Lee Conical BP Revolver Bullet Mold

[Jamie C.]

Anybody used one'a these?
Conical Bullet Mold
At .450 dia., I wonder if the bullets wouldn't be too small for an Uberti's chambers... But on the other hand, I'm thinking of using it to make paper cartridges, so the layer of paper might make for a snug fit. Or the paper could get shaved off during loading and be of no help at all.


Any thoughts on this? Should I just stick with round ball?


J.C.

 

[O.S.O.K.]

Lee .450" 200 grain conicals...

They work great for me and my Uberti 3rd Model Dragoon - here's a couple of pics:

The target shows two groups of six - left and right - the right six are from standing, off-hand. The left are from support and shooting at a point of aim just below the group - the Dragoon shoots about 8" high at 25 yards - the distance this was shot at.

I used 45 grains of Pyrodex P and pre-lubed felt wads from Cabelas. CCI mag #11 caps were used with this.

You see, although the box says .450, mine dropped at .458" - using 30/1 (lead to tin) Midway USA alloy. I shot them unsized.

They started into the cylinder nicely - as seen in the picture, as the base is reduced for the purpose.

Hope that helps out.

 

[Jamie C.]

That helps a lot, O.S.O.K., thanks.

One more question though... Have you tried using them without a wad, and with lube in the grooves? This is what I'm thinking of doing with the paper cartridges.


J.C.

 

[hildo]

O.S.O.K. is right on the dot, I got the same bullet dimensions.
Have not shot them yet.

The double cavity Lee .450 mold. After just 100 bullets it seemes not to close as easily as it did in the beginning. The steel alighning pins do not fit the opposite hole as easy as they did. Have not encountered this problem with any of my other Lee bullet molds.
Open for suggestions to what might cause this problem.

The bullets as they came out. 100% pure scrap lead. Will try adding 2-3% tin next time for smoother results. Although, on the photo's they look worse then they actually are.

The bullet size at the base

The bullet size as measered overall

 

[mec]

I've found them larger than advertised too. Sometimes put them through a .452 sizer for easier seating. These had bore butter smeared in the lub grooves:

this is a 764 fps load from this revolver

 

[hildo]

Would it be advisable to use lube in the lube grooves, or can you just should them as a round ball with a lube pill?
I like the lube pill system.
Hildo

 

[dwave]

Could do both, since I make my own lube pills, when the mix is melted, I dip my bullets in the mix to coat them.

 

[O.S.O.K.]

I think the question is answered

but yes - you can use them sans lubed wad with lube in the grooves.

Hildo - I think those turned out just fine - yes, the tin will help eliminate the wrinkles but it may not make any real difference in performance.

mec - as always, a great pic and information

 

[nicholst55]

"The double cavity Lee .450 mold. After just 100 bullets it seemes not to close as easily as it did in the beginning. The steel alighning pins do not fit the opposite hole as easy as they did. Have not encountered this problem with any of my other Lee bullet molds.
Open for suggestions to what might cause this problem."

Go to the Cast Boolits forum; there are stickies there covering Lee mold maintenance and troubleshooting.

 

[hildo]

Nicholst55: Thanks!
That what just what I was looking for. My problem with the bad aligning of the Lee mold is pretty common.
A man named Oldfeller has a sticky on the castboolits forum that anyone with one or more LEE mold should read.
It includes glueing the mold blocks to the handles so they will not be sloppy anymore and close perfectly everytime, and last longer.
But that's just one thing.
Freshening up your old mold, repairs, making the cavity's larger or even smaller, it's all covered.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=3172