Lee mold size?

[joken]

Is it common to have a mold that is under sized? Specifically my .452 230gr LRN drops .451 boolits. I just got a new .452 Truncated cone mold that is right on the money. Ken

[runfiverun]

they vary, it can be from batch to batch.
someone else most likely has one that's 453.

[williamwaco]

In my experience all molds should be .002 to .003 larger than stated. Every single mold I have ever owned is that much over. My Lee .45 molds drop .453 to .454 bullets.

My Lee .358 molds drop .360 to .361.

That said: There are LOTS of reports on this site about undersized molds. I am not sure why.

What did you measure it with? ( Calipers are not accurate enough for this use. )
Is this one measurement of a single bullet or an average of a single bullet, or better, an average or two diameters each of half dozen bullets.? ( Bullets are never round and are frequently out of round by as much as .002. Two consecutive bullets from the same cavity will rarely be identical.)

[462]

Other than two 452-230-TC moulds that dropped at .448", the other Lee moulds are fatter by .001" to .003".

[joken]

I used a micrometer and measured a bunch of bullets before I remelted them.Some boolits are out of round a bit and my measurements were a pretty consistent average. Thanks a lot, Ken

[geargnasher]

Might have gotten a bad one if your alloy casts right with other moulds. My 452-230-RN drops at .4525" with clippy weights and about 1% tin, not an alloy known for making fat boolits.

Gear

[sig2009]

My recent purchase of a Lee 356-120tc dropped at .356 no matter what temp or alloy combination I used. Last week i bought a Lee 358-125gnfp to make sure they drop at .358.

[rexherring]

All of my Lee's drop between .001 to .003 over except my 340 gr .458, it drops .456 to .457 depending on the alloy no matter what I do.

[emrah]

Williamwaco,

Funny you posted that as I cast exactly those boolits today! My .45 drops .453 to .454 and my .38 drops at .360 to .361

I size my .45 to .452. I have not bought a sizer for the .38 yet, though I think it'll be .358. I doubt they'll chamber at .361.

Emrah

[williamwaco]

Williamwaco,

Funny you posted that as I cast exactly those boolits today! My .45 drops .453 to .454 and my .38 drops at .360 to .361

I size my .45 to .452. I have not bought a sizer for the .38 yet, though I think it'll be .358. I doubt they'll chamber at .361.

Emrah

At .361, some will and some will not. Don't do it. You will really be frustrated when you have to take them home and pull them.



.

[Wolfer]

My molds all cast as stated except for one, it's a lee 452-255 RF,
It casts out of round at 452/457 and I size to 452. It's possibly my most accurate mold so I didn't send it back.

I really wish some of my molds cast a little larger, I've had to lap or beagle some.

[PuppetZ]

Richard Lee state in his book, modern reloading 2nd edition, that Lee mold will drop a bullet +0.003"/-0.000. If you have one that drop undersized, I would assume it's no good. Give them a call. You should get a replacement one.

[williamwaco]

It seems to me that most of these reports of undersized molds refer to recent purchases.

Just so happens tht only two hours ago Brown brought me two new Lee molds from Midway.

I will try them out tomorrow. ( Weather permitting. )

Makes me wonder if Lee has worn out their cutters and are trying to get just a few more molds for free.


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[12DMAX]

I have a Lee 452-255-RF that is 1 month old, paid $17 for it new, had to drill/tap for an 8/32 set screw to hold the sprue pivot from turning, mold handles have split and come off BUT it drops the nicest round .454 bullets:grin:. I recently picked up a new lyman 452664 that drops a .451x453 bullet.[smilie=b:

[williamwaco]

It seems to me that most of these reports of undersized molds refer to recent purchases.

Just so happens tht only two hours ago Brown brought me two new Lee molds from Midway.

I will try them out tomorrow. ( Weather permitting. )

Makes me wonder if Lee has worn out their cutters and are trying to get just a few more molds for free.


.

Well, Here are the results.
Mold: Lee 358-158-RF ( two cavity)
Metal: Air cooled clip-on wheel weights.
Cast about 200.
Let them cool.
out them in a box and bring them in the house.
Pick out ten off the top of the pile.
Clean and zero micrometer.
Measure each bullet, turn 90 degrees and measure again.

Makes me believe they are indeed making smaller molds today than they were six months ago.

[fcvan]

I have bought a lot of molds from Lee over the years and never actually measured a one. I sized a bunch and could see and feel that they were greater than the advertised size. My 9MM 125 RN cast big enough that it has been my standard pill for use in .38 Special loads.

I recently purchased a new 9mm 120 TC from Lee and have heard how they are not casting as big these days. My sizing equipment is still at my brother's so I can't check them. I did take a few cast boolits and dropped them in the cylinder of my .357 to see if they fit. Darned things didn't fall straight through but they didn't take much effort to push them through either.

Not really satisfied with this, I then pushed them through the bore of one of my Lone Wolf 9MM barrels. They were neatly engraved and will probably shoot just fine. I have a 35 Cal PB gas check maker on order from Pat and intend to use this new boolit with gas checks. I think they will be sweet in my Camp Carbine and in .357 Mag loads. Frank

[monge]

just got a 340gr .457 mold from midway it casts .460 with ww, the sizer was the problem sized at .475 so I honed it .002.

[cf_coder]

I have an older 9mm 120 TC and cast up a bunch the other day and they were dropping between .357 and .358. Some were definitely hovering around the .3565 diameter. I didn't mic any of them, but when run through my .357 sizer, there wasn't much resistance and a number of them looked like they only grazed the sizing die... In any case, this is a new to me mold and I'll figure out if my 9's like this one over the weekend. Loaded up 200 of them over 5.0 grains of Unique at an OAL of 1.070. We'll see how well my Recluse lube works on these. It's worked admirably with my mid-range 38/357 loads so far...

[RU shooter]

Just got a lee 230 RN mould last week and it drop big at .454-.455 this was a two cav. Mould

[40Super]

My new 38-140gr SWC drops .3595 to .3605 consistantly both cavities,a .401-175TC drops at .4025 to .404.

[fcvan]

I finally cast up a bunch of the Lee 120gr TC boolits using 50/50 WW and soft lead. They were 'snug' when I pushed them through the .358 sizer and downright tight in the .357 die. I also pushed one through the cylinders of my S&W M13 and they sealed well. I also cast a bunch of the Lee 125 RN Boollits. Both weighed a consistent 126 grains. I found this odd as the RN was supposed to weigh 125 and the TC was supposed to weigh 120.

I have launched several 100K of the 125 RN through my S&W M13 loaded in 38SP, and 50k through various 9mm pistols. I am looking forward to loading and launching the 120TC through my S&W Revolver, my S&W M39, my Marlin Camp 9, and my Glocks with 9mm conversion barrels. I also plan on using the 120 TC with aluminum soda can plain base gas checks when my checkmaker arrives. I think it will me a great boolit for some warm .357 loads. Frank