Making list of top punches for Lee Molds -- please contribute!!!

[happy7]

Recently there was a list of top punches for Lyman molds posted on Cast Pics. This is a very handy reference. There does not appear to exist such a list for Lee molds so I am volunteering and will then ask Wiljen to post it on castpics when it is done. I have made a list of the mold designs currently available from Lee and also a list of the top punches I already have information for. I am asking everyone who can, to reply to this post and tell me the top punches that work for the other molds. Please, only those who have first hand knowledge from actually sizing bullets should post. I want this to be a factual compilation and not based on guesswork. In my limited experience it seems that RCBS and Lyman punches are not always the same dimensions for the same number so please post whether RCBS or Lyman. Also, if you know of information for discontinued molds, please post both the mold name and the top punch. Lets not get into custom molds. Those that own these molds already know which TP to use and it would unnecessarily clutter the list I feel. I will try to update the list below to indicate which molds we have information for so you can tell at a glance if we still need the info for a particular mold.

[happy7]

22 Bator 646
311-093-1R
311-100-2R
TL314-90-SWC
358-105-SWC 467
358-125-RF 429
358-140-SWC RCBS 554
TL358-148-WC
358-148-WC
358-150-1R
358-150-SWC RCBS 554
TL358-158-SWC
C358-158-SWC 429
TL358-158-2R
358-158-RF 43
356-102-1R
356-120-TC RCBS 550
TL356-124-2R
TL356-124-TC
356-125-2R
365-95-1R
401-145-SWC
TL401-175-SWC 43
401-175-TC 460, 43
410-195-SWC
TL410-210-SWC
429-214-SWC
C429-240-SWC 421
429-200-RF
429-240-2R 251
429-255-SWC 421
TL430-240-SWC
C430-310-RF RCBS 600
452-160-RF
452-200-SWC
452-200-RF
TL452-200-SWC 344, 43
452-228-1R RCBS 374
TL452-230-2R
TL452-230-TC RCBS 191
452-230-TC
452-252-SWC
452-255-RF 190, 649
C452-300-RF
C476-325-RF
476-400-RF
C501-440-RF
C285-130-R 413
C309-113-F 8
C309-120-R
C309-130-R 465
C309-150-F 8
C309-160-R
C309-170-F
C309-180-R
C309-200-R 467
C312-155-2R 467
CTL312-160-2R
C312-185-1R
C324-175-1R 470,467, NEI 59
C329-205-1R
C338-220-1R
379-250-RF
457-340-F
457-405-F
459-405-HB
457-450-F
C457-500-F
459-500-3R
515-450-F
515-500-F

[TCFAN]

This is what I use for the lee molds that I cast with. These are all Lyman top punch #
105-358swc-------#467
358-125RF---------#429
C309-130R---------#465
C285-130R----------#413
C309-113F----------# 8
C358-158swc--------#429
429-255 swc---------#421

Hope this helps...Terry

[compass will]

452-255-RF -------- 649. Got that info from this board, seems to work good

[TCLouis]

How about adding the GB molds?

[happy7]

I guess we could make a separate one for group buy molds

[hotwheelz]

401-175-TC use #460

TL452-200-SWC use a #344 or #43

[1mauser]

For 358-150 SWC I use RCBS #554 Top Punch

[MTWeatherman]

For the TL401-175-SWC, Lyman number 43 works well

[MTWeatherman]

Lee does make a bullet that's not on your list. It is not a stock mould but straddles the line between stock and special order. It is stocked by Midsouth on a regular basis (they handle the special order part) and offered for sale by them. A number of people on this board have it. It is the .22 Bator. I have it and the Lyman 646 works well for it.

Also might add that for the 356-120-TC, I use the RCBS top punch for the .32 Special. Although I have no doubt that there are 9mm or .358 top punches that would represent better choices...certainly if one is ordering a punch for the mould, it works well enough for me that I never saw the need to invest in one. That punch is the RCBS 550. If you have that punch, I would simply suggest you give it a try before looking any further.

[94Doug]

This is a great Idea!!

Doug

[mtnman31]

Don't forget these "Lee" molds, also stocked by Midsouth:

8mm Karbiner
8mm Maximum

Does anyone know the top punches to use with these?

[happy7]

mtnman, do you know the top punches for those molds?

[mtnman31]

Sorry, I do not know which top punches work with them.
I bought one of each mold and have yet to reload any bullets from them. I cast a few from the Karbiner mold just to see where they size and weigh out at but I have yet to reload any of them.

[480 Ruger Caster]

RCBS TOP PUNCH CHART

RCBS Top Punches
Pistol
Sizer Die Top Punch Top Punch
Mold Part Number Bullet Type Part Number Part Number Number
82021 32-077-RN 82214 82536 465
82060 32-098-WC 82216 82543 445
82061 32-098-SWC 82216 82542 444
82057 38-090-RN 82221 82513 311
82026 09-115-RN 82221 82504 115
82062 9mm-124-RN 82221 82521 401
82063 09-124-RN-TG 82221 82504 115
82027 09-124-CN 82221 82522 402
82077 9mm-147-FN 82221 85556 556
82084 9mm-100-RN 82248 82551 551
82030 38-148-WC-DE 82223 82515 344
82031 38-148-WC 82223 82529 429
82032 38-150-SWC 82223 82529 429
82064 38-158-RN 82223 82513 311
82065 38-158-SWC 82223 82529 429
82066 40-180-FN 82245 85558 558
82067 10mm-170-SWC 82243 85518 518
82068 100-200-SWC 82243 85518 518
82039 41-210-SWC 82226 82541 420
82041 44-225-SWC 82229 82527 421
82042 44-240-SWC 82229 82527 421
82043 44-245-SWC 82229 82527 421
82080 44-250-K 82229 82527 421
82044 44-250-SWC 82229 82527 421
82079 44-300-SWC 82229 82527 421
82052 45-185-SWC-BB 82233 82545 680
82046 45-200-SWC 82233 82534 460
82047 45-201-SWC 82233 82545 680
82081 45-225-CAV 82234 85552 552
82048 45-230-RN 82233 82519 374
82049 45-250-FN 82234 82506 190
82050 45-255-SWC 82234 82528 424
82092 45-270-SAA 82234 82528 424
82083 45-300-SWC 82233 82528 424
82087 50-340-SWC+ 82254 85611 611
Cowboy Molds
82301 25-85-CM 82204 85630 630
82302 30-150-CM 82212 85631 631
82303 32-90-CM 82216 85632 632
82304 38-140-CM 82223 85633 633
82305 38-158-CM 82223 85633 633
82306 40-180-CM 82245 85635 635
82307 44-200-CM 82244/82229 85636 636
82308 45-230-CM 82233/82234 85637 637
Rifle
Sizer Die Top Punch Top Punch
Mold Part Number Bullet Type Part Number Part Number Number
82007 22-055-SP 82240 85506 506
82015 243-095-SP 82202 85509 509
82016 257-120-SP 82204 85515 515
82017 270-150-SP 82206 85529 529
82018 7mm--168-SP 82209 85531 531
82009 30-115-SP 82212 85535 535
82019 30-150-FN 82212 85546 546
82020 30-180-SP 82212 85541 541
82014 30-180-FN 82212 85546 546
82022 7.62-130SPL 82212 85554 546
82023 310-120-RN 82213 85543 543
82024 32-170-FN 82217 85550 550
82028 35-200-FN 82223 85565 565
82029 37-250-FN 82275 85570 570
82090 378-312-BPS 82252 85608 608
82070 40-300-SP-CSA 82226 82520 378
82074 40-350-SP-CSA+ 82226 82520 378
82074 40-400-SP-CSA+ 82212 85520 378
82086 40-400-BPS+ 82226 85609 609
82075 416-350-FN+ 82246 85562 562
82036 44-200-FN 82244 85595 595
82093 44-370-FN 82253 85585 585
82051 45-300-FN 82236 85600 600
82045 45-325-FN-U 82236 85583 383
82053 45-405-FN+ 82236 85600 600
82054 45-500-FN+ 82236 85600 600
82085 45-500-BPS+ 82236 85607 607


Lyman Top Punch Reference
Top Punch # Mold # (s) Nominal Diameter Nominal Weight Bullet Type

#8 311041 .309" 173grs FNGC
311008 .312" 115grs FN
319247 .322" 165grs FN

#43 401043 .401" 175grs FN
403169 .408" 240grs FN
427098 .428" 205grs FN
401654 .401" 150grs SWCBB
401638 .401" 175grs TCBB
410610 .410" 215grs SWCGC

#93 ?????

#132 457132 .459" 535grs Semi-pointed

#141 515141 .512" 425grs FN

#190 454190 .454" 250grs FN

#191 457191 .459" 292grs FNBB
457122 .459" 330grs FNHP
457643 .459" 400grs FN
457193 .459" 405grs FN

#203 245496 .244" 84grs RNGC

#226 313249 .314" 85grs RN

#251 439186 .439" 370grs RN
446110 .446" 340grs RNFP
429383 .430" 245grs RN

#284 311284 .309" 210grs RNGC

#303 ?????

#311 356242 .356" 90grs RN
356242* .356" 120grs RN
358311 .358" 160grs RN

#346 287346 .285" 135grs RNGC

#348 ?????

#359 311359 .312" 115grs PTGC

#360 ?????

#374 457124 .459" 385grs RN
457671 .459" 475grs RNGC
457125 .459" 500grs RN
452374 .452" 225grs RN
452374 .452" 180grs DEV HP

#402 356402 .356" 120grs TC

#413 311332 .309" 180grs PTGC

#415 225415 .225" 55grs FNGC

#420 25742 .258" 65grs FNGC

#421 429215 .430" 210grs SWCGC
429421 .430" 245grs SWC
429244 .430" 255grs SWCGC
429650 .430" 300rs SWCGC

#424 452424 .452" 255grs SWC
452490 .452" 255grs SWCGC

#429 358477 .358" 150grs SWC
358156 .358" 155grs SWCGC
358429 .358" 170grs SWC

#430 358430 .358" 195grs RN

#438 225438 .225" 44grs RNGC

#449 375248 .379" 249grs FN
375449 .379" 264grs FNGC
410655 .410" 400grs FN

#460 452460 .452" 200grs SWC
452630 .452" 200grs FNBB

#463 266469 .264" 140grs RNGC

#465 311291 .309" 170grs RNGC
311252 .311" 75grs RN

#467 311410 .312" 130grs Pointed tip
311299 .309" 200grs RNGC
314299 .314" 200grs RNGC

#470 323470 .325" 165grs RNGC

#495 358665 .358" 158grs RNFP

#637 356637 .356" 147grs FNBB
356637 .356" 124grs Dev HPBB

#641 266673 .264" 150grs Semi-pointed GC SIL
280642 .278" 150grs FNGC
287641 .285" 160grs SIL

#644 311672 .309" 160grs FTGC SIL
311644 .309" 190grs Semi-pointed GC SIL

#646 225646 .225" 55grs Semi-pointed GC

#649 429667 .430" 240grs RNFPBB
429640 .430" 250grs DEV HPGC
452664 .452" 250grs RNFP
452651 .452" 325grs FNGC
501680 .501" 360grs SWC

#658 410660 .410" 385grs Semi-pointed
457658 .459" 480grs Semi-pointed

#663 378674 .379" 335grs RN
410663 .410" 40grs RN

#677 457677 .459" 490grs Pointed-tip

#678 ?????

RN= Round Nose
FP= Flat Point
FN= Flat Nose
SWC= Semi-wadcutter
BB= Bevel Base
GC= Gascheck
HP= Hollow Point
DEV= Devastator
SIL= Silhouette

[happy7]

I still need help with this. If any of you have any of these molds, please experiment and see if you have a top punch that works and then let me know. It doesn't have to be the best top punch. I mean how can you know if you have the best unless you own every top punch made. If it works without deforming the bullet, then that is all we are looking for.

[twidget]

For the Lee 459-405-HB the Lyman 374 works well.

[happy7]

bump bump

[MTWeatherman]

The RCBS 550 is a pretty versatile punch for both .32 and .35 caliber applications. Its a near perfect match for the TL358-158-SWC for those who prefer to use a lubrisizer on a tumble lube bullet (which I do).

It also is very effective for use on the C324-175-1R to bump the nose into a flat point for use in a .32 special lever or as a more effective hunting bullet in the 8mm (also accomplishes the same thing on the LYMAN 323470).

Although it does round the edges of the C358-158-SWC meplat very slightly...it still works well by effectively providing the same meplat size as the TL358-158-SWC after sizing.

I use this punch for all the above listed applications. The use of a .32 Special nose punch for these .358 bullets may come as a surprise to some, however, the 550 punch can handle a larger meplat than is actually present on the .32 Special RCBS bullet.

[RadioactiveMarine]

22 Bator 646
358-140-SWC RCBS 554
TL358-148-WC
358-148-WC
358-150-SWC RCBS 554
515-500-F

I believe the RCBS 554 listed above is wrong. RCBS shows that top punch for their .309 dia. spire point 7.62-130-SPL bullet. You need the RCBS #429

The LEE TL358-148-WC uses the Lyman #344 punch.
The LEE 358-148-WC uses the Lyman #495 punch