| Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 09:59 PM |
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billt
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I have tried most of the commercially produced molds over the years, and have found that I've had the best luck with Lyman. I like the Lee molds as they are of good quality and low cost which helps out the bullet caster on a budget. My only complaint about the Lee molds is they are constructed of Aluminum. While Lead doesn't stick to Aluminum, Aluminum is quite soft and I have had a lot of trouble with galling on the top of the mold blocks by the sprue plate when the mold reaches operating temperature. I also am not that fond of Lee's split dowel pin vertical line up system on their 2 cavity molds. There 6 cavity molds are very tempting for the price however. I have found Motor Mica dry powdered graphite to be the best lubricant for these Aluminum molds. Lyman molds have always given me good results, especially in their multi cavity designs. They drop bullets that I've found to be very round, and size very easily in my Lyman 450 Lubricator Sizer. For lubes I like LBT Blue from Lead Bullet Technologys. It requires the lube sizer to be heated for it to flow well, but this is a 2 fold blessing as when it cools to room temp. your bullets wont stick together. Lyman Orange Magic is another good high temp lube, as is Rooster Red Zambini. All of these lubes can be purchased from Midway. If any of you have any experience with molds, lubes, and or alloys that you would like to share, punch in a post and perhaps we can get this forum going. Now I've been given another reason to dust off my molds! And with the wet weather we've been having, it sounds like a really good idea! billt
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| Posted: Mon Feb 21st, 2005 02:03 AM |
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2nd Post |
drinks
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I have molds from Kirkland, Lyman, Lee and RCBS.
Most are Lee, I use NeverSeize to lubricate the alignment pins and ribs, smoke per instructions and then spray with a graphite mold release, then clean all the vent lines with a q tip dipped in acetone,have very good results with everything except the RCBS.
I stone the underside of the sprue plate to remove any burrs and then spray it with the graphite release agent.
I cast for .243 to .58.
Been casting since the '50's.
Don
Last edited on Mon Feb 21st, 2005 02:05 AM by drinks
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| Posted: Wed Feb 23rd, 2005 01:29 AM |
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3rd Post |
Timberghozt
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Great info.I plan to start casting.I`ve never tried it but I figure I`ll learn as much as I can from you fellas and then have at it...;-)
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21st, 2005 09:55 AM |
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Mickey Rat
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I started casting bullets for 44 mag when stationed in Germany in 1976 to secure a source of bullets for my 44 MAG S&W model 29. Lead was scrounged from the range (45 ACP 230 gr) and my pot was (and is) a Coleman Gasoline camping stove and an iron skillet. Wheel weights make great bullets, too.
I use mostly Lee moulds, a single cavity 150 gr SWCHP 357, a dual cavity 240 gr SWC 44 and a 150 ge RNFP GC 308 (30-30). I just bought a Lyman 370 gr RN 439 (43 Spanish). I haven't tried it out yet.
Lubes: In Germany, I used stolen spray on graphite. I now use the Lee Lube. Soft lead works well for the slow stuff, but wheel weights are my favorite. You can drive them slow or fast and the price is right.
My best advice: Buy the Lee Manual by Richard Lee. Better yet, go to Midway.com and buy the turrent kit or the basic kit. It comes with the manual, press, dies, the whole works. He has more info than you need. Then go cast. Nothing teaches like doing. Your bad ones will look bad and shoot bad. Your good ones will look and shoot good. If you're on a tight budget, they are the thing to go with.
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Mickey Rat
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21st, 2005 11:18 AM |
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5th Post |
quigleysharps4570
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Lyman and Lee are what I own. The best off the shelf lube I've used is "Orange Magic" for smokeless powder.
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| Posted: Fri Apr 1st, 2005 05:27 AM |
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bea175
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I use the RCBS mold for 250 gr Keith , the RCBS bullet sizer with RCBS lube and the 429 sizing die. I haven't cast bullets in a while because i have been able to buy as cheap as i can cast them for my 44 Smith. The best bullet i have used in my 44 mag handguns as been the 250 gr Keith with 20 to 22 gr of 2400 with standard primer CCI 300 or 23 gr of H110 with the same bullet. 
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| Posted: Sat Apr 2nd, 2005 04:51 PM |
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LAH
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Lot's of good moulds out there. I've had very good luck with Lyman but the better is Ballisti Cast. I like LBT lube.
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Joshua 1:9
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| Posted: Sat Apr 2nd, 2005 05:12 PM |
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billt
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LAH,
I'm a big fan of LBT Blue Bullet Lube. I've used it for years with good sucess in most all by cast loads for both rifle and handgun. Veral Smith invented this lube, and put all his experience into it. I doubt there is a better lube on the market. It's a hard lube that doesn't get soft and sticky in warm weather. I use a small electric heater on my Lyman 450 Lube Sizer that gets it just soft enough flow through the Lyman Lube Sizer without much difficulty. I'm told that Lyman Orange Magic is a good lube also, but I see no need to change at this point. billt
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| Posted: Wed Oct 12th, 2005 04:08 PM |
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9th Post |
Handgunr
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I've collected a couple of hundred moulds over the past 35yrs. or so, and I've got to say that probably the best, or most common "off the shelf" mould is a Lyman. I've been able to collect a lot of the old obsolete one's and although I've got a good amount of RCBS and Saeco moulds, the majority are Lyman's I guess.
I've had several Lee moulds over the years, and although the bullet designs have been good, the aluminum blocks just don't hold up for the amount of casting that I do.
I've used many NEI moulds, as well as LBT's in the past, and of the aluminum & brass moulds, these have held up much better than the Lee's by far.
I don't beat my equipment, and I take rather good care of it, but an iron mould is my "weapon of choice" here.
Regarding the lubes; I'd have to say that Lynn hit the nail on the head....LBT Blue lubes are probably the best out there. I've used the old 50/50 lubes for many, many years, and had just recently switched over to Lyman's Orange Magic.
I used up the small amount of LBT lube I had for testing sometime ago. The old 50/50 NRA lube was dismal to say the least, and was probably only good for handgun use, more or less, in comparison.
The LBT lube was by far, better than the 50/50, and I'd have to say that the only commercial lube available that is anywhere near close to the LBT, is the Orange Magic at this point.
Veral Smith of LBT fame really knows his stuff when it comes to cast bullets & lube......he's proven that many times over.
My 2............
Bob
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