Got my 6 cavity in today from Midway. Seems much better built than the 2 cavities I had. Haven't had a chance to cast yet. I've got to smelt some ingots first.
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Got my 6 cavity in today from Midway. Seems much better built than the 2 cavities I had. Haven't had a chance to cast yet. I've got to smelt some ingots first.
My previous molds had the notches in the mold blocks and didn't always align that well. One had some horizontal steel pins in it that were undersized and didn't work very well either. This one seems to close solidly and appears to be free of any burrs.
The haters are a bit prone to exaggeration ,or in this case underestimation......the current lee pin and socket type 2 cavity molds I have, have shown no ill effects from casting many thousands of bullets......I cast a potfull thru one mold each session,say 500 bullets.....so they should be worn out after four sessions......which they aint....plenty of beeswax melted into the wearing spots,and they might be dark brown,but cast good as new.
................I enjoy the Lee six cavity moulds. IMHO the new 2 cavity blocks are a large improvement over the old "Roller Bearing" alignment types. The new 2 cav's main complaint is the 'Drive Rivet' handle attachment. If the rivet falls out, just drive it back in, but if you have the need to get one out, THAT's the problem :-)
I'll admit to having ruined a couple of the old style 1 & 2 cavity jobs. And I'll further admit to having thrown (with all my might) a couple of the old one or 2 cavity moulds against the far wall of the shop. However I've always had better luck with the 6 cavity jobs.
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(Left) Making 38 cal DEWC's (Right) Partial production using an old Group Buy 6 cav copy for the C268-132-RF.
One thing I will NEVER do however, and that is to buy a USED Lee mould of ANY type/description unless I can see it first! :-)
.................Buckshot
I have killed a couple 2 cavity lee molds when I started casting almost 30 years ago. No one to teach or show me. Got back into it a few years ago with help of this forum. I still like the Lee 6 cavity for strictly quantity casting. I have two identical 45 and 3 identical 9mm molds. run them as fast as I can and swap then when they get hot. Have cast Waaaay more than 2K in each. But, I have a ever increasing inventory of NOE and arsenal molds. Much better for quality casting, and NOE molds are a work of Art. Might see if AL over at NOE would sell me a buggered up mold to keep on my computer desk as a paper weight.
I just ordered my first "new style" 2 cav. Lee, their 358-200-RF for my yet to be built 35/30-30. I have two of their old style 2 cavity for low use boolits, 44 & 41 SWCs. I have dies and a custom Lee collet crimp die bought used from a member on the Marlin Owners forum. I decided to buy the peripherals first lest I end up with the rifle and nothing to load ammo with.
Be careful.... stealing things from "The Woman" can get you in a lot of hot water.
The print blocks are some kind of type metal, most common is Linotype .
A friend in the printing business gave me a large box of type, I use it to add tin to a mix of lead and wheel weights. Ask "The Woman" nicely , she might be willing to give you some.
Gary
About 2 hours worth of casting using the 6 cavity TL452-230-TC and 401-175-TC molds. I don't want to think about how long it would take to do this with 2 cavity molds.
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I see absolutely ZERO differnce between 2 and 6 bangers except the speed. I own almost every 2 and 6 banger mold Lee makes and hate the 2 cavity ones because they are sooooooo slooooooow. But they do not make every profile in 6’s. Silly.
Quality of your boolits is based upon: your mold temp when you start, Pb temp, casting techniques, Drop techniques, and how you hold your mouth (!). And not the number of cavities in the mold!
I also own 7 brass mult-cav molds and prefer those 1000% to the Al LEE molds. LEE’s are nice if you want to try out a style of boolit without investing a lot of $$ on brass.
And then there are the poor souls that still cast with ONE cavity molds!!!!! OMG.
Good luck.
Bangerjim
Smk , the only mold which I consider as a piece of art is my Eagan mx4 30ard, in accuracy & looks, Fivefang
All 10 of my molds are LEE six cavity. The only molds I have ever used.
They have worked great for 9 years now!
Worth pointing out NOE has a 20% off sale for the 4th of July week. But I have no real complaints about Lee molds except for the lack of a set screw to prevent the sprue plate hinge screw from working loose or tighter as it is cast with. I also tend to like the 4 cavity molds as a nice balance between productivity and weight. NOE has been my source for that configuration. Lee 2 cavities certainly last more than a 1000 bullets, heck I have more than that on hand ready to use and it wouldn't be the first time I filled up the 30 caliber ammo can with cast from that Lee mold.
Have a single cavity Lyman WC mold that when I get the rhythm right just drops them like a faucet. drip, drip, drip, drip. I don't think it actually takes 2x as long as using a 2 cavity mold. Do I wish I had it in 4 cavity? Sure I do but the single cavity seems to work just fine.
As has been previously mentioned by others, No issues with the new Lee 6 cavities over here. I can't speak to the older Lee molds
To me, the new Lee 6 cav with the steel alignment pins/sockets, and the much improved cavity vents really are a bargain.
The Lee third Handle on the Sprue is pure genius! I wish every manufacturer provided this
I like the 6 cavity better.
[QUOTE=bangerjim;439
And then there are the poor souls that still cast with ONE cavity molds!!!!! OMG.
Good luck.
Bangerjim[/QUOTE]
That would be me.
The first Lee mold I bought was a single cavity 160 gr rn that's not listed anymore ( altho the two cavity still is). I use it for my single shot 30/30 and when I want to plink with my Ruger #1 in 30/06 A.I.
I even had a single cavity RCBS 400 gr mold for my .480 Ruger for a few years.