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Thread: Lee Precision .520 RB

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Lee Precision .520 RB

    I just received a 6 cavity .520 RB mold from Lee, they were listed in the closeout section. My .54 T/C's have all been tight bore rifles, this should be the answer for me. If you need one too go to their site.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Got to shoot some of the .520's today. It's the answer I've been looking for. If somebody wants to try a few pm me.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    Wow, mine shoots .530 fine.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Hanshi's Avatar
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    I cast .530" ball from a dbl cavity Lee mold and get fine accuracy.
    Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    I have to use a mallet to start the .530 balls, they shoot good. I can use .18 to .20 patch material with the .520 ball and start them with a sharp smack of the hand. Much more convenient

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    I made my friend a brass mallet to help his son start the .530 balls in his .54.
    Maybe the .520 balls will work better for him too.
    He is using a .015" patch right now to help with loading .
    And was thinking of going to a .010" patch to make loading easier.
    I don't think that will effect accuracy.
    But thinner patches do effect the amount of lube on the patch.
    I found that out when using a .535 ball with a .010 patch.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Well I didn't want to work up a load for something I want to hunt with and have to carry a mallet or use a rock to load with. These are grouping as well as the tight .530's did.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master


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    I've had three TC 54 caliber rifles. All of them had a bore right on at .540" as best as I could measure. All three also shot far and away better with a .520" ball. You can rationalize away all you want, but the fact of the matter is that every TC I've tried them in has shot .520" better than .530". I'm not saying that it is ALWAYS the answer, but clearly the age old dogma of thin patch and largest ball that will fit is wrong. It's to the point now I can't even point new shooters to a good source. All you can do is test and see, as this is one sport where it seems the old timers get so set in their ways they become blinded to better methods.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check