Lee C-225-55 RF

[trixter]

When Midsouth came out with the 'Bator' mold I purchased a 6 cavity version, and cast a 'bunch-o-boolits with it. I've been real Happy with it and have found a comfortable load to shoot it with in my bolt gun (not really interested in shooting it out of my AR). Now Lee came out with a pointier version and I thought I would give it a try. I cast all of my boolits at 700°. So I cleaned the new mold which is shaped really weird. the top half of the blocks is pretty much what you would expect, but they have cut the width of the bottom almost in half. After three frustrating sessions, I've have not cast an acceptable boolit yet (over 50 each session). They all have come out of the mold wrinkled, the kind of wrinkling that is caused because the mold isn't hot enough, The mold just does not seem to retain enough heat. (my present setup has a very reliable hot plate in place to heat the mold, and all of my other molds produce great boolits right from the get-go). Next session I am going up to 725° and on up till I get boolits that are not wrinkled.

Has anyone else used this new mold, and what is your story?

[runfiverun]

turn the heat up more.
750 would be more appropriate.
run it like a rented mule for a bit then ease up and cruise along.

[trixter]

Yup that would seem the next logical step. Thanks for the conformation.

[Rizzo]

I saw a pic of a guy's casting setup and he had cut a coffee can in half (vertically) and used it to cover his mold when it was on the hotplate.
I've since used that idea myself.
Maybe give that a try also?

[trixter]

I turned the heat on the pot to 760° and the wrinkling went away. Thanks for the help.

[runfiverun]

good to hear things are working.

[jaysouth]

which shoots best, the Bator or the new Lee?

[trixter]

I don't know yet, I am still prepping the new one, getting it lubed and sized; ready to reload. I'll post my results soon.