Just whining I guess

[Harter66]

I have probably a dozen Lee moulds only 1 of them is right on the numbers and it doesn't work for the 1s I wanted it for so it sits there like a lump.
The deal is every 1 casts big . The 401 drops at 403 both 452s drop at least 454and the 9mm and 38 moulds drop at 359+ . Except for this new 6C 35?-125 RNFP 50/50 WW/1-20 the thing drops 363 and 364 . That isn't a big problem I needed a 364 boolet for a 38 S&W H&R but geeze I wanted it to have the mythical 1 boolet for 6 for the theoretical bug out rig. Moreover I'm not sure w/that sizing ''shoulder'' they will work in the 9mms. I swear I can't win....... at least its $50 w/Titan and I don't have to wrestle it bigger just run it through the 358 sizer and stuff it in the 9s it'll probably fit the 38/357s as is and I can always help a guy out w/a 9x18 Tokamak.

[Harter66]

Actually it overhangs the flair on the currently prepped brass. The 9 in question is BHP clone so the fat 356-124 is fine. I didn't weigh them yet I'll bet closer ti 130 than 125. Maybe its my technique. I'm sorta fat too.

[guncheese]

really it sounds to me like youve been blessed!!!
having boolits that drop bigger than you need them!
instead of dropping on size then out of round to -.002"
i wish all mine dropped like yours. I have lapped and polished and even did a jig ! and i always would want .001" more [smilie=b:
what alloy are you using? that they drop so fat?

[GP100man]

That was gonna be my question also guncheese , what alloy are ya useing ??
& at what temp ???

Makin em smaller is alot easier than trying to make em bigger !!

[Harter66]

50/50 WW/ and about 1-20. The 1-20 is from GI anti-pilferage seals. Every mould pistol mould except that 358-150 SWC cast over-sized.

[zuke]

That many mold's with the same "problem"?
Check yer alloy

[44man]

The most disgusting thing ever is when molds are too small. I have bought piles of RCBS and Lyman molds that were useless.

[Harter66]

I can't about the temp w/ certainty. Under 725 , 1 pot will only go to 765. The other is thermastated and holds well .

[35remington]

Since too small is utterly useless, size them to the needed diameter and you have nothing to whine about. What's the big deal? Slightly oversize means sizing to the ideal diameter is easily done.

[hendere]

I love it when things are perfect, but too big instead of too small is a problem I wish I had more often.

[eveready]

Harter66,
You've been blessed and don't realize it.

[DrCaveman]

Yeah, i tried a bunch of boolits un-sized when i first started casting, then i got very enthusiastic about sizing after a bought a couple of lee push-thru sizers. Then, i read the suggestions from some people regarding certain molds about not needing to be sized, and so left it out of the process for a few loads

I gained no accuracy, and did not reduce leading (it was already near zero in those loads). What i did manage to do by not sizing my boolits, was throw the loading process into chaos since a little variation in boolit diameter rendered my case belling incorrect. Either shaving lead or dropping a hot dog in a hallway.

Others better at casting consistency might be able to avoid this, but not me. Now i size EVERY single boolit i load. Everything has improved, from accuracy to cartridge production rate to barrel leading to gun cleanliness. Also my crimp consistency is now much better

The only molds that still suck are the few that drop small (a couple of 30 cal rifle molds, and a 45-70 mold). Guess what, i use the small 45-70 mold in my 460 mag, sizing it down to .4525"! One of my favorite boolits now

[Harter66]

I wasn't complaining . I wasn't bragging either. I just see sooooo many posts this 1 or that 1 casts too small,under weight,nose to small etc,etc. I figure 1 guy can't possibly luck into every full/plus size mould every made. Maybe but I doubt it .
I have a couple of tumble lube boolits 1 was parts available and 1 was a mistake. Both shoot fine in the bedroom guns in that function, 4'' 25 yd groups are plenty ,home is only 35x60 +-. 50 ft is the longest possible shot.

I guess I just like to see a positive feel good post from time to time instead of my '' my 396-454 BBC for my 390 VetenSlapper just keeps getting all sideways every time I launch full tilt'' (auto puns intended)

Yep I've been a lucky guy except that my brand new 22 Bater is so fat in the 222 that I load for the gas check shank is bore ride dia. I guess ya can't win them all.

[Shiloh]

All but one of my LEE 9mm molds are too small. The 125 gr. RN drops at just barely .358 and works very well.
The LEE 125 gr. RF for the 38/.357 is my best 9mm boolit. Gonna have to go with custom molds in the future.

Shiloh

[rhead]

Lee specs on their moulds are +.003, -.000 I have one .457 flat nose plain base mould that casts .456. I size it down to .454 and paper patch it to .462. it shoots fine.

[1Shirt]

Few things in life are perfect as advertised. That includes most molds, and in particular a number of alloys. I have very few molds that cast to so called exact specs, and agree with 44 Man. However yester day I got a 4 banger LOE mold that is listed as .312, and 147 gr. It drops exactly .312 with my alloy, and very very close to 147 for 80% of the boolits weighed. Sometimes you pay for what you get. I have quite a few Lee Ranch Dog molds, and they are all a smidge on the fat size. I like them that way because they tend to shoot very well often as cast.
1Shirt!

[ghh3rd]

The most disgusting thing ever is when molds are too small. I have bought piles of RCBS and Lyman molds that were useless.

Yes!!! Mold makers should discard cherries sooner, even if it means charging a little bit more for each mold. I'd rather pay a little more and get a good mold every time, than have molds that don't get used.


I have quite a few Lee Ranch Dog molds, and they are all a smidge on the fat size.
That's the way Michael Reamey insisted that Lee cut them for him -- the way they should be...

Having a skinny mold is sort of like having a fine cigar, and finding it's so tightly packed that you have to drill holes through it just to get smoke through it.

Randy