Lee Cruise Missile, Pistol Powders, and 6.5x55

mwjones

mwjones

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Just wondering if any of you guys use this mould. I recently got one and cooked up a couple hundred bullets last weekend, and want to load some up. I don't have any 5744 or 4227, so i'm thinking I might try some pistol or shotgun powders. Quickload is telling me that 11 grains of unique, 14 of red dot, 15 of green dot, or 16 of blue dot will put me near the 1700fps threshhold. I've been told that getting any kind of accuracy with these bullets over 1700 is a lost cause because of the 1 in 7.something twist in the m96.


Oh, and please don't tell me to check castboolits. I tried that, and got a half dozen replies about how my mould sucks, bullets are too long and won't fit in your gun, it's cut so oversize that you can't even size it without completely getting rid fo the lube grooves, don't even bother buy the $150 Lyman one, join the group buy for a mould cut to original specs, blahblahblah... I mic'd my bullets and they're just barely oversize enough for me to shoot them. They fit in the gun fine. No replies involving my actual question, though :mad: So I have come to the place I should have come to in the first place.

MJ
 
Aah, I've heard that 2400 is the magic cast powder. Unfortunately ordering a pound of powder is a months long ordeal and I end up paying nearly $40/lb. I can get red, green and blue dot, 700x from the skeet club. I think they might have 2400 too...hmm.....
 
lol!


Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has no 6.5x55 data and Lyman 49th only goes up to a 150gr cast bullet with various powders including IMR4198 at 18gr starting 26gr max. I would brave starting a hair lower with that powder and working up with the Midsouth/Lee 170gr cast but that's me.
 
mwjones said:
Just wondering if any of you guys use this mould. I recently got one and cooked up a couple hundred bullets last weekend, and want to load some up. I don't have any 5744 or 4227, so i'm thinking I might try some pistol or shotgun powders. Quickload is telling me that 11 grains of unique, 14 of red dot, 15 of green dot, or 16 of blue dot will put me near the 1700fps threshhold. I've been told that getting any kind of accuracy with these bullets over 1700 is a lost cause because of the 1 in 7.something twist in the m96.


Oh, and please don't tell me to check castboolits. I tried that, and got a half dozen replies about how my mould sucks, bullets are too long and won't fit in your gun, it's cut so oversize that you can't even size it without completely getting rid fo the lube grooves, don't even bother buy the $150 Lyman one, join the group buy for a mould cut to original specs, blahblahblah... I mic'd my bullets and they're just barely oversize enough for me to shoot them. They fit in the gun fine. No replies involving my actual question, though :mad: So I have come to the place I should have come to in the first place.

MJ
Click to expand...

Oh my, you ran afoul of the Lee Mold haters, and specifically the Lee Cruise Missile haters on Castboolits! Lots of good guys, but a bunch of old biddies as well.

I find the mold works fine, and I just use mid-range cast loads for the 160 gr bullet (dare I say "boolit"? :p ).

Try:

5.0-7.0 grs of Red Dot;
7.0-9.0 grs of Unique;
12.0-16.0 grs of 2400;
15.0-22.0 grs of SR-4759; or
18.0-24.0 grs of H4198.
 
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Thanks, Andy. I have some red dot, blue dot, and 700x so I'll try those first. Goign to see if I can score a little Unique from my dad to see if it works at all, though I hear it's dirty :stirthepot2: He's got some 4227 as well which I might try, I found that 27grs works well in .303 brit!

Some 4198, 2400 and 5744 are on my list. I like shooting less than 40grs of powder because powder's my main cost :)
 
I use 24gr of WC 845 in mine with CBE's 266132 bullet, which is a little similar, all be it lighter. Have had good results with 12 gr of H110 and 30 gr of H4350 as well. You could start with 10gr H110 or 20gr of WC 845 or 30gr of H4350 and work from there. It's been my experience that the quick twist needs reasonably hard bullets(I'm using ww +2% tin air cooled).
Grouch
 
I'm using ww with 18 inches of 1/8th inch 50/50 tin/antimony solder mixed into each 20lb pot. They about as hard as hardcast pistol bullets, figured they'd handle the fast twist a little better!
 
mwjones said:
I'm using ww with 18 inches of 1/8th inch 50/50 tin/antimony solder mixed into each 20lb pot. They about as hard as hardcast pistol bullets, figured they'd handle the fast twist a little better!
Click to expand...

What does the "18" of 1/8"" etc mean?
 
Also, I use Lee molds and have no trouble. I have used kegs of 700X in pistol, shotgun, and rifle reloads. Don't be too downhearted about the replies from castboolits. Maybe you just hit the weekly "Let's pour it to the Lee mold owners" swat team practice, and you happened to stick your head up. :)

According to some, you have to wear certain clothes, stand on one leg, chant secret sayings, and, above all, do exactly what they do - or else! All this just to pour bullets. I've managed to struggle along with bottom pour Lee pots, Lee molds, Lee Progressive 1000 loaders for all this time. It's a wonder......:runaway:
 
mwjones said:
Aah, I've heard that 2400 is the magic cast powder. Unfortunately ordering a pound of powder is a months long ordeal and I end up paying nearly $40/lb. I can get red, green and blue dot, 700x from the skeet club. I think they might have 2400 too...hmm.....
Click to expand...


I have Alliant 2400 in stock.
Regards, Henry
 
I'm a big fan of Red Dot/Promo powder in cast loads and 2400 IF RD doesn't work very well.

The only thing I would suggest would be traing loads in 0.2 Gr increments (steps).

If you have good eye you will see difference in grouping with even 0.1 Gr difference ( sometimes very dramatic).
 
I'm hoping to hear you get good results with your bullets.

I bought the same mold a few months back, along with a "cruise missle" type mold for my 8x57 JS, but have not tried the 6.5x55 mold yet.

I do like Lee molds quite a bit, but to be honest, I am having a ##### of a time getting the blunt nosed 8x57 JS bullets to feed in my mausers; I hope the 6.5x55 bullets fare better. Both these bullets look like great hunting bullets, but in order for me to take them in the woods, they do need to feed reliably.
 
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