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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Big Bore AirGun Gate => Topic started by: AGEnthused2 on October 08, 2019, 12:28:41 AM

Title: Mold for Hercules
Post by: AGEnthused2 on October 08, 2019, 12:28:41 AM
I ordered a refurbed Hercules today in 45 caliber, I have read that bullets around 160 ish weight should be short enough to work.
Any recommendations for molds?
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: AGEnthused2 on October 08, 2019, 12:57:03 AM
According to airgundepot 240 grain flat nose bullets should fit. It only I could find my micrometer I would measure the length of my truncated bullets, I have about 300 already cast.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: rsterne on October 08, 2019, 02:14:00 AM
I don't know what your magazine length is.... but the .458 cal BBT from NOE is 0.573" long.... It is 244 gr. as a FN and 229 gr. as a HP....

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=42_550 (http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=42_550)

There are quite a few .452-.454 cal pistol bullets at NOE as well....

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=41 (http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=41)

They also plan a pellet mould which is 0.588" long.... and will be able to cast pellets at 166, 178 or 190 gr....

Bob
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: SAGERAT NITEMARE on October 08, 2019, 07:19:41 PM
GOTO Accurate Molds and look at their 45 cal bullets in the online catalog...the weight, shape, and length are all listed...they will make you a mold within certain specs.  Mountain Mold is another place where you can design your own bullet shape and weight...some of the PG cast bullet providers have the other dimensions posted...check out Midway, Midsouth or go online...LOTTSA INFO available there that is still being added to AG forums.

Many black powder forums have good info on bullets that work well at lower velos.

Pyramyd says the 45 cal is 16 mm deep, that's about 0.630".

If you want to hunt small and larger game at longer distance goto a POINTED bullet or one with a small meplate...the hold their velos MUCH BETTER at the longer ranges.

Good Hunting.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: Sbak on October 08, 2019, 09:48:34 PM
Size of meplat makes little to no difference in terms of ballistics while subsonic
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: rkr on October 09, 2019, 01:28:58 AM
Try EPP-UGs, best bullet in my .45 Evanix.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: VaporTrail on October 09, 2019, 03:48:15 AM
does size of meplat matter for impact? Energy dump and all that.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: Wayne52 on October 09, 2019, 06:11:24 AM
Paul for small caliber I've had 23 grain .22 pellets fragment going through a squirrel skull, I recovered part of a pellet in the nap of a neck on a squirrel and there was another hole in the hide where the fragment exited.  They really do dump energy good but nothing like a hollow point slug does.  The part of the pellet that I recovered weighed 15.66 grains.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/7807/32610970278_13bf083472_z.jpg)
The pellet was cast in NOE 217-24-RF which is a meplat design.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: maraudinglizard on October 09, 2019, 07:26:00 AM
I am using a hollow base slug made for muzzleloaders in my 909. They weigh about 155gr.  Lyman makes several molds for muzzleloaders that will shoot in the .45's. Most of these molds are discontinued and can be found on Ebay. Accurate Molds have several to choose from and you can specify in your order the diameter you need. Look for the ones that have Air Gun under them.
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=15 (http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=15)

(https://i.imgur.com/LcZiS6hm.jpg)
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: rkr on October 09, 2019, 09:31:24 AM
I am using a hollow base slug made for muzzleloaders in my 909. They weigh about 155gr.  Lyman makes several molds for muzzleloaders that will shoot in the .45's. Most of these molds are discontinued and can be found on Ebay. Accurate Molds have several to choose from and you can specify in your order the diameter you need. Look for the ones that have Air Gun under them.
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=15 (http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=15)

(https://i.imgur.com/LcZiS6hm.jpg)

The question is if the probe will push those hollow base bullets past the transfer port? That's not an issue in 909 but is a problem with needle nose probes. I know such bullet wouldn't work in Evanix (unfortunately).
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: maraudinglizard on October 09, 2019, 10:16:07 AM
I am using a hollow base slug made for muzzleloaders in my 909. They weigh about 155gr.  Lyman makes several molds for muzzleloaders that will shoot in the .45's. Most of these molds are discontinued and can be found on Ebay. Accurate Molds have several to choose from and you can specify in your order the diameter you need. Look for the ones that have Air Gun under them.
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=15 (http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=15)

(https://i.imgur.com/LcZiS6hm.jpg)

The question is if the probe will push those hollow base bullets past the transfer port? That's not an issue in 909 but is a problem with needle nose probes. I know such bullet wouldn't work in Evanix (unfortunately).

This is true for the guns with probes, these mold did come with a pin that made them flat base and produced a 200gr. slug. There are Lyman molds that are flat base that are similar to this one without the pin. Below is info on the molds and their sizes. Most of these molds are single cavity and are made of leaded steel.


http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm (http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm)

http://www.darkcanyon.net/lymancastbulletinfo.html (http://www.darkcanyon.net/lymancastbulletinfo.html)
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: AGEnthused2 on October 09, 2019, 10:47:20 AM
Thanks everyone for your input, the Hercules’ magazines should allow for a wide range of projectiles, so lots of room for experimenting.
I have two 45 acp molds, round nose and truncated cone, both bullets are under 16mm, I have found some CAS bullets which are marketed as being soft, so I may try those.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: SAGERAT NITEMARE on October 09, 2019, 03:49:44 PM
Meplat or not, pointy or not, hi velo or not, etc...are all very contentious subjects...actually I think in subsonic applications and close distances a FN, FB flying beer can works very well.  In the "old days" I used the 38 cal hollow base wad-cutters loaded backwards in several 38/357 pistols as "home protection"...and they worked very well on anything I hit...great for "jerky deer"...the same for 44 SP/44 mag. I suspect they would work just as well in an AG application.

Just so many variations as to what really happens and personal bias tends to cloud the issue...

My thoughts..USE WHAT YOU THINK WORKS BEST FOR YOU...I DO!!!!  Never had any problems "taking home the bacon" as long as I put the bullet/pellet where it does the most good. ;D 8)

Good Shooting.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: VaporTrail on October 09, 2019, 07:39:45 PM
Paul for small caliber I've had 23 grain .22 pellets fragment going through a squirrel skull, I recovered part of a pellet in the nap of a neck on a squirrel and there was another hole in the hide where the fragment exited.  They really do dump energy good but nothing like a hollow point slug does.  The part of the pellet that I recovered weighed 15.66 grains.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/7807/32610970278_13bf083472_z.jpg)
The pellet was cast in NOE 217-24-RF which is a meplat design.

Good gravy, Wayne. No wonder you're thumping all those tree nuggets!  :o

How fast are those pellets being pushed? They're definitely dumping energy...maybe they're a good compromise between HPs and Domed.

Meplat or not, pointy or not, hi velo or not, etc...are all very contentious subjects...actually I think in subsonic applications and close distances a FN, FB flying beer can works very well.  In the "old days" I used the 38 cal hollow base wad-cutters loaded backwards in several 38/357 pistols as "home protection"...and they worked very well on anything I hit...great for "jerky deer"...the same for 44 SP/44 mag. I suspect they would work just as well in an AG application.

Just so many variations as to what really happens and personal bias tends to cloud the issue...

My thoughts..USE WHAT YOU THINK WORKS BEST FOR YOU...I DO!!!!  Never had any problems "taking home the bacon" as long as I put the bullet/pellet where it does the most good. ;D 8)

Good Shooting.

Hmm...I remember seeing those beer can slugs on that mattsbullets site. I wonder how they would do in the Win35.

OP, just in case you'd like to check it out, they have a bunch of 45cal stuff to take a look at. You could order some and see how they work, and if they work out good, then maybe you can order a mold. I'll be getting a .45 Bully later, so I may end up going down the casting route.

Link, just in case:

https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71&zenid=us17uh5hjsvbeg079emqvfm2j1 (https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71&zenid=us17uh5hjsvbeg079emqvfm2j1)
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: AGEnthused2 on October 09, 2019, 10:35:13 PM
I checked out Matt’s bullets, I may give some of them a try. First I need to receive the airgun.
Title: Re: Mold for Hercules
Post by: SAGERAT NITEMARE on October 10, 2019, 01:13:21 PM
HOW various weights/shapes/profiles actually work has NOTHING to do with what gun shoots them...it's usually, but NOT ALWAYS, down to velo and shot placement...and also HOW the projectile reacts to the twist rate and bore/grooves.

As always your gun and targets will give you the answers...I KNOW, old record, but sweet all the same. ;) 8) ::)

Good Shooting.