lee 120gn 9mmTC mold won't produce a flat base!!! Please help

[sOhioJoe]

I cannot get this mold to produce a flat base, it always has rounded edges. My other Lee 9mm mold produces great bullets nearly every time. Any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong? I'm using wheel weights

[kevmc]

add Tin/heat.....sprue plate too tight??

[tazman]

I find I need to add a little tin to my wheelweights. I also need to run the temp a bit hotter to fill out nicely.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

My Lee 120gr TC mold is a bevel base.
If yours is the same mold, it's nothing you are doing wrong, it's the style of the mold.
Here is a photo, but it's kind of hard to see.
http://leeprecision.com/mold-6-cav-356-120-tc.html

[Ben]

sOhioJoe

Is the mold in question a bevel base mold design ?

[rintinglen]

Mine has a slight bevel on the base. I don't like it or need it, but it's there.

[Moonie]

I have just received this mold last week, it is flat based not bevel based. I just checked the ones I cast over the weekend, flat base, no bevel. 6 cavity, 120gr 9mm TC regular lube groove. Interestingly my 40 and 45 caliber versions of this mold are bevel based.

[Old School Big Bore]

Check the vent lines; are they gunked up with smoke or burrs? If they're open you may need to break the top edges on the blocks to create a vent for the bases.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I have just received this mold last week, it is flat based not bevel based. I just checked the ones I cast over the weekend, flat base, no bevel. 6 cavity, 120gr 9mm TC regular lube groove. Interestingly my 40 and 45 caliber versions of this mold are bevel based.
I've seen this batch to batch inconsistency with the Lee 22 Bator molds from Midsouth, I have 3...all are different from each other.

Maybe Lee does this "inconsistency" thing on purpose.
As my 356-120 TC 6 cav mold definitely has the Bevel base...I want one without...so I guess I'll be ordering another one soon. I guess that's better than attempting to remove the BB from some or all the cavities myself :)

[Moonie]

I've seen this batch to batch inconsistency with the Lee 22 Bator molds from Midsouth, I have 3...all are different from each other.

Maybe Lee does this "inconsistency" thing on purpose.
As my 356-120 TC 6 cav mold definitely has the Bevel base...I want one without...so I guess I'll be ordering another one soon. I guess that's better than attempting to remove the BB from some or all the cavities myself :)

I actually expected it to have a BB as the 40 and 45 versions of this mold I have are both BB. My preference is PB so I am pleasantly surprised.

[bangerjim]

Wanna solve your problem???????

Use pressure casting! Just put the sprue plate hole up against the pour spigot and open the valve to fill the mold. I use pressure casting on many of my LEE molds and they drop PERFECT boolits from #1.....preheated mold on a hotplate.......every single time!

Try it, you will LOVE it!

banger

[Jailer]

Try adjusting your flow rate.