F
freebullet
Guest
Nice work Jim!
Now I'm guna have to pick up another mold. Least this one's cheap enough.
Now I'm guna have to pick up another mold. Least this one's cheap enough.
New lee 22 cal mold
- Thread starter KHornet
- Start date
9
9.3X62AL
Guest
Rick, it is the current variant. I bought it about 10 years ago, after some samples sent by Carpetman shot well for me. The Lyman #225415 went away not long after the RCBS mould arrived.
Also in the stable is a rather old Ideal #225438 one-holer. This has been my 22 Hornet bulletmaker, and it casts wonderfully with Linotype.......42 grains or so. Tell ya what, though--it takes all day to fill a 1# coffee can with slugs from THAT 1-cylinder engine!
The only other 22 caliber mould I've messed with is an older NEI combo 2-cav, one cavity was a 55 grain Loverin-like design that shot pretty well from my Ruger 77RC in 223 (1/9"). The other cavity's 72 grain spitzer would not shoot at all, from 1500-2200 FPS. It DID make cool, buzzy, cart-wheeling noises after about 20-30 feet of travel, though. I sent it along to Bullshop a few years back. It was of aluminum, and wanted warmth, but once warm and a good rhythm ensued it had very few rejects. Walt Melander made a very fine mould--a have a couple of his 25 calibers on hand, and they are among my best casting tools.
Also in the stable is a rather old Ideal #225438 one-holer. This has been my 22 Hornet bulletmaker, and it casts wonderfully with Linotype.......42 grains or so. Tell ya what, though--it takes all day to fill a 1# coffee can with slugs from THAT 1-cylinder engine!
The only other 22 caliber mould I've messed with is an older NEI combo 2-cav, one cavity was a 55 grain Loverin-like design that shot pretty well from my Ruger 77RC in 223 (1/9"). The other cavity's 72 grain spitzer would not shoot at all, from 1500-2200 FPS. It DID make cool, buzzy, cart-wheeling noises after about 20-30 feet of travel, though. I sent it along to Bullshop a few years back. It was of aluminum, and wanted warmth, but once warm and a good rhythm ensued it had very few rejects. Walt Melander made a very fine mould--a have a couple of his 25 calibers on hand, and they are among my best casting tools.
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KHornet
Well-Known Member
I like the challenge of 22's and 24's. Have a Sing #3 in KHornet, a Sav single shot in Hornet, a 222 on 721 Rem action, and have shot out my heavy bbl Sav. 223 after over 5000+ rounds, and am now loading for one of the veryi earlyi Sav Axis 223. Have 10 or more 22 molds of various denominations, GC/PB/HP, some in combinations. They are in a world by themselves as far as casting, and a 20 pound pot produces a whale of a lot of projectiles. I have had good luck with 225415, and same in HP. Also have had great luck with 224438 both palin and HP.
If there is any secret to casting 224't is is in keeping the molds hot enough. That is particularly true with the little HP's, and getting complete nose fill outs. I do the lions share of my casting via bottom pour, from a 20 lb. RCBS. However when I am casting little HP's I use a ladle, and a 10 pound Lyman and pour an adequate amount to overflow the mold and keep it adequately hot. Slow but rewarding.
I weigh all 22's and 6MM's to EXACT weights (sized/checked when applicable and lubed) and segregate accordingly in plastic craft boxes with dividers. It is interesting when weighing and sorting to see the bell shaped curves of the weighing and sorting process. In general I will have a bell curve of about 6 specific weights. The lesser weights on either side of the curve go into either the cull compartment or in the remelt can. I size to both .225 and 226 depending of what the rifle and load seem to appreciate most. The only 224 that I really have had trouble getting it to shoot is the old Lyman 225450, and that it because I do not have a proper seating die that will accomidate the sharpness of the bullet nose.
Ben has gotten me into shooting a lot of PB bullets, and I am searching for proper loads for the little 37gr. NOE with emphasis on Hornet and KHornet. Have the molds for both PB and Jacketed, and once the weather breaks hope to get some serious testing done with both species of the little 37 in all 4 rifles. (Sure glad I bought them back when) I am very pleased with the results Jim has had with the 55 Lee GC. I had a problem with the first 6 cav I had with that bullet, sent it back got a new one from lee that casts like a charm (along with an admonition that I not bang the blocks, which I have never done).
I have over many years, shot many very decent groups with all of these rifles at 100 and 200 yds with GC's. A few approaching 1" at 100 and close to 2" at 200, mostly at vols around 2100-2250. That would not be great for jacketed projectiles, but I consider it very respectable for cast for a codger with old eyes.
I usually seat initially to lengths listed for specific bullets in the Lyman manuals, and often have found them to be quite accurate. If accuracy is not up to desired levels, I will start moving the bullet out until I touch lands than back it off a small bit. I have been fond of Lars Can Red for summer time shooting at temps in general above 40 degrees, but below that CanRed lubes open groups drastically. Or at least that is my opinion. So for cold weather shooting much below 40 degrees, I have been using Lars 2500, with good success as well as some home made green lube that Brad made for me, and it works very well. I am getting ready to test some BLL only loads on the Lee 55 grain GC, and also some of the same with CanRed, but with BLL overcoat. Was somewhat reluctant to try BLL, but now would not be without it, and overcoat all of my cast bullets with it. Love Ben's tinkering with every thing pertinent to casting and shooting cast.
Lastly, anyone who is attempting to master casting, loading, shooting, 22's and 6MM's should (must read) The John Goines (Beagle) 3 part article on shooting cast in 223. I reread it quite often, and consider it to be gospel when it comes to shooting cast in 224's. For those who are just attempting to load accurate loads for 22's and 6mm's, I hope you have great luck. They have always ben a challenge to me, but rewarding when the challenge produces desired results.
If there is any secret to casting 224't is is in keeping the molds hot enough. That is particularly true with the little HP's, and getting complete nose fill outs. I do the lions share of my casting via bottom pour, from a 20 lb. RCBS. However when I am casting little HP's I use a ladle, and a 10 pound Lyman and pour an adequate amount to overflow the mold and keep it adequately hot. Slow but rewarding.
I weigh all 22's and 6MM's to EXACT weights (sized/checked when applicable and lubed) and segregate accordingly in plastic craft boxes with dividers. It is interesting when weighing and sorting to see the bell shaped curves of the weighing and sorting process. In general I will have a bell curve of about 6 specific weights. The lesser weights on either side of the curve go into either the cull compartment or in the remelt can. I size to both .225 and 226 depending of what the rifle and load seem to appreciate most. The only 224 that I really have had trouble getting it to shoot is the old Lyman 225450, and that it because I do not have a proper seating die that will accomidate the sharpness of the bullet nose.
Ben has gotten me into shooting a lot of PB bullets, and I am searching for proper loads for the little 37gr. NOE with emphasis on Hornet and KHornet. Have the molds for both PB and Jacketed, and once the weather breaks hope to get some serious testing done with both species of the little 37 in all 4 rifles. (Sure glad I bought them back when) I am very pleased with the results Jim has had with the 55 Lee GC. I had a problem with the first 6 cav I had with that bullet, sent it back got a new one from lee that casts like a charm (along with an admonition that I not bang the blocks, which I have never done).
I have over many years, shot many very decent groups with all of these rifles at 100 and 200 yds with GC's. A few approaching 1" at 100 and close to 2" at 200, mostly at vols around 2100-2250. That would not be great for jacketed projectiles, but I consider it very respectable for cast for a codger with old eyes.
I usually seat initially to lengths listed for specific bullets in the Lyman manuals, and often have found them to be quite accurate. If accuracy is not up to desired levels, I will start moving the bullet out until I touch lands than back it off a small bit. I have been fond of Lars Can Red for summer time shooting at temps in general above 40 degrees, but below that CanRed lubes open groups drastically. Or at least that is my opinion. So for cold weather shooting much below 40 degrees, I have been using Lars 2500, with good success as well as some home made green lube that Brad made for me, and it works very well. I am getting ready to test some BLL only loads on the Lee 55 grain GC, and also some of the same with CanRed, but with BLL overcoat. Was somewhat reluctant to try BLL, but now would not be without it, and overcoat all of my cast bullets with it. Love Ben's tinkering with every thing pertinent to casting and shooting cast.
Lastly, anyone who is attempting to master casting, loading, shooting, 22's and 6MM's should (must read) The John Goines (Beagle) 3 part article on shooting cast in 223. I reread it quite often, and consider it to be gospel when it comes to shooting cast in 224's. For those who are just attempting to load accurate loads for 22's and 6mm's, I hope you have great luck. They have always ben a challenge to me, but rewarding when the challenge produces desired results.
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waco
Springfield, Oregon
My first complaint about this 22 Lee mold is the Sprue plate. It has too big of hole for that small base. And it doesn't cut very cleanly. The bullets lean to one side when stood on end. I guess I'll take it to work and hit it with a countersink. Could also use a set screw for the Sprue plate as well.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
My first one that I sent back to lee was as you describe. The replacement however cuts cleanly, no lean on the bullets, and Jim's target t'aint at all bad. Will be glad when I can get to the range myself and test. It was -4 at 6 a.m. I brought in the brass monkey last night.
Texas Hillbilly
Active Member
Hotter just where they start looking frosty,will help powder to stick if your Powder coating using the tumbling method,I've not tried it with the spray gun method yet.
Btw I like my molds to be approximately 400* to start with but I'm not sure what temperature Al recommends?
The pictures of this Lee look real close to my NOE made 225-62 mold
Todd M
Craftsman of metals...always learning.
Has it warmed up enough to try out those itty bitty slugs?
Also had anyone plain based this mold and tried it? I would rather not mess with gas checks on dinky boolits like these
frnkeore
Member
These groups are from a 22rf, shot breech seated in a 14 twist, .222 groove barrel, 27 1/2" long. The rifle is built on a CF Stevens Model 44, modified to rim fire.
The Lee was the best grouping bullet @ 56 gr, shot w/o it's GC. All of the bullets where lube with 25/75, BW/Alox. The lube was applied by rolling the bullets between my fingers, only. The Lee's, where cast in 30/1. As cast was .226 and sized to .223.
I didn't chronograph the loads but, the powder charge was based on my prior BSing with the 22rf cartridge. 1.5 gr of B'eye had been my most reliable charge before with a 48 gr bullet. The velocity was subsonic for that charge. All groups where shot at 100 yards.
While the Lee groups are pretty good, I need to reduce the 10 shot grouping by about 1/4 to be competitive in our matches.
The group marked Eley Club is standard, fixed ammo.
The group marked Fed 510-pulled-Lee, are pulled cases, shot with the factory powder charge and the Lee bullet BSed.
The group marked Fed 510, are factory, fixed rounds
The group marked 450 are, 225450 bullets. 438 are 225438. Both groups shot BSed w/o GC's. These two cast at .227 and where sized .223. They didn't like it very well, either.
Frank
The Lee was the best grouping bullet @ 56 gr, shot w/o it's GC. All of the bullets where lube with 25/75, BW/Alox. The lube was applied by rolling the bullets between my fingers, only. The Lee's, where cast in 30/1. As cast was .226 and sized to .223.
I didn't chronograph the loads but, the powder charge was based on my prior BSing with the 22rf cartridge. 1.5 gr of B'eye had been my most reliable charge before with a 48 gr bullet. The velocity was subsonic for that charge. All groups where shot at 100 yards.
While the Lee groups are pretty good, I need to reduce the 10 shot grouping by about 1/4 to be competitive in our matches.
The group marked Eley Club is standard, fixed ammo.
The group marked Fed 510-pulled-Lee, are pulled cases, shot with the factory powder charge and the Lee bullet BSed.
The group marked Fed 510, are factory, fixed rounds
The group marked 450 are, 225450 bullets. 438 are 225438. Both groups shot BSed w/o GC's. These two cast at .227 and where sized .223. They didn't like it very well, either.
Frank
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Texas Hillbilly
Active Member
Hmmm I might need to invest in one of those for the hornet and 22-250.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
Texas Hillbilly, In all probability the bullet is way to long for your hornet. The longest bullet (IMO) that is stable in a Hornet is 225415. On the other hand, in my limited experience with the 22-250, there is a decent probability of this bullet stabilizing, at the higher levels vol wise, of maybe 1800-2000 or so. Let me know, and good luck to you!