Question on Lee 6 cavity mold bullet weight?

[Muddydogs]

I have 4 Lee 6 cavity molds and only one throws the weight its suppose to. The .358 158 throws 163 grain bullets, .401 175 throws 183 bullets, .430 240 throws 240 grains and the 452 230 throws 240 grain slugs. All the molds throw bullets at the right size or just slightly over but nothing to big. Whats up with this?

[frkelly74]

I have to say that the weights are very close to the nominal weight assigned to your molds. The alloy you use has an effect on the weight of the boolits , softer is generally heavier. also the temperature at which you pour has an effect. I believe hotter will be lighter but could be thinking backward on that one. I have not worried too much about a 10 grain overage of weight of a boolit that is over 200 gr, as long as they are pretty consistent among the boolits in a particular lot. 10 gr is only 5% at that level. I had a 230 nominal weight mold once that I could get 250 gr boolits out of If I did things just right.

[runfiverun]

i'd say they sc err messed up on the 44..
LEE doesn't use ww alloy as it's targeted specc.

[MT Gianni]

The larger concern is the difference between cavities. As long as your bullets are close to uniform the weight difference from stated standard is no big deal at all. Use the stated loads for each to develop with and you have what is safe in your gun. You were going to do that anyway and if you are 5% over with bullet weight in a starting load is is not a problem.

[Muddydogs]

Im not worried about the weight and have shot all but the .45 bullets, I just thought it was weird that one in four was right on weight and that mold throws the biggest slug. Like Runfiverun stated Lee must have messed up on the 44 mold since it throws right on. All the cavitys in all the mold are withing .5 grains of each other. For the price of the Lee 6 hole molds they just can't be beat and give me an hour or so and I will have 500 bullets laying on the towel.

[DLCTEX]

I have Lyman and RCBS moulds that do not weigh the specified weights by as much as eight grains. Not a problem.

[captaint]

My .358-158 drops exactly like yours. 163 grains. No big deal... Choot em ~!!!! Mike

[Hondo 60]

I have 2 lee molds that are REALLY close to stated weight.
My TL314-90SWC drops about 91 or 92 with ww lead.
My TL452-200SWC drops about 198-199.

[Shiloh]

My LEE six bangers run a bit heavy. My alloy add to this as well.

Shiloh