New to casting or thinking about it....please read.

[Burnt Fingers]

First off welcome to our club.

Second, PLEASE don't pay stupid prices on eBay for a old beat up mold, or overpay for a Lee.

Take a look at NOE, MP, Arsenal and Accurate.

For the going price on a Lee six cavity mold you could have a mold from any of the four listed above. You'll also have a MUCH better mold.

Thanks.

[JM7.7x58]

There is nothing wrong with a Lee six cavity mold, if you can find one at a reasonable price. I wouldn’t pay anymore than $60.00 for a Lee six cavity however. I do own custom molds from the vendors you mentioned above, and they are very nice. But I also shoot a lot bullets cast from Lee and “old beat up” Lyman molds.

I do agree that if you are willing to spend over $100.00 dollars to get a mold, that a custom would be a better option. If you don’t have $100.00 to spend then you might do better with a WTB ad here in the swapping and selling section.

JM

[bedbugbilly]

Burnt Fingeres - I don't take this post as a slam on Lee molds or any others - what out is very true. I take a look at the molds once in a while on the auction sites and while it's a case of supply and demand during a shortage - the prices that some - let me rephrase that - MOST of the molds are going for is crazy. BUT - something is worth what a willing buyer is willing to pay for an item at a given time I guess.

Anyway - was looking at another thread and though I would just add the link to it as it kind of goes with what you express.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?416238-There-is-life-after-using-Lee-boolit-molds

[Targa]

When you can buy two cavity Lee molds for $25 or so with handles and six cavities with handles for a total of $60 or so, they are an outstanding bargain that cast outstanding bullets, at least the twelve Lee molds I have do. I do agree that with some of the ridiculously inflated prices I have seen lately for Lee the previously mentioned mold manufacturers are a better choice.

[GasGuzzler]

All prices are too high right now and as stated there is nothing wrong with a Lee mold for 99% of us but $100 for a Lee is dumb even for Lee fans. I don't wanna pay $100 for any mold from any manufacturer. We are all different in out needs and what we are willing to pay.

[robg]

lee 2 cavity molds work fine and are cheap .if you cast for several calibres then use 2 molds .

[Burnt Fingers]

Many of you are missing the point of this post. I'm not bashing Lee.

I doubt that many of you have NO idea what Lee molds are selling for on eBay.

[JM7.7x58]

I’m fully aware. I just sold one. The auction ended at $157.00. Plus shipping.

Like I said I would not pay over $60.00.

Midway is allowing you to back order Lee molds. So wait a few months.

JM

[onelight]

I had no idea that Lee molds were getting jacked up so bad. I would not pay $50. For a Lee 2 cavity mold and I like Lee molds and have several they are a great bargain at the normal markdown from retail . And I don't see panic buying molds makes much sense when a big pile of cast bullets with no primers or powder to load them is only good for the folks selling the over priced molds.
All the components have to come back or the molds are pretty much paper weights.

[Green Frog]

BF, I saw you made some good points and agree pretty much with all of them. I followed the path of many here and shopped for bargains, bought used, but sometimes may have paid too much to get what I wanted when I wanted it. That's just the nature of the game. Also, some people have different experiences with the same equipment. I started with the old 10# Lyman pot (well used) and was somewhat experienced with dealing with the dipping spout phenomenon, so I have been quite satisfied with the results I've gotten from a couple of Lee "Drip-o-Matic" 20 pounders. OTOH, I had always had my best results with older, Ideal marked bullet moulds, so until I discovered the current crop of custom moulds, avoided aluminum moulds and even iron moulds by other manufacturers for about the first 25-30 years of my casting career. Now I'm an equal opportunity caster and buy moulds from whoever has a pattern I like in pretty much whatever material they have available.

One thing most of us have probably experienced is that we buy equipment and tools that "seem like a good idea at the time" only to discover they don't work out or do what we expected. Some of us collect those (guilty) and others, perhaps more pragmatic or intelligent, let somebody else own them. Again, it's all part of the game!

To the very good original post here I would add the following suggestion; try to find someone who is already casting, preferably someone with grey hair who has been doing it for a while. Ask him to let you observe and learn at his feet. :brokenima He will probably do things a little differently from others here, since we are all individuals, but if you see what works for him, you can start to learn what will work for him. It is a good idea to learn the rules well so you know how to break them when need be! ;-)

Finally, if you want to save money, do something else... it will be a long time before those promised savings roll in. You have to buy and amortize a lot of stuff, and even if you buy it on the cheap, it will cost money. On the other hand, this afternoon I will be able to go to my basement lair and load ammo that would cost a couple of hundred dollars (if I could find it at all) using components I've squirreled away over the years and tooling that has long since been amortized to just about nothing as well. I figure $3-5 a box for pistol ammo that is fully as good as any available anywhere. That's what casting and reloading are all about. :mrgreen:

Good luck!
Froggie

[Rcmaveric]

Yeah... I have seen some messed up prices on molds on Ebay. I dont buy from them any ways. If I do I let my mom do it. Ebay is like her sixth sense. She can find a good deal from a reputable person in 10 minutes. Then bid snipe it. She lives for that now.

I wouldn't pay more the 30 bucks for a Lee 2 cavity mold and 60 for 6 cavity mold. While not always easy to cast with a little TLC and the arent bad. I have personally always though Lyman and RCBs molds are over priced. But I do have have a need for a mallonite (most likely misspelled, mellonite? Maybe? ) 9mm mold. Lyman and RCBs are the only two that I know of that still make mallonite molds. So I might have to buy once and cry once. That's a specific need though for a future projects (zinc casting).

NOE has my heart on molds. For 80 bucks a mold its a great price point and easily saved up for.. I only have 2 but they are like family heirlooms like my Lyman 50 great plains mold (got it here for cheap). Dreams to cast with and rains bullets.

Haven't had the luxury or need for the other manufactures like Accurate or MP. From what I hear from others I expect just as good quality and easy as NOE mold.

Maybe I should start asking for bullet molds for Christmas.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[P Flados]

This is a good thread and provides great advice for those new to the game.

I am pretty much a "Lee lover". The only non-Lee molds I have I made myself.

However, now is not the time to overpay for a Lee.

Now is a great time for supporting the "better" mold makers.

I will also say, that iffn we boolit making veterans were just a little smarter than a rock, we would all dig through our stockpile of molds. We would dig out the decent molds that we do not use on a regular basis and put them up for sale. This would help satisfy this crazy appetite and help get this mess to settle down again. The cash obtained from these sales would help offset purchases from the NOE, Accurate, MP & Arsenal.

[Jgrus]

I am a noob. Been reloading for a few years now and just looking to start casting my own boolits now. I have been looking all over including eBay for the past few days and eBay is absolutely insane with the prices right now for Lee. I am looking to buy a 356-120TC if anyone has an old one they no longer use because I am not about to pay those ridiculous prices on eBay.

[Mal Paso]

Some of you cretins just have no appreciation for the words Rare and Vintage.:wink:

[Mk42gunner]

Some of you cretins just have no appreciation for the words Rare and Vintage.:wink:
Especially when the "Rare and Vintage" item is still in production.
Remember folks, it takes at least two bidders to run prices up at an auction.

Robert

[fcvan]

Finally, if you want to save money, do something else... it will be a long time before those promised savings roll in. . .
Froggie

Well, for most I would say this is true. I found a way for it not to be so. I got my lead from the range at work, cast 2000+ a week, and horse traded with friends who reloaded. 500 boolits, 1k primers. 500 boolits, pound of powder. I shot over 1k rounds per week with friends from work. Imagine a new shooter who brings his new pistol to the range, opens his fluffy padded case, and sets down his two boxes of factory as though they were jewels. Some guy says 'put that store bought stuff away' as I pulled a 5 gallon bucket of loaded rounds out of my truck. Try as we could, we didn't empty the bucket that day. Yes, 'the first one is free, the next time your an addict.'

Next thing I know, these guys and ladies soon wanted to learn to reload, some to cast. All were invited, many were converted Booliteers, only 2 actually wanted to learn how to cast. All of those new reloaders soon needed boolits . . . Do the math. I told the wife I will not spend a dime of household money to feed my hobby. I kept my word.

There were other revenue streams, such meal tickets from overtime. Money from the shift went to the bank, meal tickets were worth cash in value. Once, the first wife (yup, not the current one, there's a reason for that) pitched a fit over a gun purchase. I explained for every shift I worked, I got 2 meal tickets but only spent 1. Incidentally, 6 bucks could feed 2 people at the snack bar at work.

Anyway, I pointed out that in the time I had raised the money for the gun, I had put $6000 in the bank, taken her to Prime Rib Dinners once or twice a month, and flowers out of the blue. Had I eaten all of the meal tickets I earned I would be as big as a house. She was silent for 2 hours or more. When she finally spoke, she asked 'what do you have picked out for your next meal ticket pistol?' I told her 'I would let her know.' She never bothered me again about guns, gear, reloading supplies, but she did ask from time to time had I seen anything interesting. The only time she ever questioned me about meal ticket money again was on prime rib night. I replied 'pack the kids, I'm hungry for prime rib.' Biggest smile from her that week. No need to go into why that didn't work out, old history.

Flash forward 30 years, my now wife knew about how bad things were during the last 'primer crisis' and so encouraged me to 'catch up' when things got better. She was buying primers and powder when she found them, firearms occasionally. By that I mean when there was something she wanted, she would buy 2, and I did the same for her, every purchase a surprise, just because. Well, not every one a surprise as sometimes we shopped together and each got the same of what we picked out. I supported her drag racing habit, she supported my Harley addiction.

When AR 15s were 'unobtainium' I built one my wife for Christmas and boy was she ecstatic about that. My parts were on order at the time. She got a 300 BO when I was looking at them, neighbor found 2 at a gun show and came by with the rifle. My parts, and hers, were on order. My brother ended up with those parts.

My wife is a keeper, the first one, not so much.

[Land Owner]

If you are new to casting, as we ALL were at one time, starting fiscally responsibly with a 2-cavity Lee mold is almost a No Brainer. I still have my first mold, a 2-cav. aluminum Lee #35891, purchased here, a full WC, dropping my alloy at 155 grs. for 357 Magnum, that I LOVE to endlessly pour. It is smooth as silk.

If you go slow, which you have to with only 2-cavities, and somehow manage to ham hand a $25 mold getting your first boolits out, you're out beer money for a couple of days, which is recoverable. Just go slow. You will learn to love this hobby.



just to add context, sometimes we let ourselves do stupid stuff. Early on I (and another fellow) requested the same "free" Lee mold as Pay It Forward from someone having trouble with it. I negotiated to receive it with the understanding that I would tame and use it, send some boolits back to the previous owner, and when done, pay it forward to the other guy. No big deal I thought to try some new to me boolits. I thought I could tame it (couldn't) and did a full gambit trying from lessons learned here. In the end I unintentionally beat that mold into an oblate spheroid - then took out my frustration and crushed it to smithereens with a sledge hammer! I felt better and real bad at the same time for doing that. So, I did what I thought was right. I bought a brand NEW mold from Lee, tamed it, poured some for me, completed my obligation sending some boolits to the previous mold owner (along with the story of his mold), and sent THE NEW ONE to the other guy. Lesson learned...why did I get into a deal like that? Perhaps just to get some of the "stupid" out of my system...is all I can think.

[Burnt Fingers]

If you are new to casting, as we ALL were at one time, starting fiscally responsibly with a 2-cavity Lee mold is almost a No Brainer. I still have my first mold, a 2-cav. aluminum Lee #35891, purchased here, a full WC, dropping my alloy at 155 grs. for 357 Magnum, that I LOVE to endlessly pour. It is smooth as silk.

If you go slow, which you have to with only 2-cavities, and somehow manage to ham hand a $25 mold getting your first boolits out, you're out beer money for a couple of days, which is recoverable. Just go slow. You will learn to love this hobby.



just to add context, sometimes we let ourselves do stupid stuff. Early on I (and another fellow) requested the same "free" Lee mold as Pay It Forward from someone having trouble with it. I negotiated to receive it with the understanding that I would tame and use it, send some boolits back to the previous owner, and when done, pay it forward to the other guy. No big deal I thought to try some new to me boolits. I thought I could tame it (couldn't) and did a full gambit trying from lessons learned here. In the end I unintentionally beat that mold into an oblate spheroid - then took out my frustration and crushed it to smithereens with a sledge hammer! I felt better and real bad at the same time for doing that. So, I did what I thought was right. I bought a brand NEW mold from Lee, tamed it, poured some for me, completed my obligation sending some boolits to the previous mold owner (along with the story of his mold), and sent THE NEW ONE to the other guy. Lesson learned...why did I get into a deal like that? Perhaps just to get some of the "stupid" out of my system...is all I can think.

Two cavity Lee molds on eBay are going for almost as much as a 2 cavity from NOE or Arsenal.

[Rcmaveric]

Lee molds have always been that price on Ebay. Then they tack on 20 to 30 bucks for shipping

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[Rickf1985]

I just paid 70.00 for a Lee 6 cavity 225 mold on Ebay, Total price. They are out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. I have been watching the classifieds here on CB and it is flat out nuts! Anything of any value is sold within 15 minutes!!!!! Molds and lead generally go in 5-10 minutes. How the hell do people do that!? I have not looked at molds from NOE or Arsenal in .225 but I will bet they are both very hard to find and very expensive.

[onelight]

Good advice Rickf1985 .
We need to not panic . The are several stores that will accept back orders , get on some place an order if one comes in you can cancel the others . Also check NOE he has some molds in stock see if he has one that will work for you , and his molds are are a very fair price for a quality mold.

[Rich/WIS]

Out of curiosity checked E-bay for bullet molds by Lee. Plenty on there and if you use the feature to search by price range, a lot of them in $35 or less range.

[Rickf1985]

What is the actual difference between a NOE aluminum mold and a Lee aluminum mold besides the price? And I don't want to hear this crap about all Lee stuff is junk because it is cheaper than everyone else. If that were the case they would have gone out of business many years ago.

[Rcmaveric]

You have to use it to see it.

Lee molds are small and loose heat quick. NoE and others use a bigger aluminum block to hold heat. Aluminum has higher heat transfer rates than say steel.

Cherries... Lee molds are cut with cherries. As the cherry wears the cavity dimensions change every so slightly. Others are milled. Thats why some manufacturers like accurate dont make the smaller calibers with grease grooves. They can't mill that small.

Lee is more quantity over quality while the others are quality over quantity. So that minor finishing work doesn't need to be done. Like polishing the cavity and debering it and edge breaking. When you cast with an NOE mold the bullets fall out easily. If it needs a tap, i can thump it with a finger and the bullets fall loose. My Lee molds.. not so much. I have demurred and broke the edges on them so the release easier. Now it take a firm tap enstead of a hefty wack...a cuss word and another smack.

Lee molds are notorious for not producing the desired diameter of bullet. I lucked out and all of mine are within spec. So measure the bullets and verify diameter. Hence the Lee-Menting stickie.

Lee molds can also, rarely I'll be it, milled off center badly. If your cavity is off center. It can be a royal pain to get the bullets free and if it's too bad the bullet is stuck. There was a group buy a long time ago on 6.5m soup cans and a member got a mold so badly off center it locked his bullets. My gut tell my the reason Lee molds dont rain bullets is because they aren't perfectly centered.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[Tatume]

For the going price on a Lee six cavity mold you could have a mold from any of the four listed above. You'll also have a MUCH better mold.

Lee six-cavity molds are as good as any out there. The only reason to buy another brand is to get a different cavity design.

[Rcmaveric]

Agreed. The 6 cavities are better quality compared to the single and double cavities. I have one in 9mm. It still too some edge polishing but it almost rains bullets.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[Burnt Fingers]

I just paid 70.00 for a Lee 6 cavity 225 mold on Ebay, Total price. They are out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. I have been watching the classifieds here on CB and it is flat out nuts! Anything of any value is sold within 15 minutes!!!!! Molds and lead generally go in 5-10 minutes. How the hell do people do that!? I have not looked at molds from NOE or Arsenal in .225 but I will bet they are both very hard to find and very expensive.

You should look. I think you'll be very surprised.

Arsenal's price is $83 for a five cavity, and NOE is $99. A six cavity brass mold from MP is $88.

MP and NOE have some molds in stock. I didn't check Arsenal.

[Burnt Fingers]

You have to use it to see it.

Lee molds are small and loose heat quick. NoE and others use a bigger aluminum block to hold heat. Aluminum has higher heat transfer rates than say steel.

Cherries... Lee molds are cut with cherries. As the cherry wears the cavity dimensions change every so slightly. Others are milled. Thats why some manufacturers like accurate dont make the smaller calibers with grease grooves. They can't mill that small.

Lee is more quantity over quality while the others are quality over quantity. So that minor finishing work doesn't need to be done. Like polishing the cavity and debering it and edge breaking. When you cast with an NOE mold the bullets fall out easily. If it needs a tap, i can thump it with a finger and the bullets fall loose. My Lee molds.. not so much. I have demurred and broke the edges on them so the release easier. Now it take a firm tap enstead of a hefty wack...a cuss word and another smack.

Lee molds are notorious for not producing the desired diameter of bullet. I lucked out and all of mine are within spec. So measure the bullets and verify diameter. Hence the Lee-Menting stickie.

Lee molds can also, rarely I'll be it, milled off center badly. If your cavity is off center. It can be a royal pain to get the bullets free and if it's too bad the bullet is stuck. There was a group buy a long time ago on 6.5m soup cans and a member got a mold so badly off center it locked his bullets. My gut tell my the reason Lee molds dont rain bullets is because they aren't perfectly centered.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Also Lee uses a softer aluminum alloy.

As for the Lee six cavity being as good as any out there.....everyone has an opinion, not all of the are correct.

[Murphy]

Without Lee Precision, a lot of the members here would never have given casting a try to begin with. The same can be said for their reloading line as well. After 40+ years of reloading and casting, I'd be hard pressed to just do away with all things that were LEE products in my shop. They do what I ask of them. Through the years, I've owned and used molds, sizers and reloading equipment that covered a lot of ground from numerous companies.

And, let's not forget to factor in the people who are on a limited budget at this point in their life. We all began casting for one reason or another. Some started off as a hobby, others out of necessity. In regards to the current prices of anything casting or reloading related, let's just say I can't recall a worse time to be new to casting and reloading.

Murphy

[onelight]

I have some very old Lee molds that work great I have never had one that did not make good bullets .
But I am sure they are out there. Some of the folks here cast and shoot a lot more than I do so any faults may show up sooner . And it's not like I don't have other brands of molds I have RCBS and Lyman and TC .
If you find a Lee mold try it , if you have a problem with it come back here and look for a solution there are lots of issues that can interfere with dropping good bullets and lots of good info on the sight to find a fix.
Read the directions from the manufacturer a lot of bad molds are bad because of misuse.
Do I think there are better molds than Lee ? yes I do but for most of us the Lee's are well worth what they cost at normal prices , if they have the bullet you want.

[jonp]

Many of you are missing the point of this post. I'm not bashing Lee.

I doubt that many of you have NO idea what Lee molds are selling for on eBay.

I don't. I just got a 40cal mold from Midsouth for the average price. People are bidding up molds and anything gun related to ridiculous prices but I wonder how many actually pay the price.

"Lee molds are notorious for not producing the desired diameter of bullet. I lucked out and all of mine are within spec." then your either very lucky or believing internet hype

Most of mine are Lee with a couple of Lyman. All produce good boolits like this one I cast yesterday on the first try

275183

[fcvan]

What is the actual difference between a NOE aluminum mold and a Lee aluminum mold besides the price? And I don't want to hear this crap about all Lee stuff is junk because it is cheaper than everyone else. If that were the case they would have gone out of business many years ago.

I learned on SAECO, Lyman, and RCBS molds. When I started on my own, I bought Lee. Since there was no internet, there was no hype, either way. I didn't know Lee was junk, and neither did my dies and molds. My last 2 molds were NOE and I can say they are as well constructed as older SAECO molds, made back in the days when they were still Santa Anita Engineering Company in Santa Anita. Mine were from after they moved to Carpenteria, CA, just down the road from Goleta at the time.

The quality of construction is the difference, the quality of the resulting boolits is up to the user. Some say better made means longer lasting. Pishaw, I have a Lee 356-125 2R I know I've cast over 750 thousand with. Yes, I rebuilt it twice.

Once, when it was newer, I loaned it to a newbie, showed him how, but he beat the heck out of it. To his credit, he offered to replace it but I just rebuilt it. The second time, I was at about 700K, and I read here about an upgrade of putting a set screw on the sprue plate screw. I tapped for a larger new sprue plate screw, drilled and tapped the set screw, lapped the mold top and sprue plate underside. Voila, like new looking, still casting quality boolits like when it was new.

I am sold on Lee, I am really sold on NOE. I will let someone else extol their virtue, many already have.

[Mk42gunner]

Without Lee Precision, a lot of the members here would never have given casting a try to begin with. The same can be said for their reloading line as well. After 40+ years of reloading and casting, I'd be hard pressed to just do away with all things that were LEE products in my shop. They do what I ask of them. Through the years, I've owned and used molds, sizers and reloading equipment that covered a lot of ground from numerous companies.

And, let's not forget to factor in the people who are on a limited budget at this point in their life. We all began casting for one reason or another. Some started off as a hobby, others out of necessity. In regards to the current prices of anything casting or reloading related, let's just say I can't recall a worse time to be new to casting and reloading.

Murphy

Well said sir.

Lee equipment isn't the best, but it is usually useable. At the very least, you can figure out what features you like or don't like, and what you want when or if you upgrade.

And it is affordable, as long as you aren't buying from ebay scalpers.

Robert

[Ky-Dave]

My six cavity Lee mold and handles will be delivered tomorrow. Another member posted of their availability from Midway just last week. I paid $65 total. I found an RCBS 44-245 KT two cavity for $10 at a LGS. I bought a Saeco .30 cal rifle mold (forget the specs ) and 30.06 RCBS dies for $20. two weeks ago. My cast iron smelt pot with lid was $1.50 at the scrap yard. I bought it by weight.
Deals are out there. You just have to dig, look, ask, and buy quick when it’s there.
David

[fredj338]

Lee molds are fine, especially newer designs, as long as you get one made on a good day. I have had my share of poor Lee molds, so generally I will just pony up for a new one from Accurate. IMO, if it has to be rebuilt the quality was suspect to start with.

[mdi]

For a new caster; ignore any post that praises one mold manufacturer while badmouthing another. Ninety-nine percent of the time these posts are biased personal opinions (and I question the motivation of a thread like this where the OP starts out condemning a certain manufacturer).

I have 12 Lee bullet molds; from .355" up to .452" handgun molds, two .308" rifle molds, and one buckshot mold. I have 3 Lyman molds, one 38/357 SWC, one 44 cal SWC and one 12 ga. shotgun slug. I also have just one Lachmiller 160 gr 38/357 SWC mold. Yes they are used slightly differently, no big deal but every single one produces good boolits when I do my part (no extraordinary/difficult methods).

[Burnt Fingers]

For a new caster; ignore any post that praises one mold manufacturer while badmouthing another. Ninety-nine percent of the time these posts are biased personal opinions (and I question the motivation of a thread like this where the OP starts out condemning a certain manufacturer).

I have 12 Lee bullet molds; from .355" up to .452" handgun molds, two .308" rifle molds, and one buckshot mold. I have 3 Lyman molds, one 38/357 SWC, one 44 cal SWC and one 12 ga. shotgun slug. I also have just one Lachmiller 160 gr 38/357 SWC mold. Yes they are used slightly differently, no big deal but every single one produces good boolits when I do my part (no extraordinary/difficult methods).

You're reading something I didn't write.

I never condemned Lee. I said don't overpay for them.

Let me put it in simple terms for simple minds. Instead of paying $60-$80 for a new Lee two cavity take a look at NOE, or Arsenal.

Instead of paying $120 for a six cavity Lee take a look at MP, NOE, Arsenal, or Accurate.

There was an auction that just ended. Someone, either stupid, crazy, or both paid $250 for an MP mold that's instock for less than $100 shipped.

Don't be that stupid person.

[Shiloh]

Lots of folks are trying to play catch up. The shelves are bare of powder, brimers, bullets. There are commercial cast bullets from time to time, but
they go FAST!!!

I'm glad I got my supplies when I did. Some molds are years old and still cast good boolits.
I wish the very best for those trying to acquire products.

Shiloh

[RKJ]

What is the actual difference between a NOE aluminum mold and a Lee aluminum mold besides the price? And I don't want to hear this crap about all Lee stuff is junk because it is cheaper than everyone else. If that were the case they would have gone out of business many years ago.

As was already said, try one of the MP molds or Saeco, or the others and you'll never look at LEE products the same. Before I start getting bashed, y'all know its true. I started out with LEE and still use a few of them 9mm 124TC and a .45 230 TC. I like those 2 a lot, but their quality (and prices) do not compare to the MP and Safeco molds I have. I wouldn't have started casting w/o LEE products but a person grows and gets better tools as they can (and afford).

[jonp]

As was already said, try one of the MP molds or Saeco, or the others and you'll never look at LEE products the same. Before I start getting bashed, y'all know its true. I started out with LEE and still use a few of them 9mm 124TC and a .45 230 TC. I like those 2 a lot, but their quality (and prices) do not compare to the MP and Safeco molds I have. I wouldn't have started casting w/o LEE products but a person grows and gets better tools as they can (and afford).

Actually, No I don't it's true. I've tried a few brands and other than having to go a little slower with the aluminum Lee molds over the iron Lyman and others they all produce good boolits.

I find it hard to understand the bias against Lee products when they are a sponsor of this site. Their customer service is second to none.

[WheelgunConvert]

Some of you cretins just have no appreciation for the words Rare and Vintage.:wink:

But she isn’t into the art and science of boolitology

[mdi]

Instead of "overpaying" (?) for a $80.00 NOE mold, just buy a Lee mold ($30) and buy $50 dollars worth of lead. More good bullets...

OOPS! Forgot the $35.00 for handles for the NOE mold. So, buy a Lee, with the difference get 30-40 lbs of lead and enough 45-45-1- to last a couple years...

[SweetMk]

This is a timely thread,, especially to us newbie's,,
For example:
1) I ordered a 5 cavity mold from NOE ,, yesterday,, Will a Lee 90005 handle set be adequate? or do I need something else?

2) Is there a thread about how to best start with my new NOE mold?

3) I have one PID assembled, now I gotta get one assembled (the parts are here) for the powder coat oven.

4) THIS IS A MAJOR QUESTION! I read all the time about "slugging your barrel"
Sierra does not slug my 300 Win Mag , yet they sell me J-Words that shoot one hole at 100 yards.
Why is slugging necessary with DIY bullets, but, not with commercial supplied bullets?
It seems like we ALL should be casting bullets to a diameter, just like Hornady, or Sierra,,
What am I missing?

Thank you for the info,,,

[fcvan]

Lee mold handles fit NOE. I have used them on RCBS, SAECO, and Lyman as well. I remember someone saying they had a mold where Lee handles needed thinning a bit, I don't know which mold company. Another guy said something about pin holes not aligning with the mold blocks, still not a Lyman, SAECO, or RCBS. You should be good.

[Burnt Fingers]

Noe blocks use the standard Lee handles.

To season your new mold wash it with Dawn and lots of hot water. I use on old toothbrush to scrub the mold. Let it dry. Now turn your oven to 400° and put your mold in the oven. Let the oven come up to temperature and leave it there for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven, leave the mold in the oven.

Do the oven thing three times. Your mold should be ready to go. Make sure it's hot before you start casting. I preheat on a hot plate.

If the blocks are hot and the melt is hot and you're still getting wrinkled boolits take a butane lighter and LIGHTLY smoke the blocks. I use those long BBQ lighters for this.

Once smoked, and with the blocks hot it should start dropping perfect boolits. There are some that say it's not necessary to smoke the blocks. I've found about half my new molds, aluminum and brass needed a light smoking to drop good boolits.

Jacketed boolits don't lead the barrel. The reason we slug bores it to get good fit. If you don't want to slug then just size to the largest boolit you can chamber.

[AndyC]

I agree with the OP - he's not slagging off Lee, he's simply saying don't let panic make you overpay (Lee or not) and be aware of other options out there.

With that said, I have an unwanted Lee mold on eBay right now - and I'm astonished at the bidding. The mold is good, I just hope the person who gets it finds that their money was well-spent.