Lee mold bullet weights

[JDNC]

Is Lee bullet weights based on linotype? I have a gang mold for 230 gr 45's and it cast at 238 grs with WW (no tin addition).

[mooman76]

Lees are based on WWs except BP moulds that are based on pure lead. It is not unusual to be off. WWs are not consistant and the moulds aren't always spot on either not to mention the way you cast and temperature all go into play too. Don't worry about it. Cast load and enjoy!

[HeavyMetal]

Just make sure you adjust your load for actual "payload" weight and not adveretized boolit weight!

That can save some hassle!

[Slow Elk 45/70]

JDNC, Hullo and welcome, that being said, there are way to many influencing factors on the final weight of the boolit you drop from ANY mold to expect that they will drop a boolit spot on a given weight. +- 10gr is not a problem IMHO. A few grains of weight in the slug is not nearly as important as the charge of powder, when using maximum loads, work up carefully if you go there.

..as Moorman said, cast , load , shoot
But most of all, Have Fun

[geargnasher]

+1 on what HeavyMetal said. One of my Lyman moulds is supposed to cast 180 grainers with #2 alloy but it consistently throws them at 203gr. with WW and a little 50/50 solder, so I naturally work up from 200gr. load data for similar shaped boolits. Also have a 250gr. Lyman mould in the same caliber that casts 251gr with the same alloy, go figure :-?

Just weigh each lot you cast and work them up like a new load if they are off by a few grains, IOW cover your bases, worry less and shoot more:Fire:

Gear

[2TN Mules]

My Lee .452 TL 230g 2R mold consistently drops at a weight of 223g. Not a problem for me as long as it is consistent.

[snaggdit]

Most of my Lee molds drop 5% over with WW, but individual boolits are only +-1 grain. As others have said, many things affect drop weight. For load workups, go by dropped weight, not what they are supposed to be.

[cavemike]

I have a kind of related question. Do you use the as cast weight or should you weigh the boolits after you lube?

thanks
Mike

[snaggdit]

Most boolits don't have a large lube groove. Should only add a grain or 2 to the overall weight. I would say go with either and you should be fine. Someone posted a few weeks ago that a certain boolit with large grooves added 10 gr to the weight. That I would think should be accounted for.

[454PB]

Any safe load would not become dangerous because of a few grains of boolit lube.

My Lee 405 gr. HB mould probably holds more lube than any other I cast, and I can't imagine it's more than 3 or 4 grains.

[Jumping Frog]

I have a kind of related question. Do you use the as cast weight or should you weigh the boolits after you lube?
I am only using LLA to tumble lube, so I do not worry about lube weight.

However, my .44 boolits are gas checked, and I do use the total weight of boolit+GC when working up a load.