Lee .44 265gr RN rejects [Archive]

Tazman1602

12-28-2009, 10:34 PM

Lee has a few of these that from what I understand are Ranch Dog rejects. Has anybody purchased one of these? How did they cast, size-wise? I have one on the way to try in my Marlin 1894.

K -- I bought a couple of those, they are NICE molds. I use one "as cast" for a sabot load in my muzzleloader and one I lapped out to .432. I've yet to fire it and don't know how it will perform in my Marlin. HOWEVER, in the muzzleloader with sabot it is a KILLER on white tail. WELL worth the $20 bucks...........

JMO,

Art

lonewelder

12-28-2009, 10:51 PM

hello,im new to the forum.i just got this mold a couple of days ago.mine casts at.431 on the rear driving band.it is a TL bullet.good looking bullet.im going to try them as cast,i think they will work gret in my lever 44

kelbro

12-28-2009, 10:52 PM

Thanks Art. Really hoping that between this one and the 310gr RNFP that I can find a good one for this rifle.

Tazman1602

12-28-2009, 11:01 PM

Thanks Art. Really hoping that between this one and the 310gr RNFP that I can find a good one for this rifle.

If data on this forum is correct (and I believe it to be SO...) Tumble lube and shoot AS CAST and I'll bet it won't shoot half bad. I've got a ballard rifled .444 and it slugs .430-.4315 and I'm DYING to try my new bullet in it. But like I said, try it AS CAST and let us know..................

I've also got a Lee 310 grainer FP that I've lapped out and can't wait to try that one too..............

Art

lonewelder

12-28-2009, 11:13 PM

i have been wanting that lee 310 mold but,i recently started casing for my rifles and have been bitten by the bug

lonewelder

12-28-2009, 11:20 PM

i have 12rds of the 265 loaded i'll try tomorow.ill have to shoot at 50yrds,cant see to shoot with open sights at 100.im thinking about geting my 92 drilled and tapped for a lyman reciever peep sight

kelbro

12-28-2009, 11:37 PM

Lonewelder, my eyes are not getting any better either. I got a set of the Skinner peep sights last Saturday and plan to try them out this weekend.

Tazman1602

12-28-2009, 11:46 PM

Post group size man. My eyes aren't that great at short sight radius either so I use scopes on everything..................don't care what the size is just want to know how it SHOOTS. Are you using Alox lube???

Art

kelbro

12-29-2009, 12:08 AM

Alox/JPW/MS for up to medium velocities and Orange Magic for the really fast stuff. I will try both if my 310 mold gets here on time. Lee said they would ship the 265 tomorrow. With the holiday, I don't expect to see it this week.

Fingers crossed for groups worth posting!

ghh3rd

12-29-2009, 01:02 AM

The 'reject' that I recently received is the TLC432-265-RF mold (designated as TLC430-265-RF). Although it's marked 430, it is dropping 4315 to 432 using WW + 3% tin.

Randy

kelbro

12-29-2009, 08:18 AM

The 'reject' that I recently received is the TLC432-265-RF mold (designated as TLC430-265-RF). Although it's marked 430, it is dropping 4315 to 432 using WW + 3% tin.

Randy

Great! Thanks Randy. Maybe I will get one like that.

45-70 Chevroner

12-29-2009, 11:11 AM

Welcome lonewelder. I use TL cast bullets all the time in my 45 Colt Rossi 92 and they work great. I use Lee LA. I don't run them too fast (700 fps.) as they are for Cowboy Shoots.

We on this site enjoy all new comers and thier questions and input.

longbow

12-29-2009, 11:45 AM

I have one of th eLee RanchDog moulds on its way as we speak. I hope it is here this week and if so I may get out shooting on the weekend.

I will let you know how it casts and how it shoots. I am using a Marlin 1894 with 0.4315" groove so am looking for fat! If the boolit casts smaller, I will lap the mould.

Longbow

44man

12-29-2009, 12:33 PM

The rejects might need a little work but it is a WONDERFUL boolit.
I use Felix lube on them.

lonewelder

12-29-2009, 10:19 PM

i was going to shoot some of these today but it rained.i dont mind the cold but not wet and cold.looking at this bullet i dont see why it wont shoot. 45-70 thank you for the welcome.ive been reloading for 20yrs but just now really working on casting.

lonewelder

12-29-2009, 10:31 PM

45-70 im using la with my rifle loads and no leading.all under 1800-1850 est. no chrono.but i do lube them a couple times,till the groves fill up.

Tazman1602

12-30-2009, 08:48 AM

Hey Lonewelder you aren't talking about using the .430 diameter bullet in your 45-70 are you? If you are it's a little small................ .44 cal

45-70 is going to need whatever your barrel slugs usually around .458. I'm lucky as both my .450 Marlin and 45-70 both slug .4565 so I just size .458 and I'm off to the races but you shouldn't shoot a .430 or thereabouts diameter bullet in a .45 cal rifle or handgun....

Maybe you were talking about getting a similiar mold in .45 cal???

Art

HORNET

12-30-2009, 09:53 AM

I think he was responding to 45-70 Chevroner in post #13.

Tazman1602

12-30-2009, 06:17 PM

I think he was responding to 45-70 Chevroner in post #13.

OH GOD. I feel like Vinnie Barbarino "I'M SO CONFUSED"......................sorry

waynzwld

12-31-2009, 10:02 AM

I got one of those from Lee, I was disappointed, the darn thing casts at .428.
I lapped the heck out of it and it now casts at .429.
I was hoping for better,
Should I order another one and hope it casts a larger diameter?

longbow

12-31-2009, 10:45 AM

You should be able to lap out 0.003" to 0.004" reasonably easily especially with aluminum. I just lapped out a 6 cavity mould with problems and managed to even up cavity sizes and get them round by taking up to 0.004" out of some.

You shouldn't have to do it as the mould should cast to spec but... if you have to you can.

Longbow

waynzwld

12-31-2009, 10:48 AM

The gas check band is the correct diameter, the rest of the bullet is too small.
I'm afraid I'm going to make it too big for the gas checks.

kingstrider

12-31-2009, 11:35 AM

Is this the TLC 430-265 RF in the bargain bin?
Does anybody have a photo of one of these as cast?

longbow

12-31-2009, 11:43 AM

waynzwld:

If you don't have access to a lathe it is a little more difficult but you can make cast a lapping bullet, drill for a drywall screw, woodscrew or drill and tap for a bolt then cut the head of the screw/bolt and chuck the lapping bullet in a lathe or drill chuck and lightly turn or file the gas check shank smaller or remove it entirely. That way you enlarge the body of the boolit without enlarging the gas check shank.

I guess you could also clamp two pieces of wood together, drill just under boolit size at the joint then clamp the lapping bullet between the pieces of wood and file the gas check shank off. Same end result, just more work.

Longbow

Jimbo2

12-31-2009, 02:46 PM

Anybody out there use this 265gr boolit in a Marlin lever-action, and if so, any problems with feeding? I know there are some bullets in this weight range that can be too long to feed.

NHlever

12-31-2009, 03:10 PM

Here is a drawing of the mold:

I just ordered one this morning after I figured out how.... :D

longbow

12-31-2009, 03:11 PM

I haven't used this one yet but hope to be soon.

RanchDog designed this boolit specifically for the Marlin so it should feed just fine.

So far I have not had any trouble with any RNFP or TC design I have tried even if a little long but I had lots of trouble with Keith style SWC's ~ Lyman 429421 and H&G 503.

I modified the cartridge stop to allow longer OAL which helped and is an easy job, then wound up filing the groove in the carrier deeper to get better alignment of boolit to chamber which also helped but the SWC's still hang up in my gun, usually on the shoulder.

The noses of the 429421 and H&G are long and when seated to the crimp groove exceed the 1.610" OAL Marlin recommends. Filing the cartridge stop does allow feeding of longer OAL rounds.

None of this should be an issue with the RD 265 gr. but could be if you try other designs.

Glen Fryxell has a good write up on boolits for Marlkins here:

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin1894.htm

Lots of other good articles on LASC too.

Obviously his gun is not as picky as mine.

Longbow

Jimbo2

12-31-2009, 04:43 PM

Thanks longbow, that was just what I was trying to find out. Great information. I've had problems with keith style semi-wadcutters too, so I'll probably try this mold.

waynzwld

12-31-2009, 05:47 PM

I cast some bullets and used scope ring laping compound (200 grit) and
finished off with another bullet and Bon-Ami/water paste until it was good and loose.

Should I cast another set and keep doing it until it makes .430?

I did file the crimp part of the cast bullet by lightly chucking it in the drill press.

The alloy I'm using is berm scrap with a Brinnel (?) hardness of 12.

This alloy casts OK with other molds.

EDK

12-31-2009, 08:23 PM

Make a lap according to the suggestions and do a little....clean mold and cast some boolits to see where you're at. Repeat procedure as necessary.

I purchased a two AND a six cavity from RANCH DOG awhile back. They have worked well in the various MARLIN rifles I have access to/load for...step sons and grand kids have 44 rifles/pistols also. I have tumble lubed and sized to .432 so far. NOE is making a plain base clone. This has been a super boolit in my assorted 44 VAQUEROS...shoots to point of aim and better accuracy than several other designs I cast. My 44 special and magnum SMITHS don't get much range time, so I can't report there.

I don't know if it is the gas check or the XLOX (Lars' alox clone) but the boolit cleans the leading out of my guns with about 5 mid range loads. I'll find out when the plain base mould arrives. Gas checks are too expensive for target/plinking ammo.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

Rocky Raab

12-31-2009, 10:37 PM

I bought one of those supposed rejects, and am very happy with it so far in limited testing. I bought it to use in a Ruger Flattop 44 Special (which I STILL don't have) but it shoots very well, if a few inches high, from my Charter Bulldog.

I intend to shoot it sans gas check and will load it as-cast with LLA - if I ever get that Ruger. But if it doesn't shoot well, I'll either remove the gas check shank or sell it and use common 240-gr bullets. I am, however, supremely hopeful.

lonewelder

12-31-2009, 11:01 PM

ok i finally shot this bullet in my rossi 92.off hand at 30yrds i got 3.5" gruop with the flier.but 4-5 were about 1" wide x1-1/2 tall.this could be the barrel getting used to the lube and bullet+my eyes.i dont blame the load or the gun.i would bet at 50 off a bench 2 or2.5 would be no problem.load was 8.5 uni as cast tl lubed

ghh3rd

12-31-2009, 11:33 PM

Keep in mind that these 'reject' Lee molds are TL design, rather than lube groove.

I just ordered one this morning after I figured out how....
How did you manage to order online? I tried to figure it out, but finally called them.

.

NHlever

01-01-2010, 09:12 AM

It is pretty unclear on the web site how to order online. Actually when you click on the blue part number it takes you to the ordering page, and you just follow the procedure there. If you don't see "blue" part numbers, you have to go back to the home page, and select the mold chart from there. They only charge $4.00 for handling, and shipping it looks like.