What is your opinion of the Lee Buckshot mold?

[wv109323]

If you have used the Lee Buckshot mold what is your opinion of it? I am looking to go with 00 Buckshot.
Is there any other considerations beside the Lee mold?

[longbow]

My wife bought me a Lee 00 buckshot mould and it is great in my opinion. It is built on the Lee 6 cavity mould blocks and alignment pins so head and shoulders above the old style Lee 2 cavity moulds.

I found I had to run alloy hot and mould hot to get good fillout but once going it cast beautifully for me. I used range scrap and dropped the strings quickly while still a bit brittle, the balls almost all separated when the strings of 3 hit the wet cloth I drop them on. Those that didn't got rolled under a utility knife and that worked well for me.

There are a couple of other options out there but I can't recall the names.

I am happy with my Lee and plan on getting another in different size as well.

Longbow

[Firebricker]

I've got the Lee 00 mold it works good like longbow said they like to run hot. I believe Sharp shooter molds is the alternative to Lee you should be able to find them with a search. The nail clippers for dogs works well for separating pellets. FB

[Gee_Wizz01]

My favorite is the Skies Unlimited buckshot molds. I have used the Lee and they work fine, but I prefer the Skies Unlimited. Skies Unlimited is also a member here. The Skies Unlimited molds also come in a variety of sizes of Buckshot. I have a 00, 1 and 4.

G

[Rottweiler]

Like everyone else here I run that mold hot and haven't had any trouble with it. If/when it craps out (it is a Lee product) I'll probably go with one of the others listed here

[rcav8r]

I used mine for the 1st time last weekend. I think I was running about 700-750 degrees. It did take quite a few casts to get it warmed up so that all 3 cavities in each hole filled out. I used some melted down BB shot that's pretty much useless here in WI.

[6pt-sika]

I can get 00 and #1 buck easy enough so i see no need to cast for them . However it might be nice to have a 0 and a #3 mold .

[gfisher]

Picked up a lee OO mold and used it for the first time yesterday, as suggested, ran the pot hot. After cleaning the mold, and break in, guessing about 20 or so cycles, it started producing flawless 3 ball casts with each pour, and in short order I had about 10 pounds of OO buck. Even the early rejects produced one or two usable OO buck so it each pour wasn't a total waste. Used a pair of modelers Flush cut nippers to cut them apart and then put them in the brass tumbler for 30 mins or so with some Air gun BB's, ended up with nice round OO buck, smooth finish. Average weight each with the scrap lead that was in the pot at the time is 52.6 grains.

-George

[Andrew Mason]

i have one in 00buck

i use pure lead for my buck shot.

i run my lead hot for it too, today my casting temp was right around 840*
great fill out on all 18 balls.
i cut them with a razor blade or twist them untill they shear.

[Gunnut 45/454]

I went with the Lee 2 Cav Round ball mold in .311. I call it Buck. Not 0 and not #1! Gives me 9 pellets in 2 3/4" 12 and 16 Ga. Patterns well out to 20 yards which is good enough.

[Nix]

I used to use the Lee mold but upgraded to the SharpShooter. The SharpShooter molds will take more lead if you leave the sprues connected across each cavity but this will greatly increase productivity.

The Lee mold does turn out a good quality casting but I find the mold is more fragile than the Sharpshooter. That really shouldn't be too much of an issue if you are an experienced caster and take your time but if what you want is just to crank out as much as you can as fast as you can without worrying about that sort of thing, get a Sharpshooter. They're nigh on bullet-proof.

+1 to what everyone has said about running the molds hot; buckshot has a lot of surface-area but is small volumetrically so you need to keep the thing heated high and evenly if you want to be successfull. Someone mentioned the shot breaking appart from the sprues when he drops them; this is very common when you are casting hot, and a good sign you're doing it right. My suggestion would be to put your towel at the bottom of a bucket of water and cast into that so it quenches. This will harden the shot and also elminate deformation.

Enjoy your new mold, casting buckshot is a lot of fun!

[gfisher]

A trick I learned many many years ago from the gentleman who taught me bullet casting, use a tall bucket, like a 5 or 6 gal pail, and keep it at least 2/3 full, place a cotton or wool cloth over the top and secure with a large rubber band or cord around the edges, the center should be slightly depressed a few inches. The bottom of the cloth should be about 2" above the top of the water level. Cut a X shaped in the center of the cloth about 2" across. As you cast, cut your sprue into one pan, then drop your bullets, buckshot, whatever into the bucket. The cloth will direct the projectiles into the water and stop any splashes from getting out and reaching your melted lead. The volume of water will soften the impact enough so you shouldn't need a towel at the bottom, but adding one will not hurt anything. The bucket I use for this has a small drain hole (1/8") at the proper water level so as the lead volume is added, excess water is drained off. When the bottom of the bucket is covered, I remove that batch to dry in the sun, refresh the water and replace the cloth.

A single drop of water in a pot of molten lead can be exciting to say the least and should be avoided at ALL costs.

-George

My suggestion would be to put your towel at the bottom of a bucket of water and cast into that so it quenches. This will harden the shot and also elminate deformation.

Enjoy your new mold, casting buckshot is a lot of fun!

[shotman4]

if you do this to sharpshooter mold it will take care of heat

[gfisher]

Question, Just wondering if you could use the side of the sharpshooter molds to cast ingots also ? Two uses for one mold if it works.

-George

[Nix]

Shotman4, you're not the first person I've seen do that but that's definitely the best looking result, heh. What did you use as the material? looks almost like a dowel cut in half down the middle or something? How do you find it works for you?

Regarding the idea of casting ingots from the sides; the depressions really aren't that deep, I don't think I'd try it. Probably wouldn't hurt but I can't imagine the results being a very convenient weight like 1lb or 2lbs or whatever. I suppose you could. Most guys I know just buy one of those dollar-store muffin pans (I actually used to use a mini-muffin pan which cast perfect 1lb ingots by chance).

[hanleyfan]

I have a #4 buckshot 6 cavity lee mould and I can not get the balls to drop out, I have tried everything I can think of, I cleaned the mould , heated it up and lubed all points with bull plate, I heated mould on hot plate around 350 and lead pot at 650 to start, the mould filled out nicely no problem until I opened the mould up and the balls will not release from the mould short of prying them out with a wood stick. I have spent 4 hours on this mould casting from 650, 675, 700, 750, 775 ,800, 825 and 850 degrees on the lead pot, I have an PID controler on my lead pot so I know what the temperature is. I tried with the mould cooler and kept increasing the mould temperature until I got it up too 400 deg. and stoped. I have tried Kroil did not work, I tried smoking the mould did not work after all this I still have to pry the balls out with a wood stick, this takes time and slows me down and suggestion on how to get the ball to drop like they are suppose too?

[mtgrs737]

I have two sharpshooter molds a 00 and a #4 buck. Both will produce a lot of buckshot and if you run it hot the sprues will snap off at the juncture of the ball when dropped on a towell. Only a very small percentage don't seperate imediatly when dropped so I just tap the sprue part with the casting mallet and they snap right off and the seperation point is better than cutting. I have made many pounds of buckshot with these moulds and am very pleased with them.

[NZSarge]

I also have two Sharpshooter molds; Combo 00/4 and #F

Excellent product, rapid delivery and awesome service to New Zealand. I will buy more, probably 0 and 1

[BAGTIC]

I have a Sharpshooter 0000 mold. It doubles as a slingshot mold and RB mold for 35 caliber revolvers.