Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using brass bullet molds? I see that some mold makers are offering them in addition to steel or iron.
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Brass molds
- Thread starter jefair1
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Scota@4570
54 Cal.
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Brass does not rust. Iron blocks need to be oiled after use. They must be oil free to use. This creates extra work.
Aluminum is cheaper. IT does not rust. It is lighter. It heats up faster. I buy molds made of aluminum when I can. I prefer to make molds out of aluminum, it's easier to machine cleanly.
Aluminum is cheaper. IT does not rust. It is lighter. It heats up faster. I buy molds made of aluminum when I can. I prefer to make molds out of aluminum, it's easier to machine cleanly.
hanshi
Cannon
What he said (above). I have a .590" tanner brass mold and like it.
Mustakrakish
32 Cal
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In addition to what's already been said, brass holds heat better than aluminum; this can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your casting cadence. Some experienced casters claim that a well-seasoned brass mold will throw cleaner bullets than steel or aluminum, but I'm not sure whether that's true or not. They certainly look nice if that matters. They also hold up to (ab)use better than aluminum.
Disadvantages? Not inexpensive and heavier than steel or aluminum. The weight isn't a problem for short sessions but if you're planning on making a mountain of bullets in one sitting, you'll probably notice it.
Like Scota, I'm a fan of aluminum, partially for the low price but mostly because it gains (and sheds) heat so quickly, which works well with my casting process. It's easy to ding one up if you're not careful, but they're cheap enough that replacing one isn't heartbreaking.
Thanks for the inputs. I was looking to order a mold and noticed a longer wait time for aluminum and steel than for brass.
SmokepoleSam
45 Cal.
Thegunworks usually has molds in stock
