Lee C225-55-RF

[brnomauser]

Just wondering if anyone’s using these at the moment? I’ve read about issues with them having large (like 223) noses, was this just a batch or are they all like that? Wanting a Mold for my 222 Mauser 4000 and a 6 gang lee ticks a few boxes...

[smilin jack]

I have this Lee 6 hole Gang mold (C225-55-RF) you are talking about. It has a flat meplate and seems to work OK in my bolt rifle chambered in 223 Rem. Don't know about using in gas operated auto loaders.

I cast them from wheel weights and my friend powder coats them and we share the finished product. No gas checks are used. The velocity is kept down.

I have also loaded them in 308 Win and 30-06 by using a plastic sabot purchased on-line. Work fine for plinking and hunting varmints.

10 pounds of lead makes a lot of the little buggers.

[Joby]

I powder coat them and use them in AR ‘ s with 2400. 15 grains cycle a carbine length gas system and the kiddos use them up fast. No gas check and range lead thru wheel weights. So far no leading of gas system.
I haven’t used them much past 50 yards. As the back yard range is limited. And we all hit what we’re aiming at.

[waco]

I have similar results. Range lead powder coated and sized to.225" loaded with NO gas check in mixed range brass with 19gr of H335 for 2050fps in my S&W M&P15 sport AR
The load will kill clays and pop cans at 60-70 yards, cycle the action and hold the bolt back on the last round. Cheap fun shooting.

[RKJ]

I've used them in an AR and they shot and cycled fine. I didn't get the accuracy I wanted but I believe I was pushing them too fast. They worked well, but I gave up shooting cast in that rifle. (gave it to my son,and haven't gotten around to trying them in my Rem 700)

[brnomauser]

Thanks guys, sounds pretty good for what I want. Bolt action short to medium (less than 100y) range rabbits and plinking. Rifle is a bolt action, don’t need match grade accuracy... was just worried about having to seat them way in if they have a large nose

[sigep1764]

Whats the twist on that bolt action? If its 1/9 to 1/14, the light weight should be fine. If you are shooting anything faster twisted, say 1/9 to 1/7, shoot them slower or something heavier might be better.

[Dieselhorses]

I have similar results. Range lead powder coated and sized to.225" loaded with NO gas check in mixed range brass with 19gr of H335 for 2050fps in my S&W M&P15 sport AR
The load will kill clays and pop cans at 60-70 yards, cycle the action and hold the bolt back on the last round. Cheap fun shooting.

What he said ^^^^. I have a WW CF1 and it loves this recipe!

[brnomauser]

Pretty sure my barrels 1:14 but should double check...

[pworley1]

I have both the 2 cavity and six cavity models and both through bullets that work just fine in all my 223's. I size to 225.

[sukivel]

I have similar results. Range lead powder coated and sized to.225" loaded with NO gas check in mixed range brass with 19gr of H335 for 2050fps in my S&W M&P15 sport AR
The load will kill clays and pop cans at 60-70 yards, cycle the action and hold the bolt back on the last round. Cheap fun shooting.

This is my exact load as well...


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[mvintx]

I just might have to give this boolit a try. Never casted for a rifle and it's good to hear that gas checks are not mandatory 'cause I don't want to fool with them.

[Fast Asleep]

I have tried about 20 different 22 cal molds from all manufacturers and find the Lee 55 is the only one one sub MOA in my Cooper 38 22 hornet. I load this over a full case of AA 2200 powder.

[45-70 Chevroner]

Just finished casting 500 plus, 225 55gr Lee six banger. My alloy is straight COWW with about 3 oz of pewter (Tin) in a 10 # Lee bottom pour pot. I probably have at least a 10 percent reject. This is a new mold that I've had for about a year. Washed it with Ajax and then dish soap, it started making good boolits right off. As for the nose it seams to be a clone of the RCBS 55 gr. 223 boolit. I will be loading it in front of 8gr unique for my TC super 14 223. I've had good luck with this load using my 55gr Lyman two cavity mold.

[quilbilly]

Lee has made two versions of this mold. The older version is the Bator soup-can mold with the wide me plat that drops from my mold at 53 gr. My 22 Hornet and my 222 Contender pistol love that boolit at velocities around 15-1700 fps. The more recent version is more of a semi-point with a smaller me plat which is preferred by my 223 bolt rifles at higher velocities around 1900-2100 fps. Haven't tried either in a semi-auto.

[Dapaki]

I have the mold as well and try to drop 1k each session and PC them after casting. I too am a member of the "19gr of H335" club, no GC, size to .225 for my BCA AR and Mini-14 with an Accuracy Systems barrel.

Great plinking boolits with so-so accuracy and with about 125 of them per pound of lead, they average $0.008 each as dropped if I have to purchase lead. A much better deal than the average price I am finding for FMJ at $0.10 each.

[Doubles Shooter]

I've been following this and other .223 threads. Getting excited. I just put in an order for everything for casting .223 from Titan this morning. Lee 6-cavity mold, handles, sizer, and gas checks. The Lee push through sizing die is back ordered so I'm having them hold till it arrives. Going to powder coat and try with and without gas checks. Loading for a Contender and a couple AR's. Mostly looking for cheap plinking ammo. Glad to see this bullet works.

[brnomauser]

Thanks guys. I’ll probably end up getting it, just wanted to check they’ll stabilise in my 1:14 barrel so someone’s sending me some samples. Just thinking about load data - I’ve got ADI 2206H (this is sold in the US as H4895) and AS30N (equivalent to red dot). I was thinking of starting at 14.1gr of h4895 (60% of max) and working up for a medium pressure load and 4gr of AS30N for a short range/plinker?

[JeffG]

I use that mold and bullet with gas checks in my S&W M&P II Sport AR, with 20 gr H4895. You can download this stick powder about 40% as I recall from conversation with Hodgdon. I don't believe that is recommended with H335. I'm also using standard CCI small rifle primers and OAL = 2.100. My records show I was getting about 2000 fps with this load. Good load for steel at 25 yards that doesn't beat up the targets but still runs the action.

[marshall623]

Just got this mold in a 2 cavity the, box was sitting in front of the door yesterday. Looking to run these in my 10" T/C Hornet . Its one of the new barrels and it shoots 55gr Hornadys pretty good . I got a G top punch that looked close , 225 H&I , and 1K Gator checks so hopefully I can get some range time soon . You can still Turkey hunt and fish public land in Va. but all the National Forest Ranges are closed .

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[marshall623]

I give the new mold a good cleaning and fired up the pot . Had a lot of culls but its learning a new mold , finally got in a rhythm of dropping good boolits . I have to hone out the mouth of the top punch as its leaving a noticeable mark on the boolits . I loaded 2 up with 4.2 gr. of Unique and they fit the T/C's chamber fairly snug , but still closed and good lockup . Just need to get to the range https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200509/d68b194b25bada03b6f78a230d0fcc4b.jpg

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[charlie b]

I have tried about 20 different 22 cal molds from all manufacturers and find the Lee 55 is the only one one sub MOA in my Cooper 38 22 hornet. I load this over a full case of AA 2200 powder.

What rifling twist and what velocity do you use? If I could get MOA in my bolt .223 I might try it. I'd want to shoot out to 300yd with it.

[fcvan]

What rifling twist and what velocity do you use? If I could get MOA in my bolt .223 I might try it. I'd want to shoot out to 300yd with it.

I have found that 300 yards is pushing it with the RF profile. I have rifles that are 1-9, 1-10, 1-12, and an AR pistol that is 1-7" In the grand scheme of things, my NOE 255-62 RN endures greater distance, particularly in the 1-12". When shooting cast in a rifle, I have found the delicate balancing act of velocity and RPMs. Faster stabilizes heavier and all of that.

Mainly, I shoot shorter distances, but my loads for the 1-7" pistol is 25 to 50 yards. 300 yards? I'm thinking (cough, cough) factory might be your thing.

I have some lathe-turned, HPBT 55 gr copper bullets loaded for distance, just not tested beyond 125 yards, range limits distance. I have also loaded some copper sintered bullets, just because they were cheap at the time. I prefer my cast rounds, and basically kill tin cans. I just can't move them further out than 125 due to the only 'approved' shooting area is limited, at least where I am 'quarantined' for now. I would love to get back to the Ft. Carson range again, and enjoy the expansive area. I just hate paying range fees.

[wmitty]

brnomauser

I have used this boolit in my .222 Rem using 12 gr of 2400 and also 14 gr of 4227 ( I think) . This design is ok in the .222, but I liked the old Bator design better as it is a better killer on prairie dogs - larger meplat, I'm guessing. The nose issue never was a problem for me in the 788 Remington I was using. I never tried the 4895 load; hope it works well in your rifle. Let us know!

[Shopdog]

NIB R700,ADL 223. Put in a Timney 510 trigger,bedded and stiffened factory sporter tupperware stock,3-12,3200 Elite Bushnell. 19g H4198,no turn necks,as cast diameter,only sizing GC,hand lube just above GC with 3N1(beeswax/vaseline). Loaded to a medium jam,see the ring on first,or top drive band. Nose dimensions and overall,as cast roundness is deadnuts. Haven't chrono'd but is probably 2600'ish. It shoots bugholes @100. Only issue is wind. The 22's cast,really suffer here. And IME,you can skip the 6mm's in bad conditions and move to 7mm for wind. Good luck with your project.



262142

[Cosmic_Charlie]

What alloy?

[Lloyd Smale]

ya I ran them coated and checked at about 2700-2800 casted hard ( 5050 ww/lino) and they didn't impress me. Minute of coffee can at 50 yards. Good enough to load your gun up with at the range and lets someone dump a mag or someone that just wants to hear it go bang or even to shoot steel at 25 and 50 yards for practice but pretty dismal at a 100 yards for serious work. I didn't try them in all my ars. Just one 16 inch gun and one 8.5. They did seem to run just fine in both of them. Ive got a coffee can of them loaded I keep meaning to take to the range to at least get my brass back. ill keep the mold though. S ever hits the fan and a guy cant get anymore bullets at least you could still make your gun go bang.
I've used them in an AR and they shot and cycled fine. I didn't get the accuracy I wanted but I believe I was pushing them too fast. They worked well, but I gave up shooting cast in that rifle. (gave it to my son,and haven't gotten around to trying them in my Rem 700)

[brnomauser]

Well I got the mould ages ago, but finally cast some on the weekend. Still needing to pick up a reamer to make a sizer die so just tumble lubed in LLA and shot as cast from straight clip on WW (0.225” mostly) with no gas check. First time I’ve done it like this. Had a poor run yesterday using 4gr AS30N with multiple wild fliers bringing groups out to 4” at 50y.

Had a better morning though - thoroughly cleaned the barrel (can’t remember when I last used solvent in it, may have been a little copper left over). Couple of fouling shots and 3.5gr was grouping at max 1.3” at 50y (3 shot group and 4 shot). It was blowing a gale by the end so I’m happy enough with this load for rabbits round the house/sheds, plinking and for TYB to start on. Shame the price of Primers have made this not quite so cheap to shoot...

No idea about velocity, but it’d be very low - feels and sounds like regular 22LR. Mauser 4000 1:12 twist.

Just need to make a sizing die to put some gas checks on and proper lube then can try some medium loads, but I got a good deal
On a good quantity of 40gr vmax so not too fussed about hotter cast loads right now

https://i.imgur.com/HyV9yBzl.jpg

[ole_270]

My son has one of the Win Low Walls in 22 Hornet from a few years ago, looks like the twist is 1-16". Any chance these would work in the Low Wall?

[brnomauser]

conventional wisdom says that might be a bit slow. Maybe a member in the US could mail you a handful of samples to try before buying the mould?