My Lee hollow point mold

[Brother_Love]

Since I was being lazy this afternoon I thought I would post some pics of my Lee HP conversion. I really like this mold and I graduated to the 6 cavity so I decided to sacrifice the 2c. I ruined the front cavity removing the g/c base so I HP'ed the rear cavity. I used a wood ball from Hobby Lobby, a drill bit for the pin and the collar came from the hardware store. I did this on a woodworking drill press but got lucky and it cast a nice little HP for the 35 Rem and 358 Win.

I would never try this on a steel mold, my tools are not up to that.

 

[shootnlead]

Cool...let us know how it works out...show us some bullets.

I have an old ragged 6cavity that I am going to HP one hole...just for kicks. I need to nail down the diameter and depth...that will probably just be a shot it the dark.

 

[RicinYakima]

33% of the diameter and 25% of the depth for WW's.

 

[Brad]

Interesting Ric. I figured that over time someone, somewhere had come up with a formula for HP cavity size.

 

[shootnlead]

33% of the diameter and 25% of the depth for WW's.

Thanks..I needed that.

 

[RicinYakima]

When I first got my own lathe with a 4-jaw chuck, I butchered a bunch of single cavity 38 moulds. That gave me expansion at 850 f/s and didn't break up shooting thru 2 liter water bottles. As the impact velocity goes up, and alloy is softer, the HP diameter can be smaller. IMHO.

 

[Rick]

As the impact velocity goes up, and alloy is softer, the HP diameter can be smaller. IMHO.

Agreed and the cavity can be shallower also, just deep enough to get the nose to start mushrooming.
.

 

[JWFilips]

Brother ....Nice Mod! What is wrong with your plain base cavity? If it is off center most time sizing fixes it. Doesn't look ruined from your above photo?

Question for the guys here: how would one put a tapered point on that hollow point pin? Is it something that can be done without a machine shop?
Jim

 

[Brother_Love]

Brother ....Nice Mod! What is wrong with your plain base cavity? If it is off center most time sizing fixes it. Doesn't look ruined from your above photo?

Question for the guys here: how would one put a tapered point on that hollow point pin? Is it something that can be done without a machine shop?
Jim

My pin is tapered now. I did on the drill press with a file and sandpaper. One day I want to get a lathe!!!!!!!!!

 

[KeithB]

Brother_Love has it. I rounded off the heads of some die pins the other day using the exact same method. The lathe was tied up and I needed them real bad. Worked fine.

 

[JWFilips]

Did you anneal the drill bit so it could be cut with a file?

 

[Brad]

The shank on most drill bits isn't as hard, lets the chuck grab on tighter. I think Buckshot used drill shanks for pins quite often. Good way of knowing the hole drilled for the pin is a good fit for the pin.

I can't use a drill press for stuff like that, I don't own one. But I do have a lathe....

 

[fiver]

my little home made drill press has so much deflection it would have probably come out the side of the next cavity over.

 

[Brother_Love]

Sized using Ben's red and then a coat of BLL.
These are going to be loaded for 35 R.E.M.

 

[S Mac]

So, how does it work having to open the blocks to get the pin out? I always remove the pin first, then open the blocks. Great looking bullet.

 

[Brother_Love]

I remove the pin before opening the mold too.

 

[S Mac]

Maybe you have a groove in the pin collar that doesn't show up in the Pic?

 

[Brad]

Look at the photo showing the pin in the mould. Back side of the pin flange is filed away which allows it to clear the screw went rotated.

 

[S Mac]

I see that now. Missed it before.

 

[Ian]

Good stuff. I need to copy this on my 2c Lee .22-55 mould and maybe some others.