Started counting LEE molds...
- Thread starter CWLONGSHOT
- Start date
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I think they multiply on there own...
Mine musta got neutered!
I'm down to six, 3 6cs, 3 2cs, but thats no reflection on the moulds, just parts of a life-simplification process.
The ones I still have I really like and wouldn't trade.
Red Bear
Member
i think you might be right.I think they multiply on there own...
I keep trying to do that, but have too many molds. I do use one load for one "thing".
Ya just gotta play with ALL the toys, else some would get jealous.
I'm pretty sure I don't, but I've got at least a couple dozen old, iron 1Cs I've replaced with aluminum 4C and 6C configurations. All the old ones are still mine, I just keep them stashed and don't plan to use them any more.
What I actually USE is two moulds each for the 222, 30/30 and 44 Special.
The 35 is the hard one, and I have three moulds for that caliber and have been eyeing a fourth. This is for the 357 MAG in revolver and carbine and the 357 MAX in carbine only. The Bradshaw-Martin 194 grain SWC keeps tempting me to expand my mould inventory to TEN.
If I had to pack up and move within a tight window, and was limited on space, I would toss NINE moulds in a box.
Even at TWO per caliber, that's pretty luxurious and I could pare it to one each without hesitation if I needed to.
For the 22s, it's between a 50 and 55 grain and I could close my eyes and pick one.
For the 30/30, it'd be the RDO 311-165 RF
For the 44 Special, easily the 429-421
And for the 35s, I'd keep the NOE 360-180 WFN
I COULD go to just four moulds just like that.
This is really the original reason I've replaced my old iron moulds - when I finally get time to cast, I have to make it count. 1Cs and 2Cs were killing me.
The two 2Cs I still use don't get shot a lot, but I run at least one of them in conjunction with a pair of 4 or 6Cs just to keep a pile going. Neither of those is so dear to me that I'd spend the money to replace them with 4C or 6Cs though. Once the friend I cast the one for gets a lead pot, I'll be sending that one to him anyway.
I prolly have over 20 Lee moulds, my favorites are the 6 cavity moulds, especially my 6 cav of the Lyman 311041. That mould just rains boolits and 95 per cent look perfect and mic between .311 and .312, altho the variance between cavities is 1.7 to 1.9 grains. Still that is only about 1 per cent on boolits that weigh 176g sans check.
What kind of variance do you get on your 6 cavity Lee's?
What kind of variance do you get on your 6 cavity Lee's?
RBHarter
West Central AR
The 358-200 ran 196-202 , I didn't check the 401-175 for repeatability but samples were 172-178 , the 452-255 drops 259.5-263 , and the 358-125 gives me 123-126 . The numbers look bad but in application either the sprue hinge or handle cavities throw consistently 2 gr heavy or light while the other 4 throw within 1.2 gr generally applied to gross averages . The O/U by so much could be operator error , or temp induced , it has remained stable for 15 yr and of the above it currently isn't a big deal as the 45 Colts has been dropped from the 100 yd line up and the NOE version of the 454424 does all the heavy lifting and the 358 does it's best work with the 35-250 .
Intel6
Active Member
I used to use Lee quite a bit when I first got into casting. I shot mostly handguns so the 6 cavity moulds in run of the mill styles were what I liked. As I matured in casting and started casting more for rifles I started buying other brands mostly (I have more NOE moulds than Lee now) for the better quality but I kept my Lee's and still use them from time to time. I also bought some of the two cavity moulds for bullets I wanted to try out or for low volume stuff or I wanted to try out on the cheap.
As you can see in the pic I mostly liked the 6 cavity moulds, the ones with the writing on the ends were group buy moulds I got back in the day. You can also tell many of them are older because they used to have the B&W line drawings on the labels and then they started putting pictures of the bullets on the labels more recently.
As you can see in the pic I mostly liked the 6 cavity moulds, the ones with the writing on the ends were group buy moulds I got back in the day. You can also tell many of them are older because they used to have the B&W line drawings on the labels and then they started putting pictures of the bullets on the labels more recently.
Intel6
Active Member
I have that mould and the roundball mould for my ROA also. They were the first of the "new" Lee two cavity moulds I got. I also have a 6 cavity mould that makes 250 gr. FP hunting bullets for the ROA.
Currently I've a pair, one the 45-230-TC and it's little brother the 9mm-120-TC both 6 cavity moulds. Bought both of them because they were 6 cavity moulds and haven't regretted it at all. Personally, I have no problem with aluminum moulds. Lees spruce plates could be better, but you get what you pay for.