Rapine Moulds

Mason Stillwell · February 11, 2012, 09:15:19 PM

Ok I am going to ask a question that no one can answer. Why did some one not carry on the Rapine mould business. I have some of these moulds and they are great. I sure wish I could have bought more.

Later Mason

Hoof Hearted · February 11, 2012, 09:56:10 PM

OK...... I'm not going to answer your question, but I will agree with you!
Heated up two of them today and cast some heeled bullets.

The OWM are the next closest I have found.

Regards, HH

Fox Creek Kid · February 12, 2012, 01:45:02 AM

Because no one wanted to buy it, at least for what Ray thought it was worth. The bullet mould business is not vey lucrative to say the least. Rapine's largest customer base was the NSSA and they have dwindled tremendously. In case you haven't noticed, "black" guns rule the roost today, e.g., AR15's, Glocks, etc. 99% of shooters don't reload & even fewer cast. That's not for me say whether that is good or bad but just simply the way the market is.

Virginia Drifter · February 12, 2012, 06:17:21 AM

I would look for the Rapine molds to be back on the market starting this May. Business is in the process of changing owners and according to my source will have molds for sale at the N-SSA's Spring National Skirmish. As far as the N-SSA's numbers dwindling, that is incorrect. we may be down a hundred members from several years ago, but we are still alive and having fun skirmishing. We approved several new teams this January and there are several others joining later this year.

Linwood
AKA Virginia Drifter
N-SSA Commander

litl rooster · February 12, 2012, 06:51:45 AM

Fox Creek, you are generally right about "Black Guns" (everyone should own at least one) Most of the young people I work with, only knowledge of guns comes from video games or their actual military service. Like many our ages, most never touched one till boot camp. However there is a big swing of these youngster wanting 1911's and in recent months the buzz is Leverguns. I get questions daily from youngster, (most young enough to be a grandchild of mine) about 1911's or a Winchester. This includes the model 87 Winchester.( Go ask the old guy) Why?, video games feature them. Recently 2 of these guys asked about reloading, it surprized me. They however shoot 3 gun and are looking to hedge the price of ammo. I hope for the sake of the sport it changes and more younger people start moving this way.

BTW if you haven't been to a N-SSA Skirmish you need to go. I promise you will go home smelling of the sweet smell of burning sulpher. Then like me and a arm full of goodies from Settlers row.

Pony Racer · February 12, 2012, 06:57:35 AM

I think reloading may pick up actually since the price of ammo is not going down.

I have joked with folks that i don't know how the folks that shoot competition and don't reload do it.

The ammo costs for shooting one or two matches a month and then say 6 x 2-3 day matches a year far exceed the costs of the guns themselves...

PR

hellgate · February 12, 2012, 01:38:45 PM

Until I find a sponsor for my cap & ball "competitive shooting" in SASS I will continue to cast my own balls & bullets as well as reloading my own shotgun shells. I've been waiting for some time but miraculously, no one has picked me up. Don't understand why not.

Mason Stillwell · February 12, 2012, 03:02:31 PM

Ok Settle down. No I have not noticed Black Guns. I do not notice black guns. I hate black guns. And I also know that cap and ball or bp shooting is never going to be competitive or HAVE A SPONSOR .

However I love casting and got into is just about the time that Rapine was going out of business. I have some rapine moulds and love them. I would have bought more it they were still selling them new.

I tried a light hearted attempt at starting a conversation about rapine moulds.

Sorry

w44wcf · February 12, 2012, 04:17:45 PM

Mason,
A good friend of mine who has some Rapine molds owns a very successful tool shop and looked into possibly purchasing Rapine. As FCK indicated regarding the selling price, my friend, after analyzing everything, could not justify the expense.

It is too bad that Rapine is no more......
w44wcf

Fox Creek Kid · February 12, 2012, 06:09:03 PM

Quote from: Virginia Drifter on February 12, 2012, 06:17:21 AM
I would look for the Rapine molds to be back on the market starting this May. Business is in the process of changing owners and according to my source will have molds for sale at the N-SSA's Spring National Skirmish. As far as the N-SSA's numbers dwindling, that is incorrect. we may be down a hundred members from several years ago, but we are still alive and having fun skirmishing. We approved several new teams this January and there are several others joining later this year.

Linwood
AKA Virginia Drifter
N-SSA Commander

That's good news!! I wish I lived near a NSSA group, but alas I don't. But I think that you would admit that in the grand scheme of things authentic BP shooters are probably less than 1% of the overall shooting market.

Just think, if more people shot real BP then the "tree huggers" would be protesting at shooting events re the deforestation needed to make the charcoal.

That actually happened in the US with the bayberry bush in the 19th century used to make bullet lube, i.e., driven to the point of extinction.

Dick Dastardly · February 12, 2012, 06:35:44 PM

Howdy Mason Pard,

I'm still here. Alive, above the sod and wintering well. Let me know what you need and I'll do my best to supply it.

DD-MDA

Capt. Montgomery Little · February 12, 2012, 10:25:37 PM

The thing that has irritated me the most about Rapine Moulds is that I never could locate their website or a worthwhile address or phone #. Every time I tried that @#*%+?^&$ Internet would send me off to Never-Never (never gonna find it) Land or better known as the Land of Frustration. Always wanted a 44 cal hollow-based mould...now it looks like that won't ever happen. Sure hope someone has really bought them out and will put moulds back ijnto production.

pony express · February 12, 2012, 10:51:47 PM

Captain, have you checked at Old West Moulds for a hollow base .44?
http://www.oldwestbulletmoulds.com/

You'll have to call or e-mail for a specific bullet, he doesn't have a list on the website. That's where I got the heel base mould for my .38. He does do HB also, but doesn't list calibers on the web page.

Mason Stillwell · February 13, 2012, 08:01:12 AM

Dick , You are the one person I can depend on , for sure !. I have purchased several things from you in the past and will in the future. You do sell a quality product.

I have only one .454 hollow base Rapine mould and I know it will not last forever. I used to make and sell these boolits as they are very very accurate. My Colt's have a .454 barrel and the cylinder is somewhat less. I get leading with any other boolit except this hollow base 200 gr boolit from the Rapine mould. It has big lube groves but the hollow base allows it to expand when fired and seal that monster barrel .

Thanks All

Mason

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · February 13, 2012, 09:25:24 AM

How about NEI? I have a heeled .44 mould from them. It looks like they have a very wide selection of designs.

http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog.html

BTW; I have an order on its way from Big-Lube.

Matter of fact I have at least one of everybody's moulds, but mostly RCBS, Lyman, and Lee

Hoof Hearted · February 13, 2012, 07:43:03 PM

Quote from: pony express on February 12, 2012, 10:51:47 PM
Captain, have you checked at Old West Moulds for a hollow base .44?
http://www.oldwestbulletmoulds.com/

You'll have to call or e-mail for a specific bullet, he doesn't have a list on the website. That's where I got the heel base mould for my .38. He does do HB also, but doesn't list calibers on the web page.

I carry some of Bernie's (Old West Moulds) more popular designs on my web site at the same price that he sells them for if it helps you out..........

I also have personal NEI and Rapine moulds and both of them work well. Rapine had great "one handed" moulds for their hollow base designs. I hope they do come back!

Hoof Hearted · February 13, 2012, 07:49:15 PM

Quote from: Mason Stillwell on February 12, 2012, 03:02:31 PM
Ok Settle down. No I have not noticed Black Guns. I do not notice black guns. I hate black guns. And I also know that cap and ball or bp shooting is never going to be competitive or HAVE A SPONSOR .

However I love casting and got into is just about the time that Rapine was going out of business. I have some rapine moulds and love them. I would have bought more it they were still selling them new.

I tried a light hearted attempt at starting a conversation about rapine moulds.

Sorry

Hey !.................Why is it that WE (us old gun shooters) play into the media's BS with this whole "Black Gun" or the "A" word WEAPONS?

You know that is just perpetuating the problem...........I think we oughta adopt a no "A" word policy and start referring to them as Modern firearms