Is this LEE "Keith" 357 Mag Mold discontinued?

[seagiant]

Hi,
I bought this mold maybe 15 years ago. Found it in my catch all box. It is in perfect condition but was missing the sprue plate cam/handle and one of the attachment screws. Called the nice lady at LEE and they are on their way! I see a boolit on the Lee site like this one but it is a GC type. This is plain base and I believe was labled as a 158 gr. but the boolit weighs about 170 on my scale. Anyone remember this boolit. Looks like a pretty good copy of the Keith type? The boolit on the right is my RCBS 38-148 SWC for comparision!

[M Hicks]

I've never used that one before but it looks like it should give you some good service.

[Ben]

Hi,
I bought this mold maybe 15 years ago. Found it in my catch all box. It is in perfect condition but was missing the sprue plate cam/handle and one of the attachment screws. Called the nice lady at LEE and they are on their way! I see a boolit on the Lee site like this one but it is a GC type. This is plain base and I believe was labled as a 158 gr. but the boolit weighs about 170 on my scale. Anyone remember this boolit. Looks like a pretty good copy of the Keith type? The boolit on the right is my RCBS 38-148 SWC for comparision!

Are there any Lee ID numbers on the mold ?

I don't ever remember Lee making a mold like that ? ?
Lee would make a custom mold to customers specs for a handsome fee. This mold may be one of those ?

[btroj]

Did we ever do a group buy on that style from Lee? Bet it was a group buy mould. I don't think Lee ever made bullet with that much lube groove.

[seagiant]

Hi Ben,
No there is not ANYTHING on the mold and as far as I can remember (which get's worse by the day!) this was a regular mold that LEE carried? I guess it is possible to be a group buy???

[Ben]

I agree with btroj , I don't ever remember Lee offering a bullet like that in their cataloged molds.

Ben

[Az Rick]

It looks like a Kieth type to me. To be sure you should cast and send me 500 or so just to make sure. I will shoot them and report back.

I think that's a keeper.

Best, Rick

[Lucky Joe]

I have that mould 6 cav. from a group buy several years ago. It was $60.00 if I remember correctly.

[seagiant]

Hi,
Ok,I think your right this was probably Catshooter's and 45 2.1's LEE Group Buy a few years ago before NOE,Accurate and MiHec came along! Here is a pic and the boolit in the middle is Cat's, an Ideal on the left, and a Lyman on the right. The width of the bands on Cat's looks like mine! So much for my memory! Thanks!!!

[Ben]

seagiant

I had a MM like yours.
The front band was so thick that when crimped
in the crimp groove, it would not chamber in
several 38 Spec. revolvers.

I sold the mold.

Ben

[captaint]

They all look quite a bit like the Lyman 358429, give or take. And that one, of course, is about 170 grs. Mike

[seagiant]

Hi,
Well, the last time I used this mold was for a Ruger Security-Six Pistol and I don't remember any problems. I'm now shooting a 6" GP-100. Of course we've seen how good my memory is! Oh well,they say your memory is the second thing to go!!!

[Ben]

seagiant

Loading my MM Keith style 170 gr. bullet in revolvers with 357 chambers using 38 Spec. brass worked well.
The problem was doing the same thing for revolvers that had 38 Spec. chambers.
Then the cartridges didn't want to fully chamber because of the full diameter front band.

BTW....a very nice looking GP 100 revolver you have there.

[seagiant]

Hi Ben,
Thanks for the clarification! That boolit is maybe a little heavy for the 38 spl. even though that weight will work usually. I have the RCBS 38-148 for that role and it is a VERY accurate boolit! The pic is not my exact pistol but have one just like it. My poor little SONY camera wished it could take pics like that!

[GLL]

For reference the bullet on photo's left is the IDEAL 358429, the middle is indeed CAT's LEE GB mold, and the bullet on the right is a LYMAN 429439.

http://www.fototime.com/10E7D767428827C/standard.jpg

45 2.1 drawing for CAT's original 2006 LEE Group Buy
http://www.fototime.com/B581C1AD7E6A22C/standard.jpg
0.361" @ 178 grains

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?7859-Catshooter-s-357-Group-Buy-is-here!&highlight=358429

Jerry

[Ben]

Jerry ,

Have you ever experienced problems with the thick front drive band ( Like Cat's ) interfering with chambering in 38 Spec. revolvers ?

Ben

[Catshooter]

seagiant,

Not only does that look very much like one of the moulds from my very first group buy, but I recall you buying one!

I don't think I ever loaded it in 38 special brass. I used 357 brass. For my Smith model 686s I could crimp in the crimp groove, but for my Smith model 27 since it had a shorter cylinder I had to crimp in the front band. Lee Factory Crimp die worked well for that. Shot well.


Cat

[seagiant]

Hi Cat,
Yea,I'm not very organized,to many intrest and to many projects! I sold my Ruger Security-Six a few years ago and only shot autos. Now I've bought a Ruger GP-100 and trying to figure out what I've got again! Go figure! I can not remember having ANY problem with this boolit! Thanks!

[white eagle]

I do believe its Cats ,Lee designed group buy
I have the same mold