Ranch Dog Molds

Not being happy with the performance of several "cataloged" molds that I purchased, and after slugging the barrels and collecting chamber castings of my Marlins, I understood why these molds and the bullet they drop didn't perform well at jacketed bullet velocities. The bullet diameter, as cast, was undersized for the bore and did not fit the throat of the chamber. Not being able to find a mold of suitable diameter, I went to my desk and got busy on a design that would cast to the appropriate dimensions, be simple to use, not cost an arm and a leg, and not require the expensive lube/sizers for lubing, sizing and seating gas checks.

Lee Precision's special order process was a logical choice to achieve my design objectives and my experience with their Micro-Bands® and the Lee Liquid Alox led me to believe that these bands could be employed as an effective method of lubing leveraction rifle bullets. The Lee Lube and Size Kits, special ordered in an appropriate diameter, settled the issue of not needing to purchase an expensive lube/sizer.

The work doesn't stop with the design drawing. The molds, coupled with the bullet as cast, must function smoothly at the casting bench. The bullet nose and lube grooves need to fill with definition and drop freely. The "tumble lubing" process is as simple a method as you will find and the Micro-Bands® hold the Lee Liquid Alox to allow jacketed bullet performance from your levergun. The Lee Sizing die operation is as easy as moving the lever on a reloading press.

The loaded cartridge must move from magazine tube into the chamber smoothly and as loaded ammunition, the Lee "RF" nose profile provides for an easy chambering cartridge.

Digitally analyzed for stability with the center of gravity and center of pressure collocated, bullets from these molds have been proofed on my range at distances out to 300-yards and actual BCs determined for reliable ballistic calculations. Chamber pressures are evaluated with pressure trace equipment and that information is offered to the bullet caster.

Design and development meet in the field. Not only must the bullet perform on the range but it must prove effective on a wide range of big game animals. The Lee "RF" nose profile, a 72% meplat, not only provides good bullet feed and flight but is also a very effective nose profile for dispatching game.

Bullets dropped from the Ranch Dog molds have taken all three species of North American deer, black bear, boar, elk, javelina, pronghorn, moose, and other big game animals. Using the alloy to match the need, these designs will excel on any big game animal.

The bottom-line to the Marlin leveraction shooter is that I've done my homework and can provide you with a mold that will drop a cast bullet specific to your firearm's needs, a bullet that has been proven on the range and in the field. Ranch Dog Outdoors provides these special order molds and sizing dies at the prices of a cataloged mold so that you don't incur the setup fees of a special order purchase.