NOE .50/70 mold

[Mike]

Do any of you have experience with the copy of Lyman's #515141 made by NOE? The NOE version is hollow based and I'd love to hear some comments about that bullet from shooters. Shoot sharp, Mike

[powderburner]

Mike I have a double cavity version and two sets of pins , I shot it a lot in a 50-carbine as well as a 50-70 and it works well ,, dont know if the hollow base is necessary but it does shoot good,
I did not shoot it as a target bullet , but it is one heck of a bunny round , it stops charges in their tracks

[Mike]

Thanks, Dean. And with the hollow-base, did you put a veggie wad under the bullet or just seat the bullet down directly over the powder? Shoot sharp, Mike

[powderburner]

I just compressed the goex a bit and seated the bullet , I think it would work both ways though,I would have a nagging worry that the wad may buckle into the base cup .if it is soft it works like a minnie ball .

[Kurt]

I haven't shot a hollow based or mini bullet for some time. There is a slight difference between the two. The hollow based bullet has a thicker skirt then the mini, but regardless I loaded them the same except for the powder charge. The mini will mot take a heavy load. It will blow the skirt when it clears the muzzle.
The best way I found to shoot both is fill the cavity with a soft lube, you can put a wax paper wad over the base or with out and seat it right on the powder. I have never found it to be a problem with the oil from the lube contaminating the powder.
The lube is a benefit for protecting the bullet base and it also is a big plus for shooting dirty.
I have pulled hollow based GG bullets from vintage .44's and .43's Remington Rolling Block rifle loads that where loaded this way.

Kurt

[Mike]

Dean and Kurt, My questions are simple speculation at this point because I don't have the bullet mold, just considering getting that mold. But I thank you for your guidance. I'll keep struggling on with my plain based bullets for now. However, a report shall follow if I do get that NOE mold for the .50/70. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Kurt]

Mike,

That's what I would do also. I never had much use for a hollow base bullet, or a cup base for that matter. The cup based bullets function is just a place to tug the twisted tail if that is how you patch one to keep the base fairly flat.

Kurt

[Mike]

Kurt, With paper patched bullets I also prefer a plain flat base. Even so, I have a couple of Tom Ballard paper patch molds that work quite well. And I am still thinking 'bout that hollow base .50/70 mold because I really want to try it. However, I might go to Accurate Molds
for a better plain base .50/70 bullet, that could easily be more promising. Shoot sharp, Mike