure lead instead of an alloy, is that correct? What about the EPP-UG and the DD-ROA bullets which were originally designed for percussion pistols? Will the cavity size be developed with #2 alloy or pure lead?

I think it's great you are going to that level of detail, it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside... And we will all benefit from it.

~Mako

wildman1 · July 13, 2011, 10:01:17 AM

If I use pure lead in my Biglube mold am I going to get a bullet larger or smaller than #2 alloy? WM

Tascosa Joe · July 13, 2011, 10:09:54 AM

DD:
The 44-40 sounds like an awesome product.
T-Joe

hellgate · July 13, 2011, 11:49:36 AM

Wildman,
Pure lead shrinks more than alloys. The real hard stuff shrinks the least. I would hope/think that molds for C&Bs would be for pure lead.

wildman1 · July 13, 2011, 12:17:28 PM

I'm more concerned with the molds for the Biglube 45's. If my RB's are a little small I just use a little thicker patch for my front stuffers. Haven't started casting for my C&B's yet. WM

Dick Dastardly · July 13, 2011, 10:26:30 PM

The Big Lube®LLC round ball molds will be sized for dead soft lead. That's the proper metal for those guns that are made for round balls. Round balls are expected to shave a thin lead ring as they are seated.

The more modern EPP-UG and DD/PUK/ROA-II molds have narrow driving bands that easily lube/size to a variety of sizes. For this reason they will be made to drop harder bullets to spec. I've found that wheel weight metal sizes very easily with either the EPP-UG or DD/PUK/ROA-II molds. Since they are already being used by many cartridge guns as well as C&B guns, they will be manufactured to drop in spec bullets from alloys harder than dead soft lead. It is expected that, as before, these bullets will be lube/sized to chamber dimensions before loading.

Regardless, I'll be testing any and all of them before I release them to the market. I want happy shooters, not problems.

The actual design that I tested at the factory was the PRS. The bullets drop at .455", the minimum consistent with lube/sizing to .454". They size to .452" for those that prefer the smaller size.

DD-DLoS

hellgate · July 13, 2011, 10:39:00 PM

Great & sensible!
Let us know when the ball molds will be available and how much. I've been awaitin' a LLLLLOOOOOOoooooonnnnggggg time.

Marshal Deadwood · July 16, 2011, 11:09:35 PM

Well, Dick, don't forget that I want a Mav Dutchman .430 diam , 200 gr mold from you !

Just let me know when ya have it ready to go.

Marshal Deadwood

Dick Dastardly · July 17, 2011, 08:26:13 AM

Actually Marshall,

The new Mav Dutchman molds are programmed to drop .431" diameter bullets. This is because this bullet gets lube/sized all the way from .427" to .430". It'll have a deeper crimp grove, for those of you that size it smaller, the OAL will remain the same and the weight should be the same. The deeper crimp grove is because some pards wanted this to prevent wiping out the crimp grove when they sized the bullets down to .427" or .428".

The 44 Cal bullets are used in a wider variety of chamber and bore diameters than most. They will continue to serve 44 Russian, 44 S&W Special, 44 MAGNUM (ELR) and 44-40 Winchester(44 WRA) guns.

New tooling for the Mav Dutchman is being machined now. Three other Big Lube®LLC bullet mold designs are to be shipped tomorrow. I'll be filling back orders next week. Please check my web site (http://www.biglube.com) for availability of mold designs.

DD

Noz · July 18, 2011, 02:54:16 PM

I will take my shirt off now and get ready for the flogging but I would like to see a bevel base on the Dutchman. It would be so much easier to load in those thin 44-40 cases.

Dick Dastardly · July 18, 2011, 06:28:25 PM

I agree Noz, but a flat base shoots more accurately with black powder and it is true to the original designer's bullet profile. However, I'd be happy to make you a bevel base Mav Dutchman if you'd be willing to pay the $100 setup fee. A new tool would have to be ordered to make your mold. Should there be a purchase of Ten or more of these molds, the "setup" fee would be waived.

So, it can be done, less expensive if there's demand.

Hope this helps.

DD

Springfield Slim · July 23, 2011, 11:58:46 AM

Sounds like you are on the right track. The biggest problem I have had in the past is small moulds. Both of my PRS moulds barely drop .454, one is more like .4535. But I like to use softer alloy, in the 9-10 Brinnell range. Haven't found that harder alloy helps anything, not with BP, not at cas distances.

FriscoCounty · July 25, 2011, 02:07:04 PM

Dick,
What need's to happen to get a mold of the Mako-Henry .44 Russian bullet as Mako described it in the "how would the .44 rim fire stack up with todays ammo?"http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,35624.0.html
thread? I really have a hankering to be able to shoot .44 Russian in my .44Spcl 1866 without the cowboy carrier.

Frisco County.

Mako · July 25, 2011, 03:17:30 PM

Frisco,

Excuse me for butting in, but that bullet is not a Big Lube style bullet. I'm actually familiar with that design...

I'm not sure that Dick will be interested in it, if he is, then that's fine. There is a better choice for you for a "one off" mold which doesn't require a cherry to be cut. There are several sources if you want to pay for a cherry.

~Mako