zxcvbob
Member
I've been using Lee 2-cavity molds for a while now, with no problems. I think I have about 4 of them. So I bought a couple of their 6-cavity molds; a .358-158-FP and a .452-255-SWC. The latter is a discontinued model that I bought on closeout direct from Lee. I tried the .358 a couple of weeks ago and the bullets drop at .362". They are usable, but the lube grooves are awfully shallow after I finish resizing them. And I doubt that sizing them that much is good for them (overworking the lead softens it.) I wrote to Lee and they said their tolerances are +.003/-.000, and it sounds like my mold is just outside of that -- and I can send it back.
Tonight I tried the .452 mold for the first time, and it drops bullets at .4505" using the same alloy! That's 2-out-of-2 molds that are out-of-spec. I'm not sure if I should send them both back or not; I might never see the .45 mold again because they are probably out of them by now. I could probably cast a bullet with a machine screw embedded in it for a shaft, and use it to grind the cavities out just a little with some clover compound. But I shouldn't have to mess with it like that.
Tonight I tried the .452 mold for the first time, and it drops bullets at .4505" using the same alloy! That's 2-out-of-2 molds that are out-of-spec. I'm not sure if I should send them both back or not; I might never see the .45 mold again because they are probably out of them by now. I could probably cast a bullet with a machine screw embedded in it for a shaft, and use it to grind the cavities out just a little with some clover compound. But I shouldn't have to mess with it like that.