After making my bullet shopping list and totaling up $$$ Ive decided its time to start making my own. I plan to start with the tumble lube molds for .357 & 9mm. The 170f should take care of 30-30,308 and 30-06. The 303 im not sure about. The lee mould is 312 , my bore is 313. I am wondering if the mould actually makes a bigger bullet like 314 and is ment to be sized to 312. The lyman mould would be ok but does not fit the budget. Thanks in advance for any help.
Lee moulds
- Thread starter frank357
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My experience has been that the bullet usually comes out of the mold a little larger diameter than what the mold states.
Lubricating with the alox, the way Lee says, is a real pain. I would rather stand them up in a pan of hot lube (50/50 beeswax and beef suet will do.) When the lube cools, cut them out with a "cake-cutter," made from the neck of an empty shell. For the rifle they will not likely have to be sized.
Of course, the ideal way is a Lyman sizer and lubricator, but that is not cheap. I have used one for many years, though, and it works perfect.
Lubricating with the alox, the way Lee says, is a real pain. I would rather stand them up in a pan of hot lube (50/50 beeswax and beef suet will do.) When the lube cools, cut them out with a "cake-cutter," made from the neck of an empty shell. For the rifle they will not likely have to be sized.
Of course, the ideal way is a Lyman sizer and lubricator, but that is not cheap. I have used one for many years, though, and it works perfect.
If the bullet drops at .312"..the .314" sizer will not have an effect on the size, in a lube sizer as mentioned above, it will lube and leave a small coating on the rings. You can alter the size of the cast bullet somewhat by using Linotype or Monotype as they drop slightly larger(and much harder). All you can do is cast a few and measure them as the sizes given in the catalogs are quite often approx. You may not enjoy or benefit enough from casting however, if you scrimp too much on equip.Lee molds(2-cav.) tend to fall apart, as the alum. used is very soft and galling becomes a problem, as well as bullets sticking in the cavities. There are ways around this too but, sizing and lubing a proper sized bullet is important,as is crimping the gas check squarely. Proper equip. will pay for itself very quickly if you shoot alot.
One thing to watch: many (but not all) Lee molds drop slightly small, even with a high-antimony alloy. Buyer beware...
Tumble lube is great stuff, and very easy to apply: plastic bucket, tumble, leave the batch out to dry on some wax paper. You can size 'em and then re-tumble to make sure there's a nice coating on all surfaces.
I've gotten good results with the tumble lube up to about 1350 fps and 'OK' results (some leading) at 1550. I currently use it on tumble lube designs AND 'conventional' designs, and have no complaints.
Note that Lee molds need to be broken in. Instructions come with the mold. Follow them exactly and you'll do fine.
Tumble lube is great stuff, and very easy to apply: plastic bucket, tumble, leave the batch out to dry on some wax paper. You can size 'em and then re-tumble to make sure there's a nice coating on all surfaces.
I've gotten good results with the tumble lube up to about 1350 fps and 'OK' results (some leading) at 1550. I currently use it on tumble lube designs AND 'conventional' designs, and have no complaints.
Note that Lee molds need to be broken in. Instructions come with the mold. Follow them exactly and you'll do fine.
precisely, Lee equipment has allowed a lot of people to reload who otherwise could not afford it.
Beagle the mould
Two stips of muffler tape on the inside of the mold. The was not the cavity will hold the mold slightly apart when filled. This will have your mold dropping big. Then purchase a 314 sizer for your 303. Or what ever you may need to slug your bore to determine the appropriate diameter. Cast boolits.com is a better forum for this.
Two stips of muffler tape on the inside of the mold. The was not the cavity will hold the mold slightly apart when filled. This will have your mold dropping big. Then purchase a 314 sizer for your 303. Or what ever you may need to slug your bore to determine the appropriate diameter. Cast boolits.com is a better forum for this.
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I shot some cast out of my 30-30 today that were sized with a Lee and lubed with the Liquid Alox. They were gas checked WW at 1760fps and I got 3" at 100 yards with them. Doesnt sound impressive but that is as just as good as that gun has ever done with jacketed bullets.
The best part is I don't have a clue what I am doing when it comes to cast bullets.
The best part is I don't have a clue what I am doing when it comes to cast bullets.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390215
The 200 grain one is dropping at 313
Do I get a cookie.
Lee has 3 molds listed for 312. But any 30 cal mold will get you there. If it is droping small you can beagle the mold. Cast boolits forum is the best place on the web for this stuff.
The 200 grain one is dropping at 313
Do I get a cookie.
Lee has 3 molds listed for 312. But any 30 cal mold will get you there. If it is droping small you can beagle the mold. Cast boolits forum is the best place on the web for this stuff.
With Lee molds being aluminum, it's easy to enlarge them slightly with a little valve lapping compound. You can't make 'em smaller but you can make 'em bigger. The Cast Boolit's forum/site has lots of info on this.
Actually, you can modify any mold but it takes a little more time and effort with iron molds.
Actually, you can modify any mold but it takes a little more time and effort with iron molds.
