Curious about Lee molds

[quilbilly]

I have noticed that most of my Lee boolit molds drop boolits a little heavier than advertised. I am not complaining since they shoot well. For instance, my 358-150grRN drops at 156 gr and the 358-125gr RNFP drops at 133gr. The 452-200grRNFP drops at 213 gr. I am sure it isn't my alloy or the scale I am using. No complaints from this corner. Just curious.

[RobS]

Yep, most of Lee molds drop a bit heavier than advertised and most casters are using WW alloy (or similar) and/or lead-tin alloys of some sort. I suppose they may be closer if a person used straight lino.

[geargnasher]

They also generally cast a tiny bit larger than advertised, and do so with alloys like WW that tend to cast small with other maker's regular production moulds. I'm not complaining, either, I just wish they'd make their lube grooves deeper on many of the smokeless-powder boolit designs.

Gear

[MikeS]

And some Lee designs have a couple of crimp grooves so you can shoot the boolit from either 38 Special or 357 Mag. They also make some boolits that they put so many crimp grooves on them that there's no room left for even a single lube groove! :)

[Wal']

And some Lee designs have a couple of crimp grooves so you can shoot the boolit from either 38 Special or 357 Mag. They also make some boolits that they put so many crimp grooves on them that there's no room left for even a single lube groove! :)

I think you'll find the molds with all the crimp grooves are designed for their tumble lube boolits. :wink: :cbpour:

[MikeS]

Wal, you did notice the :) at the end of my post? And also, no they're not designed FOR their tumble lube boolits, they ARE their tumble lube boolits! :)

[mdi]

Another thought; you would have to use the same alloy and the same melt and mold temperaturers to get the same results (weights/sizes) as the mold manufacturers advertise...

[jrayborn]

I love the six cavity molds, but I'm with Geargnasher and wish for deeper lube grooves.

[wallenba]

Maybe this is why. They base their mold weights on using this mix.
http://leeprecision.net/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/208/62/mold-weights