I don't recommend that you try this !

[Ben]

I had an old .35 cal. ( 38/357 ) NOE 175 gr. WFN , 2 cav. G/C mold on hand.

Recently , I purchased a 10" bull barrel, 357 mag. barrel for my T/C Contender pistol.Today , I thought I'd like to remove the g/c shank from one of the cavities of the 2 cavity mold and shoot some of them in my Contender, 357 mag.

This is tricky work and it is VERY EASY to totally ruin a mold using this technique. As a consequence, I don't recommend that you try this.

However, if you want to know how I did it, here goes......I took a black Sharpie pen and colored the g/c shank. Then I took a H/S steel cutter and chucked it up in my Dremel. Working very slowly, I removed the colored area ( the g/c shank ) removing only about .002 at a time, then stop , measure and re-coat with the Sharpie pen. I tried hard to keep the cutter parallel with the sides of the bullet while cutting. I continued with this technique until all the g/s shank was removed. The bullets are amazingly round and size out well to .358". Can't wait to try these.

Ben









Here are the bullets sized .358 " and lubed with Ben's Red :

[nagantguy]

Nice work, I like when folks use what's on hand to make what they want. Real cool and great looking boolits.

[Ben]

Nice work, I like when folks use what's on hand to make what they want. Real cool and great looking boolits.

Many Thanks !

Ben

[dilly]

Well I could certainly destroy some molds with that technique.

Glad you were able to make it work, very impressive.

[silverado]

That looks like a great job!!!

[texassako]

Your braver than me and my shaky hands. Well done on the removal.

[freebullet]

Fine job sir.

Hey where'd you hear about Ben's red?

[Ben]

From a local witch doctor.

[freebullet]

Lol, sorry I couldn't resist.

I just picked up the accurate 359180 from another member here. Can't wait to try it out in the gp100.

[Ben]

I'm thinking that my 180 gr. WFN , plain base version at moderate velocities in the 357 Mag. may work just fine.

If speed is the game, I can always cast out of the remaining g/c cavity.

Best of both worlds..........

Ben

[MT Gianni]

I did three cavities from a Lee Group buy version. Interestingly the PB does good work even in the 357 Max if not pushed overly hard. I used a machinist vise and 23/64" drill bit IIRC. The best part is a sizer die can take some of the ugly off if you are less talented than Ben.

[abqcaster]

I'm currently working up the nerve to do something like this to remove the bevel base on my lee 358-158RF. I think patience is my biggest hurdle...

[popper]

remove the bevel base

Easy to do with an xacto blade- but why?

[abqcaster]

Easy to do with an xacto blade- but why?

My PB gas checks will seat better that way.

[Donor8x56r]

I did the same thing to Lee 8mm KAR mold-shortened it by about 1/8 and removed shank (actually grease groove but they where the same size) with Dremel tool.

I didn't to it nearly as nice as you,kinda buggered it.I made maybe 2K of those bullets and shoot them with Turk Mauser.

They work perfectly fine and still pack really good punch even under 1200 Fps.

[Ben]

I did the same thing to Lee 8mm KAR mold-shortened it by about 1/8 and removed shank (actually grease groove but they where the same size) with Dremel tool.

I didn't to it nearly as nice as you,kinda buggered it.I made maybe 2K of those bullets and shoot them with Turk Mauser.

They work perfectly fine and still pack really good punch even under 1200 Fps.


Where there is a will, there is a way...................

[MtGun44]

We don't need no stinking cherries!

(To paraphrase from The Treasure of Sierra Madre).

Well DONE! You get the "Steady Hand of the Week" award and are automatically
entered in the "Steady Hand of the Year" runoffs.

Bill

[Ben]

Thanks Bill,

That will be a cherished honor ! !

Ben

[GP100man]

A dremel tool & I are a fairly dangerous combination !!!

[Ben]

GP100man

Like matches and gas......a VERY dangerous combination.

( I don't think I want to try this twice, the odds aren't in my favor )

Ben