LEE 158 RNFP mold

[Charlie Two Tracks]

I just received my LEE 158 RNFP mold from Midway. It is a six cavity one. I got to cast with it tonight using straight WW. The boolits dropped out quite easily. I just cleaned it good and it seems to work great. After the boolits cooled for an hour or so, I used my micrometer to measure them. They average between .362 and .364. I was kind of surprised about that. I can size them down but the lube groove isn't that deep on this style of boolit. I was wondering if LEE uses an oversized cutter for the mold at first and lets them wear down over time. The cavities are incredibly smooth. They will be shot from a Ruger GP-100 with cylinder throats that are .357. What cha think?

[docone31]

I have that mold, but it is in a two cavity.
I am not sure who it drops. I pan lube it, and size it down.
It is my favourite mold, and it works without leading in all my .357 bores.
Size it, and shoot it.
Then see.

[excess650]

I have that mold in 6 cavity and it casts well. Mine doesn't drop as large as yours. I'll have to check, but I suspect .361".

[dgreen]

Is that a gas chek mold?? I'm looking to buy my first mold and use it for a1894 marlin 357 micro groove and a S&W model 19. That oversize should work great for the marlin.

[Charlie Two Tracks]

It's not a gas check mold................... and I am idiot at times! I went back out to the garage because it didn't make sense to me about my mold dropping such a large boolit. I looked at this new mold and on the face of the mold, under the third cavity is a drop of lead. I held the mold up to the light and could see that it is not closing completely. That small drop is holding the mold open just a tad. Now I have to figure out how to clean it off and I really don't know how in the world it got there. At least I didn't cast up a whole bunch of them.

[GP100man]

I just ordered 1 also !!! 360 will make me happy !!!

I have a 2 cavity & all my 38/357 will shoot this boolit easy !!
The production will be nice !!!!

The spot of lead just take the mold off the handle & run lead over the spot ,then when ya free the clump it`ll bring the spot with it !

[Cowboy T]

I have that same 6-cavity mould. Mine drops 'em at between 0.3575" and 0.3585" with straight wheel weight alloy.

[Treeman]

Mine also drops .358-.3585 -Perfect!

[btroj]

That is not a bevel base is it? I need to get one of those.

Brad

[ticket machine]

Reading this made me go check my LEE 6 cavity. I miked the boolits, and sure enough, .362.
I'll shoot some pretty soon and find out how they shoot.

[MakeMineA10mm]

I was wondering if LEE uses an oversized cutter for the mold at first and lets them wear down over time.

As far as I know, Lee makes all their moulds with a cutting tool and not a cherry, so, no, they do not start with an oversized cutter (which I presume you are referring to a cherry, like Lyman shows in their manuals).

I noticed in the latest mould I got from Lee that instead of perfectly-smooth cavities, they had longitudinal lines running from the meplat down to the top drive band. Almost looks like instead of using a tool spinning the same way the bullet does, they instead have a machine that has a spoon-like scraper that makes repeated strokes longitudinally to carve out the cavity (like the way barrels are cut-rifled).

I know Lee bought and installed some new machinery a couple - three years ago, but don't know if that has to do with this appearance I just noticed or not, but only my newest (2-yr-old) Lee mould has this.

[JIMinPHX]

My 2-cav drops around .359-360 with WW. I've sized them down as far as .356" with good results.

People sometimes look for molds that drop a little on the fat side for things like .38S&W cal. If I were you, I'd try to sell or swap that mold on the swappin & sellin section of the board & then try to get another one that drops closer to the size that you want. That is...unless you plan on loading up .38S&W someday. Then I'd just keep it.

[DragoonDrake]

I had a two cavity at one point. I got rid of it. Someone on this forum was nice enough to trade me a 309-120 for it.

I forgot to mention that I bought a 6-cav to replace it. All my 357 MAG's shoot it wonderfully. I only wish my 357 MAX shot it as well.

Adam

[Rocky Raab]

I have the two-holer. I cast 'em, tumble-lube them and load them. My guns love it.

[376Steyr]

The six-cavity moulds have a bevel base. I have two recently made six-cavity moulds, one drops at .360, the other at .361 with the same alloy at the same casting session. Both are of good quality, and I feel I got my money's worth. I'll be even happier with them after I remove the bevels, which interfere with my visual inspection during the casting and sizing process.

[462]

I have a two-cavity that had the aforementioned longitudinal lines -- like tool chatter -- and beveled bases. Lapping eliminates the lines and hand-milling made it a plain base.

[leadman]

Lee molds are now cut on a milling machine, one half at a time. The have been doing this since just before they screwed up the Makarov group buy molds.
I think they have most of the bugs worked out as the molds seem to be more usable out of the box now.
The 6 cavity has a small bevel base, not near as large as the Magma brand molds. They work good in my guns and my sons marlin 357.

[GP100man]

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0519.jpg

[MtGun44]

I read .359, sounds about perfect.

Bill

[Wally]

If you have a Freechex GC maker in the .38 cal you can make GCs that will fit this bullet. The BB allows you to seat the GCs, if you don't form the GC "cup" all the way. Very accurate.

[MakeMineA10mm]

"Big Boy" :lol:

[Beerd]

"Big Boy" :lol:
I don't personally know Mr GP100man, but it's probably a good thing you smiled when you said that ;-).
..

[MakeMineA10mm]

Mark and I are on-line friends, so no worries, but yes, you are right about the smilie!! :mrgreen:

I have a similar nickname to GP100 at my work, too, so I'm sure not throwing stones from the front porch of my glass house! [smilie=l:

I just love seeing the nick-names on guys' tools. Have several local friends who are tool-and-die makers and machinists, and some of the nicks on their tools are hilarious!

[GP100man]

When I was a youngun my nickname was "pumpkin" a little rounder than tall !!!

This pic was about 10 # heavier than what I am now , can ya teel there`s a 4"GP100 with full grips under the shirt ????

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0420.jpg