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Thread: Lee 44 Caliber Ranch Dog molds

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Bo1's Avatar
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    Lee 44 Caliber Ranch Dog molds

    I have 2 Never used Lee Ranchdog 44 caliber 6 cavity molds that are 260gr, and 300gr. Both are tumble lube, and gas checked.

    Is there someone out there that yall could recommend that I could send these molds to to have the GC's milled out of, and would it also be feasable to mill them into standard lube molds instead of tumble lube? Would it be worth it, or should I just sell them and get the molds I desire?

    Thanks,
    Bo
    "Those who hammer their guns into plows, will plow for those who do not"
    Thomas Jefferson

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Doc_Stihl's Avatar
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    You could mill the gas check shank off but with the tumble lube grooves I don't know what you'd get for a base. You could also ream the shanks to drive band size, which is how I prefer to remove them.
    As far as recutting the lube grooves, I don't think that's possible.


    You'd probably be better off selling them and getting what you want. Lee makes a 200gr RNFP and a 240gr RN in Plain base.
    It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

    Theodore Roosevelt

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy Carolina Cast Bullets's Avatar
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    They were designed for 44 caliber rifles and as such, need or should have the gas checks. IMHO, they are too heavy for use in
    a pistol or revolver. With that being said, they are not much more than junk to you if you want to use them in a revolver.
    Send them to me and I'll see to it that they are properly disposed of.

    Jerry
    Carolina Cast Bullets
    Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional ! ! !

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


    SciFiJim's Avatar
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    If they are not what you can use, put them up for sale in the swapin n sellin forum for what you paid and buy what you need. They are popular with the .44 rifle guys and should not take long to sell.


    Cast Boolits Search Tool

    The Learning Never Stops!

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


    williamwaco's Avatar
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    Contact

    http://www.hollowpointmold.com/


    He can remove the gas check for you.

    I don't know about those molds but he has done this for many members here including myself and does excellent work.
    First reload: .22 Hornet. 1956.
    More at: http://reloadingtips.com/

    "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the
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  6. #6
    Boolit Bub
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    I use them in my SBH and SRH. I run them thru my lube sizer with LBT and have never had any leading issues.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Eastern Boulder Cnty,CO. Can be found shooting at GMSC. Erie
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    Mr. Jerry C.C. Bullets
    Should I stop shooting RD280 grain boolits through my Model 29? or the 310 grn Lee's?
    I try to keep them lightly loaded with 17.2grains of WC820. My friend uses 20 grns of H110; but he is weird like that
    Gracias

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    RobS's Avatar
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    Buckshot on this forum may be able to help you out.

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?67-Buckshot

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

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    Removing the gas check shank is doable, converting to normal lube groove is not. You would have to add material to the mold block to create the groove. I have seen folks use standard lube on tumble lube boolits but I have never tried that myself. I don't own any tumble lube boolit molds. Maybe someone can chime in on using standard lube on the TL design.

    If you remove the check shank, and lube with standard lube I would think you would nee to keep your loads below the threshold of leading which for some is around 1200 fps. Boolit masters have pushed plain based boolits much higher than that but they are in the zen master category of caster/reloader. Even so, I think that requires a standard lube groove so that there is enough lube being pumped into the bore as the boolit travels. Hopefully, someone with more experience with the TL design will provide you with a better answer
    Common sense Gun Safety . . .

    Is taught at the Range!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check