Fired up a new Lee .158 grain mold today

[Wrbjr]

Cast about 125 or so. Tumble lubed then sized and retumble lubed them again. Turned out really nice. (SWC)

Weighed quite a few and they are all right about 167.1 grains. Hmmm. I've had this mold almost a year now and had never used it before. Bit suprised at the weight. Guess I'll just load em up in .38 brass for 170 grain bullets. Anybody else run into this situation?

[zuke]

different alloy's have different weight's.

[Wrbjr]

Figured there would be some variations, but didn't think there would be that much. Live and learn I guess.

[jack007]

what alloy did you use ? I 'm guessing a hard one.

[161]

The ones I cast last night were 156Gr. same mold. Different alloy I'd guess.
Warren

[*Paladin*]

I use a Lee 158gr RF mold, and w/ straight WW and 4oz of tin, I'm dropping bullets between 159.5 to 160 grs.

[ItZaLLgooD]

With wheel weights my Lee TL230-452-2r drops them at 238 grs. and the TL401-175-SWC drops tehm at 180 grs.

I'm not sure how big of a deal it is for handgun boolits. I load up towards max pressures sometimes for the 230 grainer and don't see any signs of excesive pressure even though they are 238 grains.

[Wrbjr]

To update this issue I loaded up a few rounds for 170 grain jacketed and went with HS-6. Started at 5.2 grains and a few at 5.6 grains. Max listed at 5.9 grains so I felt ok trying a few at the low and middle end.
Shot through a hard back novel almost 2 inches thick soaked overnight in a bucket of water. This had a dry hardbacked novel directly behind it almost 4 inches thick.
All rounds passed through the first book and about 7/8 of the way through the second book. The 5.6 grain loads made a larger exit hole and penetrated slightly further into the second book.

In response to the question about hardness, not sure but it is probably quite hard.

[oscarflytyer]

Gotta chuckle - same type experience with another Lee mold - 44-200 RNFP. All the bullets drop at 215-217 grns! Everybody figured I was using real hard alloy. NOPE - straight WW + 2-2.5% tin added! Nothing special or fancy. My gut tells me you and I got molds that are little large, maybe cut with on the last leg of a cutter...?

I have been contemplating a mold for my 357. If I knew i could get a Lee 158 SWC mold to drop 165-167 (real close to the 170) I would jump on it...

[Wrbjr]

My supply of lead came from an indoor range. So I really don't know for sure what the hardness is without having it tested.

This is actually a .357 mould by Lee rated at 158 grains. Dropping around 167 to 168 depending on my very touchy electronic scale. They cast beautifully and the mould is def not expensive. I think I paid about $39 bucks or less from Midway last year.

I did read that Lee formulated the weights for their moulds from a 10/1 ratio lead/tin as I recall.

Most of my recovered lead was from .40 and .45 boolits.

Gonna fire up the .40 175 grain SWC mould next. Be interesting to see where they weigh in at.

All of my Lee moulds are six bangers.

[snuffy]

You're NOT getting heavier boolits from a mold because your lead is harder. Hard lead has more tin and antimony in it, therefore the harder lead casts a LIGHTER boolit. The closer you get to linotype metal the lighter a boolit will be.

Not at all uncommon to see a 158 lee mold casting at 168. Just deal with it when figuring load/powder levels.

[Wrbjr]

I agree. Been reviewing lead/tin/antimony relationships in detail this afternoon and it seems to be just another factor to deal with. Oh well.

Being new to creating my own recipe makes me a bit nervous, but at the same time it does boost the confidence level.