FYI Bator

[wistlepig1]

For anyone interested in the Lee Bator 22 cal. 2 holer $18 AND CHANGE is in stock at Midsouth. Hope this is a helps. wistlepig

[Kilroy08]

Please pardon my ignorance. What is so special about the Bator mold? A cursory search of the ever omniscient Google wasn't satisfactory.

[richhodg66]

I got a six cavity one adn it's a good bullet, shoots accurately in my .22 Hornet and has enough of a flat nose to deliver good terminal performance on small game. Nothing really all that special about it, but it's a good general purpose design and I like being able to cast six at a time.

[GhostHawk]

My .223 handi rifle really likes those. I have 2 loads worked up, both over Red Dot, one with gas check one without.

Roughly a nickle a round and just below 1400 fps, sounds little louder than a .22lr is more accurate at longer range with more punch.

Why fuss for .22lr drive to stores, go home empty when you can cast?

[richhodg66]

"Why fuss for .22lr drive to stores, go home empty when you can cast?"

Exactly why I bought a .22 Hornet in the first place, cheaper to shoot than a .22 LR even at before scare prices.

I lik the NOE 45 grain WFN better and it's plain based, but it won't feed in my bolt action like teh Bator will.

[swheeler]

The 55 gr Bator, not just for gophers anymore:-) I watched as my wife harvested a mule deer doe with that little bullet in the 223 at about 2000fps in 2006 or 07. I've got a double cavity and they can be tough to keep the mold hot, a hot plate or range will come in handy to get it up to temp.

[swheeler]

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg234/kmw3291/55%20gr%20Bator-223_zpswkweocl2.jpg (http://s249.photobucket.com/user/kmw3291/media/55%20gr%20Bator-223_zpswkweocl2.jpg.html)

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

For anyone interested in the Lee Bator 22 cal. 2 holer $18 AND CHANGE is in stock at Midsouth. Hope this is a helps. wistlepig
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690451/22-Bator-point225-Diameter-2-Cavity-Mold-C225-55-RF
The Custom Bator use to be listed in the special orders mold section, notice that this mold is listed in the standard Lee mold section. And even though Midsouth calls it 22 Bator, they show the Lee part number 90451. Midway lists that part number as Lee's new standard C225-55-RF and the photo shows a boolit the shape of the RCBS 225-55 a WHOLE different shape from what the custom 22 Bator that Midsouth use to carry...as shown by swheeler's photo.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/618737/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-c225-55-rf-22-caliber-225-diameter-55-grain-flat-nose-gas-check

[Dancing Bear]

The 55 gr Bator, not just for gophers anymore:-) I watched as my wife harvested a mule deer doe with that little bullet in the 223 at about 2000fps in 2006 or 07. I've got a double cavity and they can be tough to keep the mold hot, a hot plate or range will come in handy to get it up to temp.

You're shooting them at 2000fps? Wow! I thought it was best to stay around 1800 max. What was your powder load if I may ask?

[waksupi]

I was shooting them at 2670 fps, and getting 1 5/8" group at 100 yards.

[farmerjim]

I was shooting them at 2670 fps, and getting 1 5/8" group at 100 yards.

What gun ?

[swheeler]

You're shooting them at 2000fps? Wow! I thought it was best to stay around 1800 max. What was your powder load if I may ask?

7.6gr SR7625 @ 2.035"OAL cci 500 pistol primer, 2049 fps avg, collet nk sized RP brass
This is from a 1:9 twist Savage 11

[waksupi]

What gun ?

It was a heavy barrel .223 Remington varmint rifle.

[bangerjim]

I used to cast them by the hundreds with a Lee 6 cavity. A 2 cav is just waaaaaaaay to slow for those teeny things!

Shoot well. I now use a new brass NOE RF mold that actually looks like a real boolit profile! Much more to my liking. I am giving my Lee 6 banger Bator design mold to a local friend starting in casting.

159210

banger

[Outer Rondacker]

Anyone using a 1/8 twist with these little buggers?

[farmerjim]

It was a heavy barrel .223 Remington varmint rifle.
Lyman 4th can only get it to 2280 in a 223, but to 3100 in a 22-250. I have only shot it in my hornet at about 1600 so far. I Hope to get time to play with it some when deer season closes in 5 days.

[Leadmelter]

Anybody using the Bator in a 22 Hornet in a TC Contender barrels?Powder?
Leadmelter
MI

[Dancing Bear]

7.6gr SR7625 @ 2.035"OAL cci 500 pistol primer, 2049 fps avg, collet nk sized RP brass
This is from a 1:9 twist Savage 11

Thanks! I'm still working up loads.

[wistlepig1]

UPDATE, today I Got my Lee 6 cavity C225-55-RF from MidSouth and it is a Bator as they state. I was going by the pictures and discription on LEE website and that looks like the RCBS 225-55. My mistake, I placed a Bator from my 2 holer and they are the same. I was thinking I was getting the new design not the old one, that's what I get for thinking!!!!

I will have a lot of Bators to shoot in my Hornet but I was thinking I was getting something to feed my 223 with---- live a learn!

[Chill Wills]

wistlepig1 What rifle are use using the Bator in? I have the mold and have not tried it in the Ruger 77-22 yet. I hope to soon when the weather gets better.

[wistlepig1]

Chillwills. Savage, Model 40, single shot 22 cal Hornet

The weather is a problem here to, we had 11" Tuesday.

I have tried lots of loads with only had modest results.

With my gun 12.2 grs of LiLgun with heat treated [300' oven, 1 hour, dropped in ice water] Lino. This started to show good results with 2 trips to the range, them the weather move in. 1 1/4" @100 yds. benched.

[Chill Wills]

Thanks for the info. I am hoping to learn something specific to the Ruger rifle to load for the long throat and short box mag. problem. Short of setting the barrel back and rechambering it I am not sure what can be done with it. It is just like Ruger to be a little odd and this Hornet rifle, set up the way it is no surprise.

Had I even thought at the time about a Savage or the other options from Europe, CZ, I would have done better homework before I impulsively bought this one.

[wistlepig1]

Chill, I have a Ruger [1973] 243 that had a very long throat, never shot very accurately, I was told that at that time Ruger wasn't making barrels for that rifles. It had an target heavy barrel and adjustable trigger from the factory and that barrel was a Douglas. Yes I did buy it NITB in73. I called Ruger at the time and told thrm that it wouldn't shoot but 1 1/2" @ 100 yds, there answer was 3/4" at 50 yds was their standard. I was getting no where with them, for years it set in the safe and wasn't used much. In 2002+- I cut off 3 threads and rechambered it for Yotes, now it will shoot less that 5/8" group all day long with J words. I have never shot cast in this gun and don't even have a mold for it. martin

[Outer Rondacker]

OK I am going to ask a question and all the guys who know can have a chuckle. Hear goes are all the new lee molds in 225-55-RF the same as the bator everyone raves about? Does it shoot good in a bolt 223? I do not mind PC them if needed.

Not that it maters to anyone but I used to spend hours plinking small targets at 25-115 yards with a 22lr. (9000 round alone last year) With current market I picked up a 223/556 bolt gun with a 1/8 twist. I have no clue why I figured this would be cheaper. I should of asked this first but didnt. As always thanks in advance.

[Outer Rondacker]

Bueller, Bueller, hehe I could not not resist. Most might not get this one.

[woody290]

Would these be able to be used in a AR15? Have not tried any cast in one yet and was just wondering...

[Outer Rondacker]

Yes but I will tell you this. Keep in mind your ar15 runs off gas port. If you pc the bullet you should be fine. But at cost of pc and gc with hard lead is it not cheaper to just buy Jwords for 50-55 per 1K for your lead flinger. Woody290 I am sending you a pm I think will help you out.

[Outer Rondacker]

One more thing I have heard for some reason this mold drops light bullets. 48g with GC. Is this true for anyone else?

[wistlepig1]

Outer,

Old style Lee Bator, I just ran on scale a 1/2 dozen. 52.1-52.3grs, my lead, AL Checks, lubed. Hope this helps

[Outer Rondacker]

Outer,

Old style Lee Bator, I just ran on scale a 1/2 dozen. 52.1-52.3grs, my lead, AL Checks, lubed. Hope this helps Thank you kindly.