I've got a Lee 457-340-F mold. I was casting bullets using that and my iron four cavity 260 gr Keith mold. The lead was at about 650 degrees. The keith bullets turned out real well but it seems like the Lee mold never got hot enough to make bullets that weren't wrinkled. So then the next day I just used the lee mold and it still seemed like it never got hot enough. I did not adjust the tempurature. Do the single cavity lee moulds just need hotter lead? I did use a degreaser on the mold before I started casting.

Sean did you coat the mold cavity with anything? Soot or a lite coat of mold prep-- the aluminum molds normally require something.

The usual problem with that mold is getting too hot with sprue metal taking a long time to set if you don't cool it.

Then of course you could try hotter....

I did not soot the mold.

Sean, most of my Lee's like to run hot. We're talking frosted boolits here. I don't know temp. I don't have a thermometer. Get that mold clean, Real clean and run the temperature up until the boolits are coming out frosted. If still wrinkled, smoke the mold. I use a wood match. If you're getting good boolits with another mold you're melt should be good. Regards, Woody

1. Smoke the mold for sure (use a match or butane lighter, not a candle! Don't ask how I know!

2. Go ahead and run that lead HOT! Apart from appearance, I have never seen any disadvantage to frosted bullets!

3. Make sure that you lube the mold (sparingly!) as Lee says or you will get galling.

Good luck,

jpb

Sean, The above advice is all good: Follow it. Let me add that I have the mold you mention and several other Lees and they do need higher temperatures (800 deg.) initially. After obtaining a number of good bullets (10-15) at the higher temp., reduce the setting to 730-750 deg., which will also reduce oxidation of your alloy. What this means is that you need to buy a thermometer (less expensive than an iron mold) and use it faithfully every time you cast. You also may want to go to this site, http://www.aimoo.com/forum/freeboard.cfm? and then "Molds...Maintenance & Design " once there. The first post, "Leementing" is the one you want. ...Maven

I just finished casting pure lead bullets in 2 different .458 molds; one a Lee 457-405-F and the other a Hoch custom 400 grain paper patched mold. The Lee heated up quickly and started dropping good bullets after 6 or 8 had been cast, while the Hoch took 20 or 30 to get going. You didn't specify what alloy you were using but with pure lead it is essential to start it at 850F to get good fills with these large bullets, the lead will start cooling off before the mold is full, run yours hot and check your results.

Lee products seem to be made with the assumption that anything that needs a little attention can be handled by the handiness of the user. This saves a lot of money. Idiots and the mechanically challenged need not apply. I am a master mechanic by trade and still have not turned my nose up at Lee equipment. Once you figure it out you will appreciate the beauty of these products. Remember that it is the poor craftsman who blames his tools.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~scott

the best warranty is one that never has to be used and I don't buy anything with the intention of having to work on it to make it produce. You need to be a master mechanic to use Lee moulds.

Gee I consider myself Mechanically challenged and I have no problems at all using Lee moulds they work perfect for me and I get great bullets. Some folks consider it PC to bash lee equip no big deal as far as I am concearned as I am sure it does not bother Lee either with the stuff they sell every year and with the satisfied customers they have I think they must be doing something right? I own nothing but lee after using some dies of a other maker that I had problems with I switched to Lee and have not looked back since. The only reloading things that I would have that is not Lee is anything that I may buy used for a good price. Jim

I wish the big name outfits could make a sprue plate, cutter as nice as the one on the Lee 6 holer

I like your bumper sticker DJ. Hope there's lots of good ol boys left in the southland.