Lee .457 molds

[prolifik]

I have a few Lee .457 molds for my 45-70. I bought them because they were all I could find at the time. The most perfectly cast bullets they turn out are exactly. 457. Why did Lee choose to make them undersized? I have a .459 hollow base 405gr mold that makes far more accurate bullets. The .457s are OK with pure lead loaded at black powder velocity but I don't believe I'm getting enough obturation with a harder alloy to seal properly.

 

[yomomma]

Why are you complaining about something you know you should not have bought?

 

[Snider shooter]

Lee moulds are what they are. Cheapest around. They work well with a bore of 457 or smaller. If they don't work with a harder alloy that tells you something. You have stated your answer, softer alloy. Work with what you have or buy the Lyman. Depending on mould and alloy I can get them up to 0.461. Other companies also offer larger moulds for the 45-70. An alloy with more lead will cast a larger diameter bullet. The more tin or antimony you add the smaller your diameter. Making your bullets harder reduces your as cast diameter.

 

[ryan]

Lee moulds are what they are. Cheapest around. They work well with a bore of 457 or smaller. If they don't work with a harder alloy that tells you something. You have stated your answer, softer alloy. Work with what you have or buy the Lyman. Depending on mould and alloy I can get them up to 0.461. Other companies also offer larger moulds for the 45-70. An alloy with more lead will cast a larger diameter bullet. The more tin or antimony you add the smaller your diameter. Making your bullets harder reduces your as cast diameter.

Actually you got that backwards. The harder alloy will drop a larger diameter, lighter bullet than pure lead.

 

[ryan]

I have a few Lee .457 molds for my 45-70. I bought them because they were all I could find at the time. The most perfectly cast bullets they turn out are exactly. 457. Why did Lee choose to make them undersized? I have a .459 hollow base 405gr mold that makes far more accurate bullets. The .457s are OK with pure lead loaded at black powder velocity but I don't believe I'm getting enough obturation with a harder alloy to seal properly.

You could try powder coating them to build up the size some.

 

[f55]

I have made .458 powdercoated 405gr lee that shoot very accurate for a 45-70

Many factors involved but it can be done.

 

[bibatoad]

The Lee 405 gr. hb mold is outstanding, it has a hollow base and fills out the bore when fired found it to be the most accurate bullet in my Marlin and H&R Buffalo Classic.

 

[prolifik]

Why are you complaining about something you know you should not have bought?

I'm asking if someone knows the logic behind them being made to .457. These were the first molds I ever purchased before I cast anything.

 

[prolifik]

The Lee 405 gr. hb mold is outstanding, it has a hollow base and fills out the bore when fired found it to be the most accurate bullet in my Marlin and H&R Buffalo Classic.

I agree completely

 

[kg]

I don't know; maybe out of concern for older guns. I had a 340 grainer 20 years ago which was like yours.

Try to beagle them. Some shooters have lapped LEE's molds too.

 

[slug]

IIRC, Lee's tolerances were 1/2 thou under to 2 & 1/2 thou over stated diameter. (I may be wrong with the actual numbers or their standards may have changed from 20 years back). A worn cherry will cause the mould to throw a smaller bullet. Is the bullet round? If the bullet is really round, it could be used for making excellent bullets. If you watch someone powder coating, you'll be impressed with how easy it can be, and with less mess and smoke.

A few decades back, I had a Lyman 225415 mould that threw its bullets 8 thou out of round, which was a tad excessive for a .224 bullet.

 

[ted_dent]

You could try powder coating them to build up the size some.

Generally powder coating will add 2 to 3 thou so that would bring the diameter up to what the OP is looking for as long as the bullet sizer was the appropriate diameter (around .459").