Tell me more! Side Pour Bullet Molds

[ConfederateCanuck]

Hi folks. Have any of you ever used a side pour bullet mold? I come across some antique molds from time to time, and have always wondered about these side pour molds. I would imagine you end up with a weird/awkwardly positioned sprue...am I right? How does one trim the sprue? Not sure if it's worth buying one of these for "hard-to-find" bullet shapes/diameters...any info/advice welcome. Thanks.

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

Sprue nippers, and a file (or knife) work a treat… especially if you grind your nippers for the closest trim.

I've also poured, trim the sprue, then put the ball back in the mold (still hot) indexed differently, and give it a squeeze.

 

[Specster]

Reminded me of Sparks Shot Tower in Philedelphia...they were founded in the 1810s...wonder if they were still operating in the ACW...They would drop a molten piece of metal from several hundred feet and it wwould cool as it fell and the intent was to form a perfecctly round ball for use in a smooth bore musket

 

[Trooper "D"]

Reminded me of Sparks Shot Tower in Philedelphia...they were founded in the 1810s...wonder if they were still operating in the ACW...They would drop a molten piece of metal from several hundred feet and it wwould cool as it fell and the intent was to form a perfecctly round ball for use in a smooth bore musket

An old Civil War Times Illustrated had and article on that process. Very interesting.
Cheers!