Lee 12 cavity .490 round ball mold

[Bardo]

Just saw these new for 2014

http://leeprecision.com/12-cav-.490-round-ball.html

Here is an actual picture of it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEE-490-Round-Ball-12-Cavity-Mold-90691-AND-Commercial-Mold-Handles-90005-NEW-/231146218404?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d16363a4

If they would make these in cap n ball sizes that would be great. like a .380 and .457 or .454

I haven't ever done a group buy with Lee do they still do group buys? I would think there would be some interest in cap n ball sizes. the .380 could probably be a 18 cavity like the buck shot molds and could be used for OOOO buck shot.

Bardo

[rking22]

I like that idea , if a group buy were to be put together I would be in for a .380 and maybe .457 if afforadable. Never thought of it till you mentioned it! Shesh this place cost me money!!!

[BrassMagnet]

I wonder how two sprues would affect this round ball for accuracy. I would be much more inclined to try this out if it was only a 6C mould.

[Beagle333]

I remain skeptical until I see it used. Do you know how hot you gotta get that thing to get anything more than a wrinkled half-ball in the bottom cavity?

[BrassMagnet]

I remain skeptical until I see it used. Do you know how hot you gotta get that thing to get anything more than a wrinkled half-ball in the bottom cavity?

Another awesome reason for a 6C version!

[Bored1]

Another awesome reason for a 6C version!

.495 instead of .490 but track of the wolf has what your talking about!!!

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1202/1/LEE-495-6C

[waksupi]

I can imagine a lot of broke sprue cutters with a 12 holer. Temperature control would be a bugger.

[Bardo]

I didn't know TOW sold so many roundball molds in 6 cavity. I think I will order a .380 and try it out.

[longbow]

Shouldn't be any harder to use than the 00 buckshot mould I wouldn't think.

Not sure how well the balls would fly from a muzzleloader though, essentially with two sprues on the top ball. They will never be lined up perfectly. Might not be enough weight to make a difference though.

I find my buckshot mould works very well but does want to be run hot and I am using wheelweights or range scrap to cast with so when the three ball string is dropped if still pretty hot, they tend to break apart themselves. Those that don't get rolled under a utility knife to separate them.

Using soft lead/tin for these might make separating them a bit tedious as they would not break apart like antimonial lead. Again, rolling under a sharp blade may be the answer.

Hmmm, even if the double sprue weight difference is a bit of a problem, I guess stumbling would even things out.

I suspect these will work well if run hot and will crank out loads of balls fast. It is nice to see some change happening too. Lee seems to be thinking.

Longbow

[Junior1942]

MidSouth has it for ~$37.00.

[BrassMagnet]

I can imagine a lot of broke sprue cutters with a 12 holer. Temperature control would be a bugger.

It is really just a double stack mould with six sprues.

[mooman76]

It is really just a double stack mould with six sprues.

They didn't have a picture but going by their buck shot moulds it would probably be doubles stacked with the 6 cavity sprue cutter.

[BrassMagnet]

They didn't have a picture but going by their buck shot moulds it would probably be doubles stacked with the 6 cavity sprue cutter.

Second link in post #1 is a picture.