Need someone to WFN a LEE "SWC" 2 cav

[maglvr]

Hi Folks:
I have a LEE 429-255-SWC that casts just fine, however, I HATE the nose profile!
Is there anyone here that could mill it out to drop nice WFN's?
Thank you in advance for any help.
maglvr

[Sasquatch-1]

Be time you pay postage both ways and for the machinist time, wouldn't it be easier to see if you could find another mold.

[maglvr]

I have run wanted ads for a WFN mold but no luck yet.

[imashooter2]

Putting that sort of money into the Lee 2 cavity blocks wouldn't be what I would do.If you want a custom design, go to a custom mold maker and pay his price. It will sting a bit, but you'll get blocks that will last a lifetime.

Two such makers are Accurate Molds

http://www.accuratemolds.com/

and Mountain Molds

http://www.mountainmolds.com/

[MT Gianni]

It would be cheaper in the long run to go to a custom mold, IMO.

[Artful]

So you have this
http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant2/429-255-swc.jpg
and want to change it to something like
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/images/TLC432265RF.jpg
Ranch Dog 265 - 6 cavity for $60.00
or
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/primary/511/511417.jpg
Lee 310 FN
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/511417/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-c430-310-rf-44-special-44-remington-magnum-44-40-wcf-430-diameter-310-grain-flat-nose-gas-check
2 cavity for 19.49

or
http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c41_files/image004.jpg
Hard cast 300 grain .44 bullets include BRP’s 295 GC and 325 GC and
Oregon Trails’ 310 GC.

By the time you take the $20 Lee two cavity apart - drive/mailed it to someone to chuck up in a lathe and center it on each of the two cavities and cut them, unless the machinist owes you a favor and your paying in beer, your going to be ahead by just purchasing a correctly designed mold to begin with.

[maglvr]

So you have this
http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant2/429-255-swc.jpg
and want to change it to something like
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/images/TLC432265RF.jpg
Ranch Dog 265

or

http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c41_files/image004.jpg
Hard cast 300 grain .44 bullets include BRP’s 295 GC and 325 GC and
Oregon Trails’ 310 GC.

By the time you take the Lee two cavity apart - drive/mailed it to someone to chuck up in a lathe and center it on each of the two cavities and cut them, unless the machinist owes you a favor and your paying in beer, your going to be ahead by just purchasing a correctly designed mold to begin with.

Correct, that is what I have and what I want it changed to, Actually I would already have many Ranch Dog molds if they were offered in 2 cavity, I tried a LEE 6 banger once, never again, just not for me, i'd rather have a single cavity than a 6 banger, but 2 cavity is my fav.
I am beginning to see, ordering a new mold might be the way to go.

[wl620]

Look in the vendor sponsor section for swede nelson he has a new website noebulletmolds.com and has some 265gr wfn style molds in stock gc or pb or both in the same mold.

[longbow]

Look here:

http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=6

Tom will make what you want if you don't see it in his catalogue.

Wonderful moulds and excellent service!

Longbow

[maglvr]

Great info guys, thank you all!!

[helice]

Since you have been happy with Lee moulds you might try either the 429-200RF 2 cav. #90285 or the 430-310RF 2 cav. #90858.
I have the 429-200 and it works quite well in the 44-40.

[Dan Cash]

I have run wanted ads for a WFN mold but no luck yet.

LBT, Accurate, Mountain Moulds for a start. Spending money on your Lee moulds is unlikely to be satisfying or productive.

[MikeS]

I'm curious, just what is it about Lee 6 cavity moulds that you don't like?

[Buckshot]

.............You're right about machining expenses. If you ship the mould with handles attached it won't fit in a small flat rate box. I charge to remove the handles (can't swing'em across the bed). Even if I could you wouldn't be able to pinch'em in the center of the blocks in the 4 jaw chuck. You then have a choice (from me anyway) when shipped back you get to replace the handle pins and then upset the edges to hold the pins in place, or pay an additional charge for me to drill & tap for setscrews to retain the handle pins. If I do the work (remove and D&T) you've just doubled the cost of the mould.

Then to individually set up each cavity and do the work (in a 2 cav) that's half again the original cost of the mould. If all the above was done the $20 mould is now a $70 set of blocks, and that isn't counting shipping in both directions. I like Lee moulds a whole bunch and feel they're a great bargain, but not for situations as above. Best bet is to buy a mould that's what you want from the git-go.

...........Buckshot

[maglvr]

I'm curious, just what is it about Lee 6 cavity moulds that you don't like?

It would be easier to just say I like 2 cav. molds.
I tried a couple of 6-cav's a friend had and it just isn't my thing, I like to keep things as minimal for my needs as possible, and 6 cavities is FAR beyond my needs.
For me, a 2 banger fits just right.

[maglvr]

I had no idea it was such a complicated thing, I guess I was picturing a "bit" of some kind chucked up in a drill press, zip, zip 2 noses widened, done!
I think the way to go is the new mold from the get-go method :)
Thanks all for the info.

[bigboredad]

maglvr if it was me I would opt for the lee 310 and either mill off the gc check part it open it up so you get rid of the gas check portion. You will find the longer 310 bullet will fly better due to its increased length and the recoil will not be much more and will be more of a push and less snap. I did this to the lee 300gc .45 mold and it incresed the weigth to 315gr. or of course just use gas checks but I have never found them necessary. just my ideas good luck

[theperfessor]

Buckshot is being totally honest about time, cost, etc. but you WOULD get a first class job. Doing it for cheap on a drill press falls into the Bubba category for sure. Better ways to get what you want.

[longbow]

I'm with you on the 6 cavity mould thing. I don't like them either. Not sure what it is but I find six cavity moulds a bit awkward to use. I have a couple of four cavity moulds and they are okay, but as big as I want to go.

I tend to prefer two cavity moulds myself. Somehow they seem nice to use... more "natural". Different strokes!

Longbow

[MikeS]

Well, I must say, with Lee's new design for their 2 cavity moulds, I would be more inclined to buy one that I used to be, looks like they're finally getting their act together and building a more conventional design, with alignment pins, just like the ones they use on their 6 cavity moulds. Now I would just love to see them put a thicker sprue plate, it could even be aluminum like on their six cavity moulds. I would rather have a thick aluminum plate rather than a thin steel one! But then I don't open my moulds with a mallet, just my hand, so an aluminum plate would last a while for me, but for most of the bubbas out there that use a mallet, or steel hammer even an aluminum plate would get eaten up pretty quickly.

[maglvr]

I hadn't heard that LEE finally went to alignment pins on the 2-cav molds, but I am sure glad to hear that!
I have about 10 LEE 2-cav's and I use a hardwood hammer handle to open sprue plates, I cannot say I have ever seen a problem develop.
Of the 10 or so LEE molds I have, at least 3 of them have cast literally untold thousands of bullets, and if anything, cast better today that they did in the beginning.
So I can't complain on the longevity issue.
Mine have proven to be as durable as any mold I have owned.
And I might add, I don't baby them in the least.
YMMV ;)