Why is it?

[snuffy]

Why is it that you get a mold that actually is trouble free as far as dropping boolits without a bunch of pounding, even casting very close to target/design weight. Then when you measure them they're .006 out of round?

Mold in question is a 6 banger lee, 356-125-2R. Boolits run .362 at the block separation, .356 @ 90 degrees to that. Oval boolits.

http://photos.imageevent.com/jptowns/bullets/websize/IMG_0338.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/jptowns/bullets/websize/IMG_0340.JPG

Run through a RCBS .356 sizer, they come out round except right next to the block separation doesn't clean up.

My question is; will they shoot? Or should I send it back to lee? I see a lot of guys do the Beagle thing to make their boolits bigger, then they round out and shoot okay. Will that happen here?

I have some loaded, haven't had a chance to shoot 'em.

[missionary5155]

Howdy snuffy
I would tap a sized one down the barrel and see if it is fat enough. If it is too small diameter tap an unsized one down the tube and measure it. Maybe you do not need to be sizing at all or alot less..
All is gonna depend on that barrel and the chamber.
I have a S&W 439 that shoots .358 just fine.
Mike

[Ben]

Lee says that their molds are round within .001 " .
Sounds like that one needs to go back to Lee.

[captaint]

Snuffy - Looks like you have a pretty big part line there. You sure the mold is closing all the way. May be the reason for the out of round. The other thing - the .352 thing, I don't know what to tell you about that. Might be the mold is just cut too small. Not all that unusual. enjoy Mike

[snuffy]

I failed to mention that I already slugged the barrel of my new CZ-75-B CWC, it came out right at .355. So I ordered a .356 sizer.

I think I'm going to send it back, write 'em an email first. Unless I shoot those I loaded and they shoot real good!

http://photos.imageevent.com/jptowns/cannont2ifolder/websize/IMG_0333.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/jptowns/cannont2ifolder/websize/IMG_0328.JPG

[snuffy]

Snuffy - Looks like you have a pretty big part line there. You sure the mold is closing all the way. May be the reason for the out of round. The other thing - the .352 thing, I don't know what to tell you about that. Might be the mold is just cut too small. Not all that unusual. enjoy Mike

Um, you made me go back to look at my OP, that's .362. Yeah, the mold is closing tight, no light coming between the halves.

It mystifies me how a lathe turned mold can be that far out-of-round. It wouldn't be hard to see one cavity being out of specs, but all 6?!:veryconfu:veryconfu

[captaint]

Snuffy - Lee cherry cuts their molds, I think. You're right though - a lathe cut mold is generally right on the number. Mike

[XWrench3]

SEND THAT THING BACK!!! i don't care if lee made it, rcbs, or anyone else, that far out of round is not only terrible, it shows blatent disrespect for their customers! it also shows absoloute ZERO quality control. i own a bunch of lee molds. one went back for the very same reason. and mine was only .003" out of round. in my opinion, if they want us to be their quality control system, then they need to send a call tag for the product so we do not have to pay shipping on an obvious defect!

[MtGun44]

I am pretty sure that Lee lathe cuts their molds.

Bill