500 S&W mag

[Rustybob]

Anyone try the Lee 440gr gc mold for the 500:-P

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I do,
it works great !

[saz]

YEP. Good shooter. Doesn't work very well with anything other than lla because of the shallow lube grooves.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

YEP. Good shooter. Doesn't work very well with anything other than lla because of the shallow lube grooves.
really ?
I use carnuba red...no problems at all,
But the only gun I shoot them through is the 4" S&W revolver with comp, making the bbl actually only 3+"
Jon

[saz]

Yeah, let me rephrase- It didn't work very well for me with anything other than LLA.

I tried it with a couple lubes I had on hand to include some LBT blue and I was getting leading out at the end of the 7.5" barrel which made me assume it was due to the shallow grooves. I am dip lubing with straight LLA and it works great. Like I said, just my experience.

[RobsTV]

There is only one lube groove unless you count lower crimp groove when seated deep, as well as any groove left on bottom after installing gas check.

Just starting casting with the mold and while I am having a few things I need to work on, accuracy is so much better than the Berrys Plated that I should kick myself for not doing this much sooner. These 440gr boolits are also a pleasure to shoot in the 1400 to 1500fps range. Not much different than the 350gr Berrys plated.


Quick question on crimp groove.
Is it better to seat deep and use less powder or seat shallow and use more powder?
Seems most seat deep, but I would think best results would be obtained with boolit closer to rifling.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

this big powerful cartridge begs for a strong crimp in the crimp groove...so that's what I do.
Jon

[RobsTV]

this big powerful cartridge begs for a strong crimp in the crimp groove...so that's what I do.
Jon

Yes, but which crimp groove?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Yes, but which crimp groove?
Sorry, I use top one.
there is plenty of case capacity.
plus it gives me another lube groove.
Jon