Lee 12 cavity RB mold

[richhodg66]

I've been a muzzle loader shooter a long time but have used mostly conicals except for one pistol. I recently bought a rifle with a slow twist, so patched round balls are it.

I noticed Lee makes a 12 cavity .490 RB mold, do these work OK? I have had very bad luck with Lee two cavity molds and won't ever get another one, however, their six cavity molds are good. I'm kind of hoping to hear some good feedback on these, if so, I think a few hours casting session with one will generate enough round balls to last me a very long time.

[AlaskanGuy]

I gotta tell ya, i been thinking the same thing... A 12 cav mold will put out a heck of a lot of round balls in a hurry... I am interested....

:popcorn:

[richhodg66]

If they work as well as the six cavity molds, I think I could cast a whole #10 coffee can full in a couple of hours and then sell the mold. That many would likely last me the rest of my life.

[Outdoors]

Cool idea.
If they made on in 452 for cap and ball that would be the bees knees.

Pat

[MarkP]

Not sure if you are aware the new 2 cavity Lee molds have steel alignment pins and bushings like the 6 cavity molds.

I have the 18 cavity 000, 00, & #4 Buck molds and they are difficult to get the lower rows to fill properly. However, the larger .490 could fill the lower rows better as compared to the buck shot molds.

[Beagle333]

I dunno....
I hope it works... I wish it works.... but it's gonna be a bear to pour down through one cav to fill another, and you are also going to have two sprues on half your balls.

[StrawHat]

Not as fast but there are six cavity round ball molds available. In a variety of black powder friendly calibers.

[TXGunNut]

I guess I got lucky with my Lee 2-cav roundball moulds. If the new ones use the new pin design I think they'd be worth another look for you. It doesn't take a lot of RB's to keep me shooting for a long time in my C&B revolver and frontstuffer rifle so the production potential of the 12 cav doesn't interest me, it does look like it would be fun to use if everything was up to temp and working correctly. Good point about the additional sprues, seems I have sidecutter pliers handy on my workbench tho.

[MarkP]

I recently purchased some Lee 2 cavities in .600 and .575" & single cavity 58 target mini for 20 ga loads, and all blocks have 2 alignment pins.