Re-aligning a Mold

[Griff]

the last few days, I've been slowly adding a few cast bullets to my inventory. Mostly for my BP CAS rounds. I'm 'em of wheel weights in an RCBS 45-225-CAV mold. I bought this mold in 1987 as it has a fairly big lube groove. Leaves a "star" on the muzzle so I know it carries enough lube. However, I noticed that it's started casting out of round. As cast they're about .451 x .452 diameter, but when run thru the .452 sizer, they're a pretty consistent .451" diameter. The lube groove is deep enough that it doesn't seem to affect it, but the crimp groove on one side becomes pretty shallow. The Lubri/sizer is a Saeco and while it was given to me second hand, I don't have any issues with any of the other bullets I run thru it. Since I keep it filled with SPG, it only sees my BP rounds for the .32-40, 40-90SBN & .45-70.

Frankly, I don't know how long it's been like this or how common or uncommon this is. None of my other molds seem to have this issue, my .30-30s from a Saeco #316 mold are like... perfect, and when sized in the RCBS Lubri/sizer are not out of alignment. I also don't know about how make this .452" sizer actually size to .452, vs. this .451, or could this be the result of shrinkage? I have another .452 sizer, that's new in the package, so maybe I need to install it and check it. Does anyone know how to realign a mold, or what's involved? I'm open to suggestion.

DSCN1698[1].JPG

DSCN1699[1].JPG

[marlinman93]

If it's typical of most molds the alignment pins might have some slop in them over time. Put the block half with the two alignment pin on it over a hard surface with a hole in it to let the pin sit in. Then use a drift punch a hammer and tap the pin from the outside to push in in more towards the other half of the mold. Check the two halves to make sure there's no gap if it moves too far. If there is any gap just tap the pin back with a brass hammer and try it again.

[Griff]

Thank you, I'll check it out in the morning.

[Griff]

Thank you Vall, that worked. Might not be perfect still, but... closer than it was... if it's not more'n .0005 out of round, I can live with it.

[marlinman93]

Thank you Vall, that worked. Might not be perfect still, but... closer than it was... if it's not more'n .0005 out of round, I can live with it.

Glad it worked. You can always tap the pins out a bit more if it needs it. Then put the blocks together and set them on a flat hard surface and give them a few taps and that will set them perfectly.

[LeverGunner]

I adjust the alignment pins until I can't feel any play whatsoever between the block halves. I've had several moulds that all that was wrong was they needed some slight adjustment to the pins.

I had a one that was made misaligned that I sent to Erik Ohlen and had him recut the alignment pin holes. He does excellent work.