04 June 2008, 22:55
lonewolf5348LEE MOLD 375W-38/55 MOLD 379 DIA 250 GR 2 ?
Any one have any comments on the lee mould
I just may want to give it a shot trying to cast some bullets for the 38-55
I have a buddy that cast pistols bullets and said he would lend a hand on teaching me how to cast
He has lots of wheel weights on hand more then he will use in a lifetime
I called lee and ask what the bullet will drop out of the mould Lee say give or take .001
I would like .380 outside diameter which my rifle likes.
04 June 2008, 23:05
arkypeteLonewolf
I use cast bullets, exclusively, in my 375 Whelen.
I have no experience with the Lee mold you mentioned. I do have 375 molds made by RCBS, very accurate, Saeco, also very accurate, Lyman, accurate and NEI, also very accurate.
I'd bet that RCBS and Saeco's offerings will fill the bill nicely.
Jim
If the mould doesn't drop the bullets fat enough for you, you can Beagle it.
You can probably do a search here for more details, but the basics are:
Get some Aluminum Ducting tape, cut it in strips about 1/4" wide. Then you can put the tape strips on both sides of the cavity. I've gone up to 3-4 layers without getting fins on the side. When the bullet goes through the size die, it will round things up.
I have cast some bullets from the same mould for a friend. With wheel weights, plus about 10% Ludlow metal (about the same as linotype) to bring up the tin content, the bullets came out at .380". They were just right for his .38-56 Win M1866 and shot well.
06 June 2008, 00:17
Leo L.To get .381" diameter bullets I had one made by Mountain Molds that yielded 264 grainers.
06 June 2008, 01:34
lonewolf5348I did shoot the mountaim mould in 264 grain casted with wheel weights air cooled excellent bullet in my 38-55 .380 diameter
I only have one problem my caster is not taking any more orders until Oct:
15 June 2008, 05:03
Low Walllonewolf...the sizes vary..mine is .381"..the molds are cheap enough...If it is a little large buy yourself a Lee push-thru-sizer and hone to the size you want...

BTW Lee is full of BS if they told you that their mold only varies .001"... I was measuring a bullet from one of their molds last night (suppose to be .360" This was a 6 cav. group buy mold) and it varied .003" out of round just on that one bullet...It's a crap shot with Lee molds..
29 June 2008, 03:32
lonewolf5348
I think I found my load in the buffalo classic 38-55
sarco mould 738 255 grain
IMR 3031 26.5
C.O.A.L.2.660
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a380/lonewolf5347/38-55004.jpgI also came up with this load that shot excellent
Mountain Mould 264 grain
26.0 IMR 3031
C.O.A.L. 2.560