What flavor do you guys like best?
How many and what brand of moulds do yo own?
- Thread starter Tailhunter
- Start date
- Replies 47
- Views 3,005
3 Lee 2 cavs.
1 NOE 4 banger.
The NOE drops gorgeous bullets, but had to season some. The Lees may be less inovative, but took near zero technique or warm up to drop perfectly usable bullets. Well except the 9mm/.356 they were too small.
1 NOE 4 banger.
The NOE drops gorgeous bullets, but had to season some. The Lees may be less inovative, but took near zero technique or warm up to drop perfectly usable bullets. Well except the 9mm/.356 they were too small.
OP
I've got around 15 all NOE. Great moulds.
The stocking of lead is what I need to start doing.
But where to find it.
The stocking of lead is what I need to start doing.
But where to find it.
Sailboat keels....they're reasonable price wise but the logistics of moving 600 lb (or 1600 lb) keels are not insignificant. My engine hoist ran over my toes at one point in the process of moving mine. Cutting it into pieces isn't trivial either.
9 Mihec Molds, 6 NOE, 2 Saeco, and maybe 4 6 cavity Lee molds. I sold off about 6 molds last year to fund some of my swaging gear. 4 of those were Mihec, I will regret that later I'm sure.
Mihec is my preferred brand but obviously hard to get and expensive. NOE is a very very close second.
Mihec is my preferred brand but obviously hard to get and expensive. NOE is a very very close second.
OP
Can I afford it?Lucky13bullets said:
Chihuahua Floyd
Happy to be here
45 - one 2 cav one 6 cav, both 200g SWC
44 - one 2 cav, one 6 cav, both 200g RNFP
40 - one 6 cav, 170g TC
38/357 - one 2 cav 105g SWC, one 6 cav 125g RNFP, one 6 cav 158g RNFP
All above are Lee
30 cal rifle, one borrowed single cav Lyman 311291,
The 158g also sees low power use in the 35 Rem.
So, very few.
CF
44 - one 2 cav, one 6 cav, both 200g RNFP
40 - one 6 cav, 170g TC
38/357 - one 2 cav 105g SWC, one 6 cav 125g RNFP, one 6 cav 158g RNFP
All above are Lee
30 cal rifle, one borrowed single cav Lyman 311291,
The 158g also sees low power use in the 35 Rem.
So, very few.
CF
Mattyb
Internet Tough Guy
4 Lee 2-cavity (.358 SWC, .452 RN, 9mm RN that won't close all the way, and a slug mold) and 1 T-shot mold from buckshotmolds.com(I think).
I also have a .562 round ball mold for my flintlock, also a Lee.
I also have a .562 round ball mold for my flintlock, also a Lee.
Chihuahua Floyd
Happy to be here
My bad, it's a175g mold. Drops at 174 - 177 after lube w/ LLA.Chihuahua Floyd said:
reloader762
Boolit Master
About 13 Lee molds some old some new style in both rifle and pistol. Two old Lyman ideal molds,Lyman/Ideal 357443 & 358477 and a couple NOE custom molds. One NOE is a clone of the Ray Thompson 358156 that cast either HP or FN bullets the other is an 160 gr. design by Ed Harris for 7.62 x 39.
Last edited by a moderator:
Wait a minute- some of those are mine- only problem is I don't remember which ones... If one of us ever moves away we're gonna have a heck of a time figuring out how to divvy up equpment.reloader762 said:
reloader762
Boolit Master
Guess I'll have to stick around,not much I can do with half a mold.reloader762 said:
Added an Arsenal 358124TC and a Lee 401175TC 6 banger.
The Arsenal is a very nicely made piece and cast beautifully, unfortunately I rarely shoot light 9mm bullets anymore, maybe I'll coat some for the 357Sig.
I'm really liking the Lee. Read a lot of complaints about venting needing flash removed, and rough cavities causing sticking, I forgot to clean it, preheated, lubed and went right to casting, after a dozen drops they were about perfect. Second session dropped great from the first drop.
The Arsenal is a very nicely made piece and cast beautifully, unfortunately I rarely shoot light 9mm bullets anymore, maybe I'll coat some for the 357Sig.
I'm really liking the Lee. Read a lot of complaints about venting needing flash removed, and rough cavities causing sticking, I forgot to clean it, preheated, lubed and went right to casting, after a dozen drops they were about perfect. Second session dropped great from the first drop.
OP
BigWaylon
Head philatelist
Staff member
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Charter Life Member
Benefactor
Supporting Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Newb reloading question(s)...
I've figured out the 1lb = 7000 grains for powder, so I can load 2000 rounds at 3.5gr.
I assume the same math works for lead and bullets? Wasn't sure how much I'd lose in the process.
For example...say I wanted a 350gr Beowulf.
7000/350 = 20 bullets per pound
$3/20 = $.15 per bullet
Around 15, mostly Lee (2 and 6 cavity), 1 lyman and 1 rcbs. Thinking of getting rid of the tumble lube molds though now that I've got a lub-a-matic.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk
Combat Diver
Well-Known Member
Got around a dozen or so mostly Lee single, double and six cav, one 4 cav NOE, one 2 cav SAECO and a single round ball .375 Lyman. Cast from .311 round ball to .490 hollow base Minie Ball.
CD
CD
Depends. In the North South Skirmish competition, there are a number of suppliers and odds on, most you have never heard of them. In my person rotation-
RCBS- couple minie designs
Lyman- ditto and round ball for my 1842 smoothbore
Rapine- minie bullet wad cutter (deadly accurate out of my 1862 Springfield)
Rapine- Smith bullet design
NOE- Smith bullet modeled on the 50/70 Sharps
Moose- Sharps bullets
Rapine- Maynard bullet
Lee- minie design wadcutter but these turkeys have dropped making this one
I have a couple Lee molds I use for centerfire handguns and 45/70. My take on the molds, all but the Lee are really high quality with no issues. The Lee molds work ok but aren't nearly as robust as the others so I consider them disposable. That's a huge issue with the 575 wadcutter design they discontinued so I'll buy one of those about any time I see it. My 1853 Musketoon will cut one ragged hole at 50yds with that bullet.
RCBS- couple minie designs
Lyman- ditto and round ball for my 1842 smoothbore
Rapine- minie bullet wad cutter (deadly accurate out of my 1862 Springfield)
Rapine- Smith bullet design
NOE- Smith bullet modeled on the 50/70 Sharps
Moose- Sharps bullets
Rapine- Maynard bullet
Lee- minie design wadcutter but these turkeys have dropped making this one
I have a couple Lee molds I use for centerfire handguns and 45/70. My take on the molds, all but the Lee are really high quality with no issues. The Lee molds work ok but aren't nearly as robust as the others so I consider them disposable. That's a huge issue with the 575 wadcutter design they discontinued so I'll buy one of those about any time I see it. My 1853 Musketoon will cut one ragged hole at 50yds with that bullet.
