New Lee Mould Design

[TXGunNut]

Have a 32-20 project in the works even though wasn't really planning on shooting my newly acquired Colt Army Special. Factory ammo was out of the question @ $40 per 50 so I decided to go ahead and get set up to load & cast for this little Colt. Only mould Midway had in stock was the Lee TL314-90 two-holer. I'm not a huge fan of the 2-hole design, used it once to check function of their TL 452-200 before ordering a 6-holer. Didn't much care for the alignment pin design but I made it work.
Was pleasantly surprised when my new mould had a new alignment pin design, looks remakably like the pins in their 6-holer. Other more constructive plans for the day have fallen thru so I think I'll go cast a few.

[Andrew Mason]

i sure do hope my new lee 9mm 2 cavity i orderd will have the new allignment pins

[TXGunNut]

Hope so too, Andrew. Only possible issue I see with a 2-cav 9mm is that it's not a 6-cav. Most 9mm's seem to have quite the appetite. :wink: If the boolit works in your pistol(s) you may want to look into a 6-cav. It seems Lee has discontinued the 6-cav in the boolit I want to try but I don't see much shooting in this well-used, 100 yr old gun's future. IMHO 2-cav moulds are fine for low volume or precision production but I wouldn't have the patience to use one for long. OTOH if my 2-cav 452-200 mould had worked a little better maybe I wouldn't have ordered that 6-cav mould so quickly.

[DLCTEX]

i sure do hope my new lee 9mm 2 cavity i orderd will have the new allignment pins
With the current demand for moulds being what it is I'd be very surprised if any new mould is old stock.

[DLCTEX]

I would chamfer the bottom edge of the sprue plate and drill and tap for a set screw for the screw plate bolt, or at least remove it and put antisieze on contact points.

[TXGunNut]

Took awhile to get my newest mould figured out but it that seems to be the rule for me. Once I did it cranked out a nice pile of boolits, just didn't seem like it because it takes quite a few 90gr boolits to make a respectable pile.



70106

[Bucking the Tiger]

Great looking boolits! I have one of these moulds( old model, 2 cavity) and use it for my S&W 32Long I frame and a K frame 32-20 hand ejector. It works well, I just wished Lee still made it in 6 cavity. LLA is a good and easy lube for a low speed load. Good luck with yours.

[TXGunNut]

Thanks, worked OK for the first time out. One cavity seemed a little sticky but can't see anything wrong with it. Mebbe a few more sessions will cure that. Big fan of good old LLA. So far seems to work fine from about 700 to 2200 fps. With all the sizers I've bought over the last couple of years I won't be running out anytime soon.

[oldpara]

Took awhile to get my newest mould figured out but it that seems to be the rule for me. Once I did it cranked out a nice pile of boolits, just didn't seem like it because it takes quite a few 90gr boolits to make a respectable pile.



70106

Now those ARE adorable youngsters :)
I think they'll go far........

[TXGunNut]

Now those ARE adorable youngsters :)
I think they'll go far........

Thanks, just hope the little buggars fly straight and make me proud(er).

[Mohillbilly]

I got one of those Lee six holers and its well used . I use it for 30 carb .32 acp and H&R . I wish someone would talk Mihec into make'n a six aluminum or a nice brassie with all the pins ( I'd get at least one of each ). I got .32 chamber inserts to single shot 303 brit , 7.62x54R , 308, 7.62x39, an 30-06 . I also feed a 32 cowboy ,32-20 marlin , 30 carb rifle, pistol, revolver, and single sixes . I'd bet I could shave the block shorter ( 75-85 gr ) to feed my broom handle too .

[TXGunNut]

I got one of those Lee six holers and its well used . I use it for 30 carb .32 acp and H&R . I wish someone would talk Mihec into make'n a six aluminum or a nice brassie with all the pins ( I'd get at least one of each ). I got .32 chamber inserts to single shot 303 brit , 7.62x54R , 308, 7.62x39, an 30-06 . I also feed a 32 cowboy ,32-20 marlin , 30 carb rifle, pistol, revolver, and single sixes . I'd bet I could shave the block shorter ( 75-85 gr ) to feed my broom handle too .

I think you'd like the Ranch Dog design (TLC313-115-RF) better for your rifles, it's not a HP but it's a GC that drops around 115 grs. Maybe NOE or Lee could make that happen for you.

[Andrew Mason]

well, good news.

the brand new 9mm 2 cavity mold that i got from midway usa has the new allignment pins.
i cant wait to heat it up and cast with it.

i agree with 9mm's having a big appetite.
i currently dont have any 9mm pistols, but i will be supplying my friend with 9mm boolits, so i hope i can keep up with his demand.

[TXGunNut]

Sounds like fun, glad it has the pins you wanted. I'd let him spring for the 6-cav if his gun likes it and your production can't keep up. Better yet, have him sit in on a casting session.

[TheGrimReaper]

The new style LEE molds are awsome. Why it took them this long to figure it out I don't know why!!!

[TXGunNut]

The new style LEE molds are awsome. Why it took them this long to figure it out I don't know why!!!

I guess it all boiled down to keeping costs down so they could offer it at their usual great price. Problem with that theory is I don't think the price went up. I think it will help Lee compete with higher priced moulds but it may take away from their 6-cav moulds.
All I know is I got a pretty good product for not much money, works for me!

[jdgabbard]

If they'd redesign their sprue plate I'd start buying them again. Now days though, its only a means to get me going until I can find something more suitable.

[338RemUltraMag]

I wish they would make a thicker sprue plate and cut the blocks for the 6 cav handles. That would make my day.

[Andrew Mason]

yea, no kidding, i hate the jankey, cheap 2 cavity hadles

[plinky56]

Good to hear, as I don't cast or shoot so much that I only buy the 2 cavity molds. Just got a .45 blackhawk and will be looking at a 2 cavity when they come back in stock.

[Intel6]

I finally found someone who had the Lee RB and conical mould so I can cast some projectiles for my Ruger Old Army and was surprised when they came they were the new design. I didn't expect it, was just happy to find the moulds in stock.

Neal in AZ

[rexherring]

Pretty sure all the Lee molds will be of the new design. My 102 gr for the .380/9mm was a new design and works great so far.

[338RemUltraMag]

Just got in a 312-155-2R at first I was super dissapointed, but honestly I was looking for quality that matched NOE or Mihec. The outside is a little rough, but the inside looks great!

It is still too loose on the handles, and needs sat down on a table for easy closing BUT it casts a beautiful .314 boolit with a bore ride of .305 they fall from the mold with just a small shake of the handles. It shows a small bit of light between the halves at the bottom. I have to tap the alignment pins a bit to get them to close but all in all for a 20 dollar bill it is a great mold and worth every penny now that they fixed the alignment pins.