MP 4xbrass or 6xAluminum 45-270 SAA molds?

[singleaction]

I’m about to buy a couple of MP 45-270SAA molds. I am trying to decide if I should get the four hole brass molds or the six hole aluminum molds. These are for the solid design, not the hollowpoint design. I don’t care that brass is heavy, or that the aluminum makes more bullets. I just want the best quality bullets. Any advice on pros and cons and/or which would just be better is much appreciated. Thank you.

By the way, do these bullets actually run 280gr+ from wheel weights like the RCBS versions do?

[Fowler]

Yes they weight the same as RCBS molds, 285ish with a solid nose. I personally prefer the MIHA version to the RCBS versions they have put out over the last 15-20 years (RCBS has made at least 5 different versions of the mold with the first being the best and each one after has gotten a bit worse.

I personally prefer the Brass versions and they will hold up better over the long haul by a bunch. I find the 6 cavity molds to be a bit moody myself, but when they are happy they will make piles of bullets.

[bigbore5]

I've used both types from MP. They cast very well, but different.

Brass heats slower and retains it's heat. I start the mold on a hotplate at the same time I begin to melt lead. By the time the lead is melted and fluxed, the mold will be about ready to go. The biggest draw back to brass is it will get too hot if you only run one mold. Either run two, or keep a damp sponge to press the bottom of the mold against to help it cool when it starts to get too warm.

Aluminum molds are the opposite. They heat fast and cool quickly. These are also warmed on a hotplate, but not on mines highest level. Running one mold isn't usually a problem at a steady pace, but a pretty good cadence is needed to run two.

Then there's brass' tendencies to tin. That's when tin from the alloy basically solders itself to the mold. Not too big a deal if you know how to deal with it. I just dab it with pure beeswax while the mold is at casting temp. That fluxes the tin, releasing it from the brass. You then just wipe it off before it cools.

[singleaction]

Thanks guys. I’m going brass.

[contender]

I too prefer my brass ones over the aluminum ones for the very reasons listed above.

[bushog]

Well, I kinda like the aluminum 6 bangers and own both….

[x101airborne]

Brass molds tire my hands quickly. For that reason I prefer aluminum. I am ladle pouring so I dont have much of a rest for the mold and all the hand work affects my arthurites.

[singleaction]

Dec 26, 2023 13:11:34 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

Brass molds tire my hands quickly. For that reason I prefer aluminum. I am ladle pouring so I dont have much of a rest for the mold and all the hand work affects my arthurites.

I don’t know have that problem, YET!