Cloudpeak
06-13-2009, 06:16 PM
I'm ready to retire my Lee 6 cavity 124 gr RN mold after many thousands of bullets cast. It need a new sprue plate and the top surface of the mold, needs to be milled and I'm tired of messing with it. I'd like to try the 120 gr TC bullet for my 9mm's and the question is, the Lee 6 cavity or the Lyman 4 cavity. Part of the problem with the Lee is I started casting with it before the discovery of Bull Plate Sprue Lube and it's pretty beat up.
From what I've read, both bullets are good bullets, feed well and are accurate. I've cast a lot of bullets with Lee molds but they always seem to need some "futzing". Lee-menting, beagling, etc. I bought a Lyman 452630 and it hit the ground running dropping good bullets, bullets drop free with no smoking and all of the cavities cast the same diameter. I had a Lyman 250 gr. SWC 4 cavity mold for 40 years and it, too, cast great bullets from the get go.
It seems I always have to do some work on the Lee's to get them up to speed. I've had two of the Lee 200 gr SWC 6 cavities that I sold and two 6 cavities that I still own for my 9mm's. The 6 cav. 105gr SWC is the best of the bunch with the cavities all being pretty much the same diameter. But, I did Leement this mold, as well to get the bullet's to drop. The 124 gr Lee dropped undersized bullets until I lapped the cavities.
So, I'm trying to decide whether to buy the 4 cavity Lyman or 6 cavity Lee. If the Lyman drops undersized bullets, can they be "Lee-mented" or would that take too much time since they are steel? I suppose "Beagling" would be the solution with these molds if they cast undersize? I like to size my 9mm's at .3575- .358" as most of my 9's slug .356".
My thoughts are to go with the Lyman. It will be slower casting and twice the price. But, the Lyman should last forever, are better quality, come with a good solid sprue plate and a set screw for the sprue plate pivot screw. I much prefer the locating pins on the Lyman as I get tired of the Lee's pins and bushings working loose, so I think the Lyman would be less frustrating.
Anyway, I'd appreciate your opinions on the choice.
From what I've read, both bullets are good bullets, feed well and are accurate. I've cast a lot of bullets with Lee molds but they always seem to need some "futzing". Lee-menting, beagling, etc. I bought a Lyman 452630 and it hit the ground running dropping good bullets, bullets drop free with no smoking and all of the cavities cast the same diameter. I had a Lyman 250 gr. SWC 4 cavity mold for 40 years and it, too, cast great bullets from the get go.
It seems I always have to do some work on the Lee's to get them up to speed. I've had two of the Lee 200 gr SWC 6 cavities that I sold and two 6 cavities that I still own for my 9mm's. The 6 cav. 105gr SWC is the best of the bunch with the cavities all being pretty much the same diameter. But, I did Leement this mold, as well to get the bullet's to drop. The 124 gr Lee dropped undersized bullets until I lapped the cavities.
So, I'm trying to decide whether to buy the 4 cavity Lyman or 6 cavity Lee. If the Lyman drops undersized bullets, can they be "Lee-mented" or would that take too much time since they are steel? I suppose "Beagling" would be the solution with these molds if they cast undersize? I like to size my 9mm's at .3575- .358" as most of my 9's slug .356".
My thoughts are to go with the Lyman. It will be slower casting and twice the price. But, the Lyman should last forever, are better quality, come with a good solid sprue plate and a set screw for the sprue plate pivot screw. I much prefer the locating pins on the Lyman as I get tired of the Lee's pins and bushings working loose, so I think the Lyman would be less frustrating.
Anyway, I'd appreciate your opinions on the choice.