Inline FabricationLee PrecisionRotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters Supply
RepackboxReloading EverythingLoad DataTitan Reloading
Wideners
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: why doesnt Lee make NLG molds?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.E. Iowa
    Posts
    155

    why doesnt Lee make NLG molds?

    Just got a new MP NLG 8 cavity mold for 9mm today.
    Boy does it make casting easy! Give the mold a little shake and they all drop out effortlessly.

    Well that got me thinking...…..the Lee molds seem to be pretty well made lately, I wonder why they haven't offered any NLG molds for coating.

    I realize the lube grooves don't hurt anything for coating, but the smooth sided boolits sure slide out easy. I was thinking their 358-125-RF or 356-120-TC would be great for a smooth side design.

  2. #2
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    84
    Agreed! I'd replace most, if not all of my Lee molds. My NOE HTC just effortlessly fall out. Not having the lube groove makes a big difference. Let's send them emails requesting it!


    Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master


    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Aberdeen, South Dakota
    Posts
    7,136
    I know it's cool having bullets simply fall out of the mold. My only "no lube groove" molds are round balls, and they are nice to cast. Yet every Lee design I've tried casts so easy, why mess with it? One little tap and they fall right out. It seems like you are giving up so much versatility, and possibly accuracy for to make a bullet that already casts easy, even easier.

    Try their tumble lube designs, they practically fall out of the mold.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master gpidaho's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Beautiful Idaho
    Posts
    2,644
    I'd like to have a NLG mould for the 32ACP a 70ish RN would suit me as I powder coat all pistol bullets and most rifle. Gp

  5. #5
    Banned

    tomme boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Clinton, Iowa
    Posts
    5,200
    They might as ALOX is no more.

  6. #6
    Boolit Man chumly2071's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Central IL
    Posts
    80
    Since I PC all my castings, I'd definitely be in for some NLG designs in my selections (especially 45, 9mm, and 357).

    I also wish they would offer up a version of the 312-155 even with the grooves, but sized closer to 308 for my blackout loading.

    Personally I think their lack of offerings is sending potential customers to the other mold manufacturers who do offer them, but often at a different price point.

  7. #7
    Moderator Emeritus


    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    SW Montana
    Posts
    12,450
    It only took 20+ years of asking to get a 35 cal rifle bullet.
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    3,901
    Lee has been making NFG molds for a long time.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Pleasant Hope MO
    Posts
    2,225
    What is a NFG mold?

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Posts
    299
    Quote Originally Posted by MT Chambers View Post
    Lee has been making NFG molds for a long time.
    He's saying he doesn't like Lee molds.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

    Idz's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    839
    Making a reamer for a NLG mold should be pretty easy. Without grooves you don't have to have a rig to precisely close two half molds on the cutting cherry. In fact you don't even need two mold halves. You can easily cut a secant or tangent ogive using a radius cutter on your lathe. For ellipsoidal noses an Archimedes trammel will work. If you're not picky a few angle cuts and a file will approximate the nose, but its difficult to reproduce the cutter. Lube grooves make mold making a pain!

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master
    bangerjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    out of here, wandering somewhere in the SW.
    Posts
    10,163
    NLG ( NOT NFG) molds are a fad of recent years. I personally find no use for the three I have. But Lee will probably catch up to the PC thing in a few years. In the meantime, just cast and PC what you have. I can find no shooting performance improvements in grooved vs grooveless molds of the same design and caliber.

    banger

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    167
    If it ain't broke, why "fix" it?

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master


    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Aberdeen, South Dakota
    Posts
    7,136
    Quote Originally Posted by tomme boy View Post
    They might as ALOX is no more.
    According to lar45, the only Alox that was discontinued was Alox 350. This will only effect his 50-50, BAC, 2500+ and BP-01. The tumble lubes do not use Alox 350, and I assume Lee doesn't either.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Pleasant Hope MO
    Posts
    2,225
    Quote Originally Posted by thraxx View Post
    He's saying he doesn't like Lee molds.
    OK, that one went over my head but I would agree with him.

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master
    bangerjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    out of here, wandering somewhere in the SW.
    Posts
    10,163
    Quote Originally Posted by ioon44 View Post
    OK, that one went over my head but I would agree with him.
    He is saying "No F---ing Good" molds.

    And the many MANY thousands of good boolits I have dropped, loaded, and shot over the years from Lee molds would tend to NOT agree with him.

    To each his own. Lee molds are good. Brass molds are far superior. And that is all I buy today.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    3,901
    I don't like the quality of Lee stuff at all, but I must say that some of their boolit designs are very good, like the .312-185, best boolit in my '95 in .303 British. Wish I could get the exact boolit in a Saeco, RCBS, Lyman, or brass.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master redhawk0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    North East, USA
    Posts
    1,419
    Quote Originally Posted by ioon44 View Post
    What is a NFG mold?
    Actually NLG...no lube groove.

    redhawk

    The only stupid question...is the unasked one.
    Not all who wander....are lost.
    "Common Sense" is like a flower. It doesn't grow in everyone's garden.

    If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question. - Ronald Reagan

  19. #19
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Posts
    3,409
    Quote Originally Posted by MT Chambers View Post
    Lee has been making NFG molds for a long time.
    Just because you can't be nice to the molds when you used them or get them to work for you is no reason to diss them.

    I have many old lee molds that still work like new and they've produced a lot of quality boolits.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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