I've been using Lee's 2 hole TL .452-200gr SWC mould. While I like my finished product, it takes forever to cast the qty that I want to get done. So, I've been thinking about getting the 6 hole version of the mould I've got.
The question I have is this; is there that much benifit to the 6 cavity mould over the 2 cavity? I realize that it should allow me to cast 3 times faster. But, is it really? Do you end up tossing more? Or is quality control no bigger problem?
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I have two and it takes very little pre-heat to get great bullets.
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Nothing ever beats a custom mold. But I have several Lee 6 cavity molds and the only problems I see are: Aluminum Sprue Plate No steel contact where the cam arm pivots against the mold. Sprue plates too tight causing galling.
I modify mine and put a thin piece of steel where the sprue cam contacts the side of the mold. Also I replace the sprue plate with a steel one I fashion myself out in the shop and I alter the mold so the sprue hold down hardware can be adjusted so that it doesnt gall the top surface of the mold. I also use a mold prep similar to what NEI and Rapine sells. It is a graphite suspension applied cold and allowed to dry. Keeps lead from sticking to anything.
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I have seven, including four by Ranch Dog, including his .22 bullet. Keep the pot hot is right! I love mine. Wish they had 8 or 10 cavities. This is the only way to go IMO.
Dale M. Lock
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As a Texas parole officer, I cast mostly for handguns and load a substantial quantity of pistol and revolver fodder each year. I try to get to the range at least twice a month to stay on top of my game.
I used to cast with the Lee 452-228-1R and the Lee 452-190-SWC in 2 cavity at once, swapping each mold. These were my go-to molds for 45 ACP, and still are, from time to time, being able to cast about 1k of each in a full day. I then decided to try the Lee six cavity in the 452-228-1R, to see if I can cut down on my casting time & increase my reloading and shooting time. I would have gotten a 452-190-SWC also, but the later is no longer in production.
Like previously stated, you have to cast the six-banger fast and keep it hot. Additionally, a 20# furnace just barely keeps up. I also find that the consistency in the drop weight changes in the middle of casting if I add metal to the pot, even with good fluxing, and temperature control. I've subsequently purchased some six-bangers for 38-357 and have tried swapping the 6 cavity molds out but found the pot could not keep up. To resolve the problem, I mounted a Lyman XX 20# furnace above my Lee 20# bottom pour pot after removing the bottom plate and use the Lyman as a pre-melt feeder furnace. With this set-up, I can feed two to three gang molds and crank out more bullets than ever. Additionally, the consistency in bullet weight during the session has improved.
With, “honey do's,” however, I'm still having the problem of getting to the range a couple of times per month. Any help in this area would be appreciated.
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I've used Lyman and NEI gang molds for years just recently got 6 cavity lee's - and am loving them and the third handle for the sprue. I've even started to look into modifying my other gang molds to be 3 handled - just make sure everything is closed up correctly before the pour and your good to go.
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I really don't want to get into any arguments about all of the consolidation in the arms business, because companies like Thompson Center is a member of the Smith & Wesson family, which has helped T/C. Some brand names would no survive without these mergers. With all of these companies merging, is this good or bad, only time will tell.
There is no “argument” .
The man asked a question , I answered it and then stated my feeling on the subject .
Your opinion on that is yours . Mine is mine and I'm sure you care as much about my opinion as I do about yours !
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I suffer from ergophobia.
"Ergophobia?" What the heck!
A bit of research yields “an abnormal and persistent fear of work."
"Hmm,” I thought, “What's wrong with that? It sounds like a virtue!"
I guess I'm going to have to travel to Italy for a vocabulary lesson.
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I really don't want to get into any arguments about all of the consolidation in the arms business, because companies like Thompson Center is a member of the Smith & Wesson family, which has helped T/C. Some brand names would no survive without these mergers. With all of these companies merging, is this good or bad, only time will tell.
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What about the news of Marlin bein sold to Remington and the Marlin plant being closed?
Remington/Cerebus purchased Marlin/H&R about 2 years ago .
And I believe they stated the Marlin plant will shut it's doors in the first quarter of 2011 and move any and all manufacturing to the old Remington plant in Ilion NY .
I'm not buying anymore new Marlin's or Remington's now I think :(
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I entusiastically agree with you about the use of gang molds made of aluminium.and about the use of Marlin's big bore leverguns.
What about the news of Marlin bein sold to Remington and the Marlin plant being closed?
I could not find anything on this subject on the web.
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Any time Ranch Dog offered a 6 cavity mold for any of his bullets I got one !
Now I only have 4 of them left as well as some other group buy Lee 6 cavity's and a standard lee 430-310GC mold .
At first I didn't care for the Lee 6 cavity molds as I found them harder to work with , as I liked to use 2 to 4 molds at a time . And I found to get what I wanted I could only use a single Lee 6 cavity at a time .
Now I kinda prefer the Lee , NEI or NOE 6 cavity molds over the double cavity :dude:
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I warm my molds up on a hot plate, the Lee 6C do very well for me when I have warmed them up in this fashion.
These days when I can I order my Lee molds in 6C when I can, the other I buy such as Lyman and RCBS I buy in 4C.
With many of the bullets weights coming and going, I am starting to buy 2 molds at a time, keeping one as a spare for when I need to cast a lot of bullets.
Jerry
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I own one 6 cav. Lee mold, the .358-125RF, a plain base. Once you get the hang of it it really turns out a pile of bullets fast, and good. I borrowed a custom 6 cavity Lee from a friend, the Super Fat 30 GB mold from castboolits site. It's a Loverin type, casted like crazy, easy to use, and great bullets. I'd like to borrow it again when the first 500 run out. The 6 cavs do have a couple weak links, fixing them is easy if you read up on it. The one most obvious to me is the sprue cutter cams directly on the aluminum mold side, installing a little steel shim there should prevent wear. That said, if Jeff's cast 200,000 with his as issued, maybe it's not a big deal.
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I actually just started using the Lee 6 cavity molds - they seem to be casting well and I like the sprue handle cam idea so much I'm looking at adapting my other gang molds to take em.
I use two twenty pound pots to keep up with gang molds sprues and cold lead go into one and cast out of the other until down 2/3 then switch pots adding new lead to used pot - the larger the bullets the more often you'll be trading back and forth - I typically use 2-3 gang molds at a time - pouring one - one cooling - one getting ready to dump and be refilled.
Only caution I got was watch the sprue as you can break a handle if trying to open without the cam action - and some say start off with just two cavities filled then increase as the mold heats up.
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Though my LBT 4cavity moulds are superbly made ,and cast very good bullets,my lee 6 cavity moulds are cost effective,and good for cowboy action and steel plates and such short range shooting.
I avoid single or double cavity moulds if I can,for their slow production rate.
I prefer Liquid alox tumble lubing ,for the same reason,using a traditional lubrisizer takes away a lot of time.
I suffer from ergophobia.
I hope my friend will not unleash his hound reading the word ergophobia.
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I've since switched all my comon molds to LEE six cavity. It's just so easy to get a bunch of bullets set up and ready for my next match.
I use three different weight bullets in my .38s, another for my .44s. I cast about 1000 bullets at a time and then lube them either on my Star or right now a Lee sizer for t he 44s because I don't have a sizing die for the Star for it yet although it's on order.
My bullets come out better fron the gang molds than from a single or double cavity
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I've got two, the 452-255-RF and the 452-200-RF, both 6-cavity units. I mostly cast the 255gr round-nose flat-points for .45 ACP IDPA/IPSC loads, and it works well most of the time. Problems I've had are to do with learning a little bit about tempo...if you get things too hot you can really make a mess of those aluminum sprue plates.
My experience is that, if I'm a bit careful with pace, keep the mold faces absolutely clean and lubed and keep the sprue plate pin tight (so crap doesn't get under it), I can produce around 1,000 good bullets in a few hours.
I think you have to 'get to know' your mold, your pot or furnace, and your alloy--just as you probably do with any mold.
The six-cavity mold with handles costs about as much as 500-600 cast bullets bought online. So, after a single short casting session, the mold has already paid for itself.
With bullets in the 255gr weight range (or heavier) and a 6-cavity mold, I don't find my 5-quart dutch oven with 20-30lbs of lead in it to be overkill. Five mold's worth is a pound of lead...so you're melting at a pretty good clip.
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I have a tortila pan on my hot plate, but that warms up my molds and keep them warm.
Jerry
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The 10 pounder will strain to keep up. If you cast in a cold shed or garage, you will probably not be too happy. You will have to keep the new ingots that you add, small or preheat on a hot plate if possible. I have done it, but not in cold weather. Worth trying, but preheat as much as possible. Duane
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