Problem with RCBS Hodgdon Mold

[RangerFrog]

In preparation for my last couple of skirmishes, I went down to the old casting bench to run off a hundred or so Minie Balls from my RCBS Hodgdon design mould. I bought it used several years ago and have always had good luck with it, but due to a good supply of bullets cast prior to the pandemic and of course the decreased shooting during the Woo Flu I haven't cast any bullets for at least three years. That's the background. Today I heated up the mould well on top of my Lee 20# pot and tried to cast some bullets. They absolutely would not come off of the hollow base pin! I've never had this problem before with hundreds (or even thousands?) of bullets I've cast in the past.


Never having experienced this before, I have no idea how to even begin dealing with my problem. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated... I've got to get some musket ammo ready for the Potomac Regional!


Thanks in Advance,
Froggie

[Muley Gil]

I would polish the pin really good. It may have some light surface rust on it.

[Hal]

I would guess the core pin is cold. Mine does the same thing sometimes until it gets hot. I've had to carefully reach in with needle nose pliers to get the first few out and throw them back in the pot. You might try pre-heating your mould before casting. I use an electric hot plate. I put the mould on it, then cover with a large tin can that has a cut out in the side to allow the handles to extend out. I have to prop the handles on something to keep the mould flat on the hot plate.

[FirinFlatTop]

I store my moulds with the last bullet I cast inside said mould, that way when pre heating it gets everything heated, including the core. Also, it should keep any so-called rust or anything else from forming inside the mould between castings.

[bobanderson]

I preheat the core pin with a propane torch. And I use mold prep, Moose Juice, etc. religiously.

Usually, my first bullet is a keeper.

[Kevin Tinny]

Hello, Froggie:
In addition to the other suggestions that have worked for me, I now dip the extended portion of the sprue cut-off plate into the molten metal for 30 seconds followed by barely touching the bottoms of the nuts on the core pin slider plate for 30 seconds. These work for me. Smiles.
Kevin Tinny