No love for the 6.5 crowd? What gives?
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No love for the 6.5 crowd? What gives?
sheepdog, Actually Lee Precision has produced 3 6.5mm molds that I know of, all custom runs: the 170 gr. "cruise missile," a 6 cavity GB mold for us, and a single cavity mold for a boolit that looked like a miniature version of Lyman's #31141.
Lee seemed to get out of the smaller mould buisiness for awhile. They used to make some and then stopped and now are making some like the 7mm again. Also their rifle bullet moulds used to all be SC. I'm glad they changed that as they most all come in DC now. I don't have to have the 6x for everything but the SC moulds are positively slow going. My guess would be the market playing there but who knows. You would also think that with all the repeat orders ordered my midsouth on custom moulds, since they are making them anyway, they would go ahead and put them in their line. Moulds like the bator and cruise missle. They are also making smaller sizing dies now than they used to.
I'd like to see Lee come out with a 6-cavity mould in .224", too. The cavities would be short enough that it should fit just fine.
C'mon, Lee!
Cowboy,
Check Ranch Dog's website. He's setting up for a run of 6 cavity molds for his .22 design. He checks the dimensions before sending the molds on to his customers so the size is correct when you get it. Also check N.O.E. (They run a batch occasionally- pick how many cavities you want) and BRP Products has a .226-47 as a stock design (again, pick how many cavities you want). NOE and BRP prices are very reasonable, considering the quality. See the Vendor/Sponsor forum.
I don't think the overall volume is high enough on the .22 Bator or 6.5 Cruise Missile for Lee to put them in their stock listing. I'm still waiting for them to make some of the Ranch Dog designs standard and bring back their .270 mold...
I don't see a lot of 35cal rifle molds in there line up either. I think Lee is at there max capacity on there mold making line and don't want to increase there overhead to make more molds. Right now they are selling molds as fast as they can make them and thats not a bad business practice.
I believe the market all 6.5mm cartridges is very limited in the USA. I seldom see a 6.5 shooter (other than myself) at the range. I have never found a piece of 6.5 brass (usable or un) on the ground.
Consequently I think the existing 6.5 mould producers satisfy the market.
According to Pat at Lee they are buying automated equipment tp replace their older stuff.
Maybe they will have more production capability and include other mold sizes in the future.
They are now making the case length gauge one piece rather than the body and the hardened pin. I bought one of the new design for the 7X57 and had to polish off a bulge in the pin section to get it to go thru the flash hole. No big deal.
Well, there is THIS 6.5mm bullet mould from Lee.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...IMG_0022-1.jpg
Midsouth have them. The famous Cruise Missile.
Nice work Jeff, What Lee mould No. is that? They NICE MISSILES!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffinNZ
THANKS
How does the cruise missile work in the 6.5 jap long rifles,
Midsouth shooters list a 170 gr for the Swede. But it is a special run at Lee and it is on order. Expected delivery in 2011??
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...u=000066.5SWED
I would like to see a group buy for a bit lighter 6.5 , say in the 140-150 gr range from Lee.
But, alas...many in here have had a bad experience with Lee and seem to go with the custom mold makers. While i am sure the custom molds are fantastic, I only cast a few per year for each caliber and the much "cheaper" Lee molds have always worked well for me. I own 6 at this point.
Have a good 'un, Guy
Wow,that looks good. BUT... my 6.5 has a 1-9 twist, not the 7.5 in those old Mousers. I am thinking it might be more of a SCUD,then a CRUISE missle. Is anyone shooting it in a slower twist?
http://www.fototime.com/8B8B8013CDC151A/standard.jpg
#2 and #4 were Lee Group Buys. #2 was done by Jumptrap in the late -'90's and is a 140gr FN. #4 was also originally a GB as a 170 grainer and is now available from Mid-South.
http://www.fototime.com/B55472729A707A9/standard.jpg
On the left is a GB I ran a couple years ago, (6.5 Kurtz) done in a set of 6 cavity blocks. They weigh from about 128 to 132grs depending on alloy. Either NOE or BRP (check Vendor SPonsers) offers a facsimile. On the right is the 170gr Cruise Missle again. Quite a difference in OAL, but both are seated to engrave in the same rifle!
http://www.fototime.com/FC7FB74B506D8FB/standard.jpg
With a 6 banger you can make a BUNCH in a hurry!
..............Buckshot
Which of the presented molds are generally the most accurate?
No experience with it, but #2 in the pic above sure looks good - and with a nice meplat to boot! Anyone use that little beast on game?
Thanks,
Tristan