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SharpsShooter
09-16-2006, 11:45 AM
Upon my arrival home last night from the range, I discovered that the Big Brown Truck had paid me a visit. Doug from Lee had called Wednesday to let me know that they were shipping that day UPS. Two big boxes marked “Lee Precision” were on the back deck. With all the potential trouble in recent buys, I looked at them as if they contained black mamba’s. Ah well, I opened them up and they look very good overall.

I fired up the pot and ran off 50 or 60 last night and the initial measurements looked promising, but I was not getting good fillout. I decided to wait till this morning when I had ample time to really get the mould hot and try it again. My alloy is a 50-50 mix of WW and PB. It takes a lot of heat to get good fillout. My thermometer said 950* and the results were very nice. Not frosted, just good looking boolits.

We asked for a nose diameter of .318 We got .3165.:-?

We asked for body band diameter of .326 We got .3255.:-D

We asked for a length of .927 We got .933.:-D

Hornady gas checks are a good tight fit.:-D



My alloy tends to give heavy boolits and this case was no different. The average of 10 boolits was 192.4gr. 70% of those ten weighed 192.9gr and the rest weighed 191.4gr.

My opinion is that we have a winner and I intend to ship them this week so pitch you tent by the mailbox.


This has been a long road for many of us, but if we hurry, we can still get a load worked up before Deer season


SS

mooman76
09-16-2006, 01:00 PM
Great deal. I was beggining to wonder, how long does Lee take but hopefully the wait was worth it and I'm sure it was! And thanks for heading this up for us and a great job!

BorderBrewer
09-16-2006, 01:20 PM
Sharpshooter,
Thanks for the good news.

BorderBrewer
(Camped by the mailbox)

dragonrider
09-16-2006, 02:43 PM
I have been anxiously awaiting this one, now to dig my 8mm out of the safe, get the bore perfectly cleaned up.

keeper89
09-16-2006, 03:53 PM
Yes, this has been a long road but the end is finally in sight-------

Buckshot
09-17-2006, 10:44 AM
...............Very possibly some of those boolit noses may just drop larger then .3165". Your body dia at .3255" is pretty good and alloy or heat will add or subtract a half thou real easy. I'd say all in all it would be hard to get them much better then that. EXACT would be nice, but .....................

..............Buckshot

Tomhorn
09-19-2006, 10:43 PM
Can anyone tel me the shank diameter specs on this bullet? I just got in on the .323 gator check buy and am now wondering if I screwed up.:confused: :-? :coffee:

Mark

SharpsShooter
09-22-2006, 12:21 PM
My apologies to all. I had to work out of state this week and as a result, your moulds did not get shipped till this morning. My schedule had me coming and going at hours when the Post Office window was not open. Everyone’s mould went out this AM.

SS

dragonrider
09-22-2006, 07:06 PM
Not a problem. I may have my fingernails chewed down the first nuckle but I CAN WAIT. :mrgreen:

keeper89
09-22-2006, 07:32 PM
Thanks for the update, just gives me a couple of more days of fervent bore cleaning--just to be :-D [smilie=1: :-D

Tomhorn
09-25-2006, 05:08 PM
Received two molds around noon today. Looks great. You done very good.:drinks: :drinks: :drinks: :Fire: :Fire: :Fire:

Mark

Johnch
09-25-2006, 05:51 PM
43445 arived today
Looks good
Thanks Johnch

dragonrider
09-25-2006, 06:51 PM
I got it today, looks good, cast some already but have not evaluated them yet, supper happened, so I'll get to it when I am done here.
Thanks Sharpshooter for all you hard work.

dragonrider
09-25-2006, 07:20 PM
Ok here are the first pics of the 8 MM GB
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/8%20MM%20GB%20MOLD/8MMGBMOLD001.jpg

sundog
09-25-2006, 07:38 PM
74429 - arrived. Good job. Thanks. sundog

Doble Troble
09-25-2006, 07:51 PM
I got mine today! 27834. Thank you!!!!!!

I'm looking forward to someone's range report. I'll probably try AA2495 first. Anyone have suggestions for a starting load? I've also got some IMR4198 that should work.

Also, I'm going to try seating GCs with a Lee sizer that is .323. I think I'll try just sizing the base by running the bullets in upside down and tapping out with a rod - has anyone tried this - is it bone-headed to think this might work?

keeper89
09-25-2006, 08:09 PM
12998--mold was in today's mail and came through in fine shape. Would have done a trial run but spent yesterday cleaning out dead stuff from the chief's flower beds and I am just too stiff in the back to sit at the casting bench today....as soon as I get some cast and loaded will submit whatever I have for range results--by then I am sure there will be a casters log thread around here somewhere--oh, btw, did I say thanks?:-D [smilie=1: :-D

SharpsShooter
09-25-2006, 08:24 PM
Glad to see that they are starting to end up in the right places.....kinda restores my faith in the USPS. I have cast several hundred and am installing GC and lubing. Hopefully I will have some range results by the weekend.


SS

45 2.1
09-25-2006, 08:30 PM
If everyone would post their molds as cast nose and band dimensions it would help. LEE started a new spec deal and this is the first one from it. I need a good average to determine the necessary control range for the mold dimensions.

dragonrider
09-26-2006, 07:36 AM
I am getting .3175-.318 on the nose, ,3265-.328 on the body. Hornady gc's go on very tight. I only cast a couple dozen so my average may change with a larger volume.

Shepherd2
09-26-2006, 10:18 AM
Thanks for all you did SharpsShooter. Mould arrived yesterday. I tried it out this morning using straight wheelweights. Average of 10 boolits is: Weight 187.7 grs., Band dia. .3257, Nose dia. .3168.

Larry Gibson
09-26-2006, 12:57 PM
Got mine in yesterday, won't be able to cast for a couple weeks (dang deer season is getting in the way!). Thanks to SharpShooter for pick up this ball and running with it. The moulds look great and the bullet looks like it should be a good one. Looking forward to reading how everyone is doing with it when I return.

Larry Gibson

Pepe Ray
09-26-2006, 01:48 PM
Received 8mm, GB mold yesterday. I'm very greatful for our Honchos.
Thanks a bunch.
Will post results as I get them. Busy season is upon me. Getting prepaired for another Maine winter ya know.
Pepe Ray

C1PNR
09-26-2006, 05:00 PM
Package arrived safe and sound yesterday at zip 83706! Good looking moulds!

I'm hoping this will fill in a gap I have for the 32 Special, too. Maybe a little harder alloy will be some lighter.:)

Thank you VERY much for running this buy! It's been a long haul and lots of bumps to negotiate, but you got it done successfully! I really appreciate all the headaches you put up with making this work.:drinks:

keeper89
09-26-2006, 06:41 PM
Hope the picture comes out, here are my particulars, your mileage may vary....
10 boolit average weight--187.5 in wqww
.928 nose to tail
.316 just ahead of first band above crimp groove
.326 first driving band
.325 second driving band
.325 third driving band
.306 base w/o gc.

Boolits measured unsized-of course-as cast. Expect weight to be around 190 with gc and lube. Looks REAL fine and the mold, once up to temp, threw perfect boolits which dropped either by gravity or with just the slightest tap on the hinge pin nut. Now to run some through the lube-sizer and into some freshly prepped cases and out the business end of a really ready 98! OHBOYOBOYOBOYOBOYOBOY!!!
:drinks: :-D :drinks:

ebner glocken
09-26-2006, 07:43 PM
Just got mine in the mail yesterday 65605, thanx much for running this buy. Hopefully sometime next week I will get a chance to cast a few and find out how they shoot.

9432
09-26-2006, 08:03 PM
got mine yesterday at 13039 but unable to cast yet.Still
missing a few pieces of vital equipment, but slowly gettin there.
Seems like these bullets will average around 190 grs. using
plain WWs.anybody have load data using 2400 powder( min-max load)?
i have a couple of pounds sitting around that i'd like to use.


SharpsShooter, Thank you very much Sir! your time and effort
is greatly appreciated ! enjoy and good luck ,.......... Vic

9432
09-26-2006, 08:10 PM
it might help if i said i was reloading for the .32 Winchester Special! sorry.
Vic

BorderBrewer
09-26-2006, 11:43 PM
Mold arrived at 91911 today and it looks great. My .32 Specials and M48 join me in saying Thanks SharpsShooter!

Shepherd2
09-27-2006, 11:17 AM
I had a chance to size and lube a few of these boolits this morning. I tried a couple different top punches. I found that the Lyman #637 is just about a perfect fit. If you have one give it a try.

mooman76
09-28-2006, 11:38 AM
Thanks for heading this up Sharpshooter. For awhile it looked like it might not make it. Got mine in the mail Monday. It will be awhile before I can try it out but right now I have too many irons in the fire. Looking forward to it!

Mark

dragonrider
09-28-2006, 12:39 PM
I gonna shoot some tommorow after work. Will let you know what happens, Might be raining then so probably won't get an chono work done.

SharpsShooter
09-28-2006, 04:38 PM
Dragonrider,

I have like plans for Saturday and will post results also. What sort of load data are you looking at trying? I have some loaded with 40gr of 4350 and am considering trying 4198.


SS

SharpsShooter
09-30-2006, 04:43 PM
I didn't have time to load but 10 rounds with 40gr of 4350. Buckshot gave me this data and said it would probably make 2000fps. I don't have a chronygraph, so I'll leave it at that. Sunlight was begining to get in my face as I fired these 2 five shot groups with my receiver sighted K98. I had 3 in a decent group and two called fliers in each five shot string for an average of just over 1.15" at 50yds. It was a mild load in respect to recoil. I am going to try to go even faster with the limiting factor of case capacity while using 4350. Anyway, here is my current recipe.

190gr w/ Hornady GC
NASA Lube
Remington cases
CCI #200 Primers
40gr IMR 4350

It is a good start and I see potential. There was absolutely zero leading with a 50/50 mix of WW and PB. A bit of load tinkering and it will be a winner.

SS

cr17
10-02-2006, 07:28 PM
K4A 2P1 just arrived. Thanks for doing this Sharpshooter. Let me know if there's anything I can help you out with from the great white North!

ebner glocken
10-02-2006, 09:15 PM
I haven't measured mine yet but they weigh 187.2 out of WW. Shot my first few today, wind was blowing around 30 MPH and my rest was off a truck bedside. Out of my M48 they shot a little over an inch @ 30 yards and the turk was around 2-2.5 at the same range. All shot with javelena lube, 13.0gr of red dot, S&B case, cci 200, hornady GC. When I get more time I will set up the chrono and see what they really are doing.

SharpsShooter
10-03-2006, 07:04 AM
K4A 2P1 just arrived. Thanks for doing this Sharpshooter. Let me know if there's anything I can help you out with from the great white North!

Glad to see it made it. I'm watching the delivery confirmations to try to be sure everyone got their mould. HAPPY SHOOTIN`

keeper89
10-03-2006, 08:29 AM
SharpsShooter--got to thank you again for getting this gb off the ground--as one of the original "greyarea" respondents, it was a long pull but it has proved out in the end....now to just break out a little block of time to do some range testing.....

SharpsShooter
10-03-2006, 08:50 AM
Keeper

I was tickled to do the GB. (It was my first one as honcho, but don't tell the guys OK:-D ) I really needed a light-weight, dual purpose boolit for plinking and medium size game hunting and had intended to get in on the original deal until the complaints started. After it fell apart, It was still pretty obvious that there were several that had the same needs and were willing to hang in there until the end to see it through. A group of like minded people is what makes these group buys work. Sure the Honcho does the ordering paperwork and the grunt work in getting the finished product shipped, but without you guys, I would have either had to settle for a current production mould or cough up the set-up fee and do it alone. Bottom line.............The group makes it work to the best advantage of all.


The few that I fired Saturday showed good potential and groups were easily under 2" at 50yds, so a 4" group at a 100yds is likely. I believe it will do a good bit better once I figure out what it likes. Load development is part of the enjoyment when it comes to shooting. Hopefully everyone is satisfied and will report their results. Now all we have to do is go forth and shoot


SS

Nrut
10-13-2006, 10:03 PM
SharpsShooter....Mine showed up sometime this week and I picked it up from the post office today....Thanks for handling this group buy!...V0J3A0

hawken54
10-14-2006, 04:16 PM
Sharpshooter..I got here late. what is the skinny on the 8mm mold? I need one and need to know price a nd postage to 83642. Thank you...

SharpsShooter
10-14-2006, 04:43 PM
Hawken

This round of the buy has concluded. I didn't have the spare cash at the time to order extra moulds. It is possible that someone might want to sell theirs, but I doubt it. If there were enough interest for a second run, i might be bribed to Honcho it again, but I would need to see the interest.

SS

hawken54
10-14-2006, 10:29 PM
Sharpshooter...Thanks for the quick answer. I'll try to keep on top of things and find one somewhere...

mooman76
12-08-2006, 10:04 PM
Finally got my mould out along with a couple others I have used yet and made some bullets. It was averaging 186g with WW and .325. I am happy with the mould even though I have not fired the bullets yet. I did have allot of rejects this time though but that was my fault. I had the heat up to high worrying that the 6 banger would have trouble getting up to heat. I got the mould so hot the bullets were comming out to soft and I had allot of damaged ones until I reallized what I was doing wrong and got the temp down. I would of noticed sooner but I was dropping them in water. All in all I think they make good bullets. Gonna lube some up tonight!

SharpsShooter
12-09-2006, 08:10 AM
Mooman,
Glad to hear you got a chance to work some up. I found that 750* to 775* gave me the best results without overheating the mould when using a 50/50 mix of WW/PB.

SS