New LEE Design 2-Cavity Mold!

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Thought I would put up a few pics on this new LEE .311 RB Mould.

Decided to flatten the Sprue Plate and install a set screw for the plate screw.

Surprisingly, the plate was pretty flat, also broke the edge and smoothed it.

Cold blued the plate after the work and you can't even tell it was done.

Installed the set screw and it was good to go.

I'm actually impressed with this little mold for the money.

Has steel pins and bushings, along with a decent set of handles!

Did not want to spend a lot of money on a Buckshot Mould and this will give me all I need!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Nice work!!!

I should do all mine...



On second thought...

 

[seagiant1]

Hi.
WOW!
I was starting to wonder if anyone else had even heard of a LEE 2-Cavity Mold.

Do you think the new design was a leap forward?

 

[300BLK]

One of my favorite moulds is a single cavity Lee . I have one of the double cavity .311" moulds and is why I suggested a 6 or 18 cavity. It will cast about as fast as you can pour and cast, but still seems slow when you're using 8 or more balls per load.

 

[fiver]

their new design is a huge step forward.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

I like the alignment pins of the new style, but miss the larger mass of the old style molds. The Lee molds with the sprue cutter design, do not have a stem on the ball to prevent the ball turning as the sprue is cut. That seems to make the opening in the mold blocks oblong and tends to be a little "sticky" on that half. Cut while slushy and deal with the smear on the top of the blocks and under the sprue plate with whatever agent one prefers.

 

[RBHarter]

Unless you get the .380 that's only .370 across the sprue cut .....twice .....

 

[Bret4207]

Theres a feller out there that makes buckshot moulds. I've been looking at them on and off. I don't mean to get off on a tangent, but dos anyone have any experience with this outfit? https://www.martysarms.com/

 

[JonB]

Lee's NEW 2 cav design.
So, I was all for it, when it first came out (2013).
BUT, since then, whenever I cast with an old style (that isn't overly used/abused), I have a love for them, more so than the new design.
I think it's mostly, the new mold block's seem more sloppy and flip-floppy on the handles...I imagine they could be tightened up. Also the new ones could use more metal mass. But these new ones work fine as is, you just need to be more careful when closing them.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Well, I did some casting today, and will do another session later.

I cleaned and scrubbed the mould with a toothbrush using acetone and then a degreaser.

Pre heated on my hot plate, set the PID to 725 degrees, lubed with 2-cycle oil and had good buckshot right out of the gate.

Water quenched, and the buckshot just fell out of the cavitys by the end of the session.

I do not smoke moulds and have never had a problem really.

I'm sure the mould will work even better, after a few sessions, so...

Very pleased with the mould, and 725 degrees seemed to be the magic number, no lead smears, and no waiting for the sprue to frost...

Just a steady relaxed casting cadence!