lee mold dropping small

[corey012778]

I just got back from vacation, bought some great tools for reloading and cast (caliper and scale). I am casting for muzzleloaders. doing them saboted round for a 50cal and an conical for a 45cal.

I am using an lee single cavity mold 405gr 458 dia. it is dropping weights from 398 to 406gr ( only having 5 from 398 to 400 that I am going to throw into my pot next time I cast some). but what got my attention it was only drop at 454 dia.

what did I do wrong?

been using ww's with just a little solder added to it.

not really a problem with me shooting them out of an sabot, other then I am shooting mmp sabot maded for it 458.

[Bret4207]

You did nothing wrong. The mould is probably a little undersize. You can fix it by "Beagling" the mould, just do a search for that term here, or using an alloy with more antimony in it. I'd try Beagling first. You are measuring before sizing, right?

[corey012778]

all I have are not sized yet.

[Bass Ackward]

been using ww's with just a little solder added to it.

not really a problem with me shooting them out of an sabot, other then I am shooting mmp sabot maded for it 458.


Well, you could call LEE and get them to take it back. You should be close to over 458 without having to hold your mouth just right.

Up to you, but after so long, they won't take it back or exchange it should you change your mind later.

[corey012778]

I got it used off a member of this board


I figured out what happen. I measured before I weighed them, I have 5 of them that are under the weight I want coming out to that .454.
those 5 stuck in my head.

it brakes down to

dropped at 402gr .456
dropped at 404gr .457
dropped at 406gr .4575

avg 404gr .4568 rounded to .457

still dropping a little small but still not not really. it was also a small mix but not 50/50 of ww, fishing sinker, and stick on WW.

[Freightman]

I have a 405 HB Lee mould that drops .463 which is great as I have a M1867 Rolling Block that needs that, but it only weighs 389-392g with any of my alloy but it shoots great.

[idahoron]

My 405- HB comes out at .458 but the weight is only 386 gr with pure lead, 376 with WW. Ron

[corey012778]

that makes me feel better hear that people are drop

[DLCTEX]

The smaller dia. boolits were probably the ones cast before the mold got up to temp. The Lee molds have to run hot IMHO. DALE

[idahoron]

No matter how hot I can't get more than 386 gr out of my 405 gr mould. I have had my mould so hot the lead smeared when I tapped the cutter. I like mine at 386 gr and I have NO reason to send it back. My TC Renegade loves those bullets. Ron