There are some who swear *at* Lee molds and some who like them. at ~ $20 a pop I find them extremely affordable.
I have a handful of RCBS and other molds, but I have a couple dozen Lee molds -
being a
cheap barstich frugal sort, the price is right, and since I only cast a few hundred bullets a month
for the amount I use them they work fine for me!
Those who cast thousands or more a month are usually the folks that have issues with them.
Outside of the occasional QA "glitch" (which has always been resolved nicely by Lee) the rest of us normal folk seem to get on fine with Lee Molds. Oh, and there are some threads on tuning Lee Molds, ( often called "Lee Menting" on the cast boolits forum)
Also , I cannot find anybody but Lee who offers a 200gr in the more traditional "roundnose flat point" .
I just ordered out (and am going to the PO now to pick up) one each of the following Lee molds.:
Lee Bullet Mold, .45 caliber,
LEE-90570 .452" diameter, 160 grain, round nose flat point Cowboy Action mold, double cavity
LEE-90234 .452" diameter, 200 grain, round nose flat point BPCR mold, double cavity
LEE-90358 .452" diameter, 255 grain, flat nose, solid base BPCR mold, double cavity
I already have a Lee 200 gr "Remington C&B round nose" mold I intend to try in cartridges "just because".
I also already have DD's "Big Lube" Lee molds in ~200 gr and ~250 gr that I plan to try. These should be great for BP in the rifle.
I plan to use these in my 1866 yellowboy, my Remington conversions, one Colt Conversion, and my Uberti and Pietta Model P clones. Oh, and my Remington Revolving Carbine. And a DIY .45 Colt single shot if I ever get it finished.
Hell I may even try cramming them in the C&B cylinders "for fun".
Also in the order is a Lee .405 HB for the trapdoor and a .312 185gr to try in a 7.7 Type 99
I will try them out and report back. But don't exect anythimg fast!
Since I just
told the barstiche micromanaging nitpicking slavedriving overlords to stuff it retired officially from the day job on Tuesday,
after I sleep for a week, I will have more time
to do whatever the hell I want to pursue these CAS passions, and build knives and ML rifles.
Oh Yeah and I want to gemerize a trapdoor action with a .50 cal octagonal barrel
.
and finish "restoring" and shoot a pair of '95 mausers. and a 6.5 type 38.
and restore and shoot my 1870 12 ga double and the 12 ga fox rabbit ears. and ... and ...
As our Good Blair Pointed out:
Steel Striker,
Reducing not only the amount of lead but the powder charge as well help cut costs.
You may want to consider the ".45 cal. Cowboy Special" in a .45 Colt?
My best,
Blair
Since .45 Cowboy brass is
like dinosaur eggss so hard to come by , What I am doing is to use full length .45 Long Colt brass ( yeah I know
all about the nomencalture , get over it
) for BP- and subs-only, and .45 Schofield brass for smokeless only . This way I will be able to identify them readily and also reduce the amount of empty case for smokeless loads.
At some point I may be able to get the Holy Grail of molds, the 250~ gr .45 Colt hollow base , but maybe later.
hope this helps :-)
prof ( i pulled the pin and threw the retirement grenade!) marvel