New RCBS Bullet Mold

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Last Post 05 February 2024

CBA Member

mashburn posted this 02 February 2024

Over the years, RCBS bullet molds, have been one of my favorites. Until recently, I had never used a recently manufactured RCBS mold. Mine all date to the late 70''S or early 80'S. I've heard so many rumors, pertaining to the poor quality of the newer RCBS molds. After giving the mold a proper cleaning, I cast bullets today. Was I surprised; this mold worked great. It warmed up exceptionally fast and almost immediately started producing great bullets. After getting up to the correct temperature, which didn't take long, I never cast a reject bullet. When you open the mold, the bullets literally just fall out effortless.

The only gripe that I have, which is no big problem, is the edges and corners of the mold are sharp, and I mean sharp. They do not have the edges and corners radiused. A few minutes with some sandpaper backed by a file and this problem will be taken care of. I had to back order this mold and it took a long time before I received it. Matter of fact, I had forgotten that I had ordered it until it showed up in the mail.The mold is an 8.15X46R 180 Gr. GC mold. I had three different brands of gas checks and they all popped on very nicely. If all new RCBS molds work this well, I'm not scared to buy another, despite all of the bad information, out there.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Online CBA Member

Aaron posted this 02 February 2024

It has been my experience that most of the rumors of poor product, Lee-menting, and other foul-mouthing of molds, has been the result of inexperience and/or poor casting technique, and mostly, lack of knowledge of the craft. Go to YouTube and watch the videos of these "experts" plying the craft. Heart wrenching. I just want to rescue the molds that haven't been deformed or otherwise ruined by the abuser.

I am very fond of ALL of my molds, be they RCBS, Lee, Lyman, NOE, Old West, Accurate, or NEI. New molds or old molds of mine all perform well. Bad casts have ALWAYS been the result of my input variables like too fast a cadence, too slow a cadence, incorrect alloy, improper prep of the mold, incorrect alloy temperature, loose cutoff plate, improper feed method, or some other such physical variable.

Every now and then, the casting gods are just messing with me, and nothing I can do for that casting session will appease them. I have learned that on those days, simply turning off the pot and walking away is the best thing I can do. Come back at it a day later and wonder of wonders, everything rolls just fine.

There is that "relative humidity" debate roiling around. To the point however, the mold is not the problem. I was the problem. That's not to say a batch of new molds may be on the fine edge of the QA spectrum. I just have not had any of them.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Idahocaster posted this 02 February 2024

I have only used two RCBS molds, of unknown date of manufacture, but my experience had been like yours. Quick warm up, drops great bullets, and they fall right out. The biggest thing holding me back from getting new RCBS molds is the price. They've really gone up lately, just like everything else!

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Larry Gibson posted this 02 February 2024

"It has been my experience that most of the rumors of poor product, Lee-menting, and other foul-mouthing of molds, has been the result of inexperience and/or poor casting technique, and mostly, lack of knowledge of the craft."

Amen to that......

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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Standard Member

OU812 posted this 02 February 2024

My first experience with RCBS mould was a rookie mistake. The bases of bullets were rounded and not filling out. After calling RCBS the cure was simply loosening sprue plate. Now I know better.

The RCBS 38 caliber 158 gt. Cowboy mould is my most used. Mould is no longer in production.

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CBA Member

admiral posted this 02 February 2024

The last RCBS mold I bought almost a year ago is was the 7mm-168-SP. It's well made and casts great. Only problem is it won't fit my M70 XTR Featherweight 7x57. The nose ride section is .280" and my bore is .276"

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Match Director

linoww posted this 03 February 2024

"mold is an 8.15X46R 180 Gr. GC "

Im not familiar with that RCBS design.

They make a 32 and 8mm of qbout the same shape that I have.

Post a couple pics please.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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CBA Member

.22-10-45 posted this 04 February 2024

Have a few RCBS moulds, never a problem with them until I bought a .30 180gr. FP GC. This was a NOS. Using a med. hard alloy of range scrap with some tin added, I am getting SERIOUS whiskers from nose to base. Tried slathering mold prep onto faces to block vents without luck .. thicker layer? .might have to try another alloy, and or play with temp. Bullets look nice otherwise, and shoot well. I can't send it back..discontinued. any suggestions? Thanks.

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Online CBA Member

Aaron posted this 04 February 2024

De-crud the entire mold. Ensure the "mold prep" goop is removed in its entirety. Use an acid brush and Methyl Ethyl Ketone or Acetone to clean mold. ENSURE THE ALIGNMENT PINS are CLEAN and bright.

Cast with a KNOWN alloy of Lyman #2 or Linotype or some other KNOWN alloy from RotoMetals. Ensure alloy and mold are up to temperature. Apply slight pressure (squeeze) to mold handles if still feathering. If slight squeezing cures it, alignment pins may be out of whack. If squeezing now does not prevent feathering, the mold may be warped due to heat or it may have a bump in it not seen by the naked eye. It may have been dropped on a floor in the past.

I have no idea what a "NOS" is.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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