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Casting cores is practical from .185 to .365 diameter (suitable for .224 through .458 jacketed bullets, or .20 to .375 lead bullets, with the CM-4 Adjustable Core Mould, which makes four lead cores of adjustable weight at one time. Larger diameters, from .365 up to .700 inches, can be made three at a time with the CM-3 Magnum Core Mould. Large diameter cores (.390, .430) are used for 50 BMG, larger bore paper patched and other lead bullets. Cores of .500, .600, and .700 diameter are used for shotgun slugs up to 12 gauge.
The CM-4 mounts to the reloading bench (or, for those who mount a vise on their bench, to a short piece of 2 X 4 inch wood which is then clamped in the vise). There is no need for a mould handle, as the sprue cutter is long enough to push gently with a gloved hand (wear heat-resistant gloves and face protection when handling molten lead). The lead is simply poured into the "bathtub" slot, in the top of the sprue cutter/handle. It runs down into the cylinders, which are fitted with pistons that rest on an adjustable stop bar. The bar can be set to different heights, to change the volume displacement of the cylinders, and thus make different weights of cores.
The sprue cutter/handle is moved to one side, cutting the sprues flush with the top of the cylinders. Then the stop bar is pushed up, which raises all the pistons at once, and pushes the lead cores out the top of the mould. A box placed under the mould to catch the cores when they are pushed over, upon closing the sprue cutter/handle, completes the picture. Using an ordinary open top lead melting pot and a good-sized ladle is the best way to pour the lead. Bottom pour pots designed for bullet moulds can be used, but a ladle should be filled and then used to transfer the hot lead to the core mould. The sprue left in the top can be lifted out with a pair of needle nosed pliers, or a bend paper clip with the end projecting into the sprue area so that the sprue solidifies around it.
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The CM-3 is available in .312, .340, .365, .390, .430, .500, .600, .700 and custom diameters. For details and help with the correct diameter for any bullet, contact Corbin.
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CM-4 Magnum Mould
