Lee 6-cavity bullet molds

[zxcvbob]

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.

 

[AKCOP]

I have several 6 cavity Lee molds, .38, .44 and .45. I never mic the raw cast bullets just run them thru my Star sizer and load them up. Based on your sizing I would say running them thru a sizer is not going to work them to the extent they will become soft and cause a problem. We are talking about 4/1,000th of an inch give or take a few and after years and thousands of rounds fired I just have not had a problem.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Same here, I haven't miked them yet.

The shallow grooves are interesting when you're used to Keiths, but they seem to work.

Cast a few and shoot them, then send it back if they shoot bad - if not, then you've saved shipping $$.

 

[dmftoy1]

FWIW I've got one of those six cavity .357 molds and it's just like you say with the REALLY small lube grooves . .that being said I lubed a bunch with Carnuba Red and I've had ZERO none, NADA leading. (I would've though differently looking at those boolits.

 

[stubbicatt]

I'm glad you guys have had good luck with those moulds. I prefer the Lyman iron moulds. I was never able to get a tumble lube bullet to cast properly from the Lee moulds.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have a couple of Lee tumble lube molds and they work great -- but they are both 2-cavity molds. The .45 TL 230 grain bullet is my favorite bullet.

Both of the 6-cavity molds that I bought recently cast beautiful bullets (not tumble lube, btw) but are out-of-spec. The oversized .38 bullets are usable. I suspect that the undersized .45 bullets are useless but I haven't tried shooting them yet (it's too cold here)

 

[NuJudge]

Before you do anything drastic, test your calipers against a known quantity, such as a swaged .451 jacketed bullet. I have several sets of calipers that are off by .002".

All my Lee 6-cavity molds a a little on the large side.

CDD

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

When you're buying the closeout molds, you're often buying reject molds from custom made group buys people have ordered and then not been satisfied with, so they've returned them to Lee. Or they're Lee's QC rejects. This is one case where you'd be better off to try the six cavities in Lee's standard bullets.

Regards,

Dave

 

[ants]

I have the 6-cavity Lee for .452 tumble-lube 230 grain #2 ogive. It turns out 0.452" every time unless I fail to close it tightly. Be sure to get the mold and the lead to temperature. About 580 F for the mold, about 625 F for the lead works for me. To check temps I use an Alltrade infrared heat gun that was just $15 on sale at the local cheap tool store.

If you're at the right temperature and you're closing the molds properly but they don't work, perhaps you should consider sending the molds back. Lee molds are perfectly capable of casting the correct size when used properly.