older lee hollow point molds

[propwashp47]

has any one had any luck using the fixed pin hollow point molds? LOOKS LIKE LESS FUMBLING WITH PIN BUT MAY HAVE HEAT ISSUES WITH THE PIN.LET ME KNOW HOW IT WORKED WITH YOU.

[tazman]

I had one of those for the 44 years ago. Had to get the mold and especially the pin hot in order to get good castings. I don't remember exactly what tricks I used. That was from several years ago.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Mine was a 200 gr SWC with HP for .45 Colt. Worked fine.

[propwashp47]

thanks for the info , they look like the might be a little easier to use than one where you pull the and wood cool off faster

[Bullshop]

Cramer type with capture pins offered by several mold makers like NOE and Mihec and others.

[propwashp47]

thanks bullshop I knew some one else had fixed pins, but had no clue who made them

[Doc_Stihl]

The Lee's have to be run HOT in my experience. I much prefer my mihec and NOE's.

[propwashp47]

with the ebay prices for used vintage lee molds I am leaning toward noe more and more.

[M Hicks]

I traded a little while ago for a Lee HP mold. It drops a 45 cal 405 grain plain base I was hoping ot be able to use in the 45-70. It dropped around .457" and I needed it over .460" since that is what I size to. Used some valve grinding compound on it and got it to open up to around .464"-.465". It does need to be ran warm but the bullets just fall off the pin when inverted.

[propwashp47]

very nice

[Echd]

I also have a Lee .45 rifle HP mold. It casts and drops very well, but the boolit is a little too long for my buffalo classic, as it has a short throat.

[MT Gianni]

I have found the best use is to sell them on ebay and buy NOE.

[mold maker]

I have found the best use is to sell them on ebay and buy NOE.

Be sure to mark them VINTAGE. That make them worth lots more. The box will also add greatly.

[zuke]

Run them hot, the HP pin take's away the heat quickly

[Bullwolf]

I have an old Lee C429-240SWC single cavity HP mould.

It won't win any speed contests, but I am quite fond of it and won't be unloading the mould anytime soon.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=52389&d=1305436976

It requires a good amount of heat to cast well, and not have boolits stick to the HP pin. When I cast, I pre-heat the HP mould using a electric hotplate with an old skill saw blade set on top and everything works well. Cast and keep your cadence up, dont stop to look or inspect boolits or things cool down. IF I do have to stop, then the mould goes promptly back on the hotplate.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=52392&d=1305608071

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=52393&d=1305608071





- Bullwolf

[Old School Big Bore]

I have the 44-215-SWC-HP. I've had it for decades. Until I found this site and applied some of these guys' advice, this mold was a massive PITA to use. Years ago the pin came unrivited from its bracket. At the same time, I was pretty fed up with the hinge rivet & its star washer 'retainer', so I fitted a shoulder bolt & nut as a hinge pin. Then I drilled a shallow hole in the shank of the core pin and re-riveted it back onto its bracket. The cavity still needs leementing.

[propwashp47]

sounds like the classic love /hate / lee thing. nice boolits bullwolf. the ebay ones 452 228 gr went for $69.51-454-252 $81.01 way to close to a noe in cost.

[Wayne Smith]

I picked one up for my 38/357's when they closed them out. I find it easy to use but I tend to run hot anyway. I've made a lot of boolits with that mold. The easiest single cavity HP I have used.

[DxieLandMan]

I recently got one and I'm excited to try and cast some .45 with it, load them up and see how they do. I'm glad that people posted helpful information on the mold.

[Iowa Fox]

Bought the 357 in the mid 70s. Still have it and like it very much.

[propwashp47]

they sound like they wood be fun to learn how to make hollow point on

[357maximum]

I had the Lee 357 SWC/HP and like an idiot I traded it off to a guy that wanted it really badly ......I regret that decision that very much, it was a good mould that cast a nice boolit faaaaaast as long as you could keep up with it's speed requirements.

[DHurtig]

I used to own 2 of the Lee hollow point molds. I had one for my 44 and one for my 45-70. They worked fine and I had no complaints. When mold price went out of sight I put them on Ebay. I ran across a 2 cavity Mihec for my 44 and the Lee brought enough money to almost cover what I paid for the used Mihec.