Lee 6 banger

[GP100man]

I`ve cast 2/3rds of my life with 2 holers alot of em aluminum & some steel of lately (to get my lead fix , for you non casters you won`t understand !! LOL)

But Santy Claws dropped a 20#er off & I could`nt drop the level of silver molten alloy down fast enuff (to take a break) so it was time to step up to a 6banger !!

I`ve owned 2 2 holers of Lees 158rnfp boolit & it`s an easy boolit to cast & to get to shoot in all my 38/357 revolvers !

So Midway had em in stock & I had to order some other stuff so I added it to the order!!

When it arrived I immediately cleaned with MS/denatured alcohol ,then finally dawn . Lubed it up with Bullplate as per Bullshops instructions.

Put on my handles & put it on the hot plate to start preheating !!

While I was waiting I actually read the directions !!!
OK ,keep the sprue handle closed completely before fillin so as to get the full use of the camming action .

As I finished burning the rest of the machining oil out & the wrinkles went away I started turnin the pot down to a sane temp & this is what happened !!

Bout 20# of keepers !!!

that`s the smallest boolit I could find in the bunch ya see !!

The workman ship & fitting of the 6 bangers is surely a step above the 2 holers (not to knock em ,just saying)

The biggest thing I liked was the steel inserts for the locators & production !!!

 

[RugerSP101]

I got a 2 bullet cast last year, but Im really tempted to make the next one a 6.
Glad you had some good luck with one. It helps me feel better about going for it

 

[flhr62]

I have a bunch of two cavity molds myself, and 1 six cavity. If I had bought a six cavity first, I would not own any two cavity molds.

 

[Bucks Owin]

"I`ve cast 2/3rds of my life with 2 holers alot of em aluminum & some steel of lately (to get my lead fix , for you non casters you won`t understand" !!

I catch your drift pard. I enjoyed using my recently aquired MP brass mold so much that I tossed perfectly good bullets back in the pot so I could cast them again! :roll:

 

[M'BOGO]

I can't hardly wait for the weather to break.

 

[GP100man]

Opps ,I did it again !!!

 

[RugerSP101]

You are killing me
The temptation to order one is getting out of hand.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I got a 2 bullet cast last year, but Im really tempted to make the next one a 6.
Glad you had some good luck with one. It helps me feel better about going for it

What mold is it? What does your cast bullet weigh? Inquiring minds want to know.. :wink:

 

[Cherokee]

The Lee 6 cavity molds are really great and a higher quality product than the 1 or 2 holers. That bullet 358-158RNFP has become my standard in 357 mag - really accurate in my 686 and Rugers - and so easy to cast.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I like Lee molds, good bang for the buck, and the price allows one to play with a lot of different bullets....

The "oddest" Lee mold I have casts a little .358" 82 gr WC that was great fun to experiment in duplex .357 loads with. (And danged if they didn't print within a couple inches of each other clear out at 25 yds) Prossibly a decent indoor defense round, albeit a little shy on individual bullet weight...

 

[scramjet]

I own 2 Lee six cavity molds. A .429 240 grain 44 cal and a .451 200 grain 45 cal. The quality and ease of use is hands down a true winner. I have three Lee 308 cal two cavity, a 38/357 two cavity, a 250 grain 44 two cavity, and a couple steel RCBS two cavity molds. By far the Lee six cavity molds work out the best.

My latest interest is the Lee Lube & Sizing kit (push through & Alox tumble lube). I'm wondering if not casting a Lee Micro Band bullet how well it works with a traditional Lee cast bullet with lube bands.

 

[I_Like_Pie]

I use their .38 and .45 alox tumble molds.....Casting and preparing these things is SOOOOOO easy. Don't size them. Just pour a pile, put a few drops of alox with them in a small bucket and load them up the next day.

Can load a box of 100 for a little over $2 and time when I use bullseye.

I agree....the 6 pot molds are a little bit better than the 2 hole models. Even if they weren't the best priced in the market they would be my choice over the pricier steel and brass ones.

 

[scramjet]

Thanks for the info although:

How well does the Lee Lube and Sizing Kit (push through w/Alox) work without using Lee micro band cast bullets.I am planning to use that Alox push through sizing and Alox lube system with standard lube band cast bullets. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[M'BOGO]

Thanks for the info although:

How well does the Lee Lube and Sizing Kit (push through w/Alox) work without using Lee micro band cast bullets.I am planning to use that Alox push through sizing and Alox lube system with standard lube band cast bullets. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

Using the system you are referring to, I have had good results loading in the 1000 fps range. With both sized and unsized, straight, and the 40/40/10 mixture (LLA, Johnsons paste wax, and mineral spirits). The accuracy I've had has gotten me compliments, and surprised me.

 

[GP100man]

Lee 158 rnfp

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I have been casting with a bunch of Lee six cavity molds for a while now.

A couple of fine points you may or may not be aware of with the Lee six cavity molds:

When you are casting, only squeeze the two handles for the mold itself. Do not squeeze the sprue cutter handle at the same time that you are squeezing the mold halves together. The geometry of the sprue cutter handle is such that squeezing it while also holding the mold halves together can actually force the molds apart a tiny amount. Can result in finning and oversized bullets. Take a close look at the handles and you will see what I mean.

When you first start casting, it is a good idea not to fill all six cavities the first few times. Until the mold is completely up to temperature, it is harder to force the sprue cutter through all six spues. If you start out just filling the first two cavities a few times, then gradually fill three, then four, etc, you will have less chance of breaking the sprue cutter handle. Trust me on this. Just keep dumping the bullets back in the pot until the mold is hot enough for all six sprues to be cut easily. I use a bottom pour pot, and I wait only until the overflow from the sprues has stopped wiggling, then I cut the sprues and open the mold.

 

[tek4260]

The only Lee I use at the present time is the 400gr .480. That will be replaced with a Mihec when Zeus's group buy is completed. Guess I am jaded. I bought a 255 RNFP when I first started and after one session I called Veral. Haven't looked back. I had great looking 325gr Keiths on the second cast, and my second time to ever cast in my life.

 

[Bucks Owin]

The only Lee I use at the present time is the 400gr .480. That will be replaced with a Mihec when Zeus's group buy is completed. Guess I am jaded. I bought a 255 RNFP when I first started and after one session I called Veral. Haven't looked back. I had great looking 325gr Keiths on the second cast, and my second time to ever cast in my life.

Yep, once you use a Mihec brass mold, you're spoiled for any other mold. Heck, I've dumped perfect bullets back in the pot just so I can cast some more! :lol:

 

[patcannon]

Wow, as a fellow GP100 guy, who shoots a lot of 158gr lead, this is good to know! Just started reloading a couple years ago and I've been tempted to get into casting to save even more $. Your bullets look great.

 

[GP100man]

Just don`t go to Wal-Mart cleaning peoples wheels of hazarduos lead weights , ------ they don`t like it !!!!!