7X57 Mold question

[azcoyhunter]

Shooters

I have a problem.

Not sure if this is the right thread to post this question, or not.

My question is I own a 7mm Lee Mold, the only one they make.

I have cast bullets, and have had problems loading them.

They are too short for my barell lands to grab, and the bullet either goes inside the case, and or comes out of the case when opening the bolt, the bullet is not long enough to seat correctly, at least that is what I am finding.

Am I doing something wrong, or do I need to get another mold, or try another manufacture?

Please help

Clint

:lovebooli :castmine:

[NVcurmudgeon]

Clint, I have only one 7mm mould, an obselete Lyman 287308. It is a long-nosed bore rider weighing about 168 gr. and shoots very accurately in my 1895 Chilean Mauser. I'm not trying to tease you with a mould you can't buy. if it was me, I'd take a good look at the RCBS 7mm-168-SP. It loks a lot like my discontinued Lyman. RCBS moulds cost more than your Lee, and are worth it for the quality. They have an outstandingly generous warranty.

[Leftoverdj]

Yeah, that bullet is too short to reach out to touch the lands of most miltary rifles. I just seat them about a quarter inch deep and hope for the best. My eyes won't handle the issue sights of my 1908 Brazilian Mauser well enough for me to be real fussy about accuracy, anyway

[1Shirt]

Have never had a problem with the Lee and my 77 Rug. 7x57. In fact it is probably the most accurate of my 7mm molds over 2400. Just seat a bit deep, and you might consider a slight crimp. Good luck!
1Shirt

[azcoyhunter]

Shooters

The following is what I got off of the www.midsouthshooters.com site

Is this a good deal.

As I never have shot Cast "good" with my 7mm, I am hoping to try it.



RELOADING / LEAD BULLET CASTING / RCBS MOULDS / .285 DIA


*SHOW FOR VENDOR PLEASE SELECT RCBS RELOADING PRODUCTS
RCBS RELOADING PRODUCTS DOUBLE CAVITY MOULD 7MM .285 DIA 168GR SEMI POINT
Order No: Status: Price:
044-82018 Low Stock
$56.58

RCBS RELOADING PRODUCTS DOUBLE CAVITY BULLET MOULD 7MM .285 DIA 145GR SILHOUETTE
Order No: Status: Price:
044-82150 Low Stock
$56.58

[azcoyhunter]

Thanks to all for the response

I just love this site!!!

Clint

[onceabull]

AZC---------: Only because of the "Long reach" you mentioned,did I lay off touting my own fav.7mm mould, Saeco's 281..I like it best of what I've used,but that does NOT INCLUDE any Milsurp's...so,maybe not a good # for your work... Onceabull

[azcoyhunter]

I did not realize the difference, I thought that a 7mm was a 7mm, was a 7mm.

Clint

[onceabull]

Clint: i might well have been more expansive, -- More often than not, my 7 mm castings go down the barrel of one of the 284 Winchesters,or a 7x64 Brenneke..From prev.topics here & elsewhere I've picked up on the idea that many of the 7x57 milsurps,and some commercials have very long throats, as in "freebore"...!Onceabull

[NVcurmudgeon]

Onceabull, you are right about the cavernous throats of some military 7 X 57 rifles. I did a throat slug on my 1895 Chilean Mauser and found it to be huge. No doubt, this is because of the original ammo being loaded with a 173 gr. +/- round nose bullet.

[Bret4207]

Clint- Are you saying the boolit is being forced into the case when you close the bolt and then sticking in the breech when you open the bolt? If so, then the boolit IS seating in the throat and you have an issue with crimp, or rather a lack of crimp and a sizing issue vis a vis the boolit diameter/interior neck diameter. In that case a case sizing die adjustment is in order, and different diameter boolit sizing die is in order or possibly a different alloy might be tried. If I mis-understood your problem then ignore this.

[mooman76]

Clint,

I have been having some 7mm problems myself but different from yours! I moulded up a bunch of bullets that I cannot use because they are too small. Some of them are the Lee like you have and some are the 7mm RCBS you posted in the 145g. I could send you some of the RCBS if you like, to try before buying another mould!

Mooman

[Larry Gibson]

azcoyhunter

I'm not sure what the as cast diameter of the Lee mould is but the 287436 Lyman moulds generally drop them at .287-.288" This fits most all of the old military 7x57 groove depths of .287-.284. The Lyman bullet shoots as well when shot "as cast" in these 7x57 as most any cast bullet. I get 1 1/2-2" groups at 100 yards with mine out of my Chiean M95. There also was an older RCBS mould that was of Loverin style. A friend has this mould and it shoots well in his M95 also. I believe he shoots them as cast at .288".

Larry Gibson

[StarMetal]

Larry,

I have the Lyman 287405, which is the 150 gr Loverin, and it has been wonderfully accurate in every modern 7mm I've shot it out of, and only one milsurp. Anyways with 50/50 ww's and pure lead it drops at .285, which as you know isn't good enough for the old fat bore 7x57's. Thus I've made a swage-UP die for it. You're lucky if you have one that drops that fat.

Joe

[Larry Gibson]

Larry,

I have the Lyman 287405, which is the 150 gr Loverin, and it has been wonderfully accurate in every modern 7mm I've shot it out of, and only one milsurp. Anyways with 50/50 ww's and pure lead it drops at .285, which as you know isn't good enough for the old fat bore 7x57's. Thus I've made a swage-UP die for it. You're lucky if you have one that drops that fat.

Joe

Was my understanding from some articles years ago that the 287405 was supposed to drop bullets at .287 with #2 alloy. That was why I got it. Not sure what the new ones do. With WW + a little lino type the bullets drop at .288 from my mould. Heck, maybe I did get lucky and just didn't know it!

Larry Gibson

[StarMetal]

Larry,

I bought that 405 back in mid 1970's.

Joe

[Larry Gibson]

Larry,

I bought that 405 back in mid 1970's.

Joe

My bad Joe, I was refering to the 287436 I have. I got mine used, at a gunshow down in Portland in the '80s. Have you tried your 287405 with a harder alloy? It should drop out close to .287 if you cast them hot also. Just a thought.

Larry Gibson