Mold Mod

Rangefinder · June 22, 2011, 05:48 PM

Well, I FINALLY got around to modifying my Lee 93gr. mold for my .32 Auto. It really ran nice, but was a serious pain in the back-side to load due to how deep the bullet had to be seated to chamber correctly. It typically caused a bulge that had to be ironed out prior to the crimp. This is usually a bad idea because it swagges down the base and typically causes gas jetting--never seemed to be an issue with such a low pressure load, but it was irritating taking extra steps. SO... I shaved the mold to the base lube groove, opened up the groove, and slightly shouldered the remaining groove. Instead of the previous 94gr as dropped at .540 length, I finished with 80gr at .457 length. Seating is now smooth as it should be, and the darn thing even tightened up the groups! Shoulda gotten around to this a long time ago!

GP100man · July 1, 2011, 01:40 AM

Super KOOOOLL!! especially that it works better !!!

I have a lee 6 banger 158 rnfp that shoots great but the little bevel on the base catches a little lube, wonder how it would affect it if the bevel was shaved off ????? or the bevels cut out ????

I really would like to keep it as heavy as possible ????

Rangefinder · July 1, 2011, 10:22 AM

I think rather than shave it off the top I would just bore it out. A 23/64 bit works out at .359 (I think I saw your caliper right). You might even gain a couple grains that way.

hornetguy · July 1, 2011, 11:15 AM

You can certainly bore out the bevel from the base of the boolit. I did this to a Lee .375 mold, and it worked out very well. Here are before and after pics of the boolits.

Rangefinder · July 1, 2011, 12:07 PM

For the real fun GP, check out the additional mod I did to it---HP'd one cavity.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455062

hornetguy · July 1, 2011, 03:37 PM

That's a really nice job on that HP'd cavity. I wish I still had my lathe and mill, I'd be playin with this stuff all the time..
Plus, they moved the machine shop at work to another building about a half mile away. No more "government" work..

June 22, 2011, 05:48 PM	#1
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 1,911	Mold Mod Well, I FINALLY got around to modifying my Lee 93gr. mold for my .32 Auto. It really ran nice, but was a serious pain in the back-side to load due to how deep the bullet had to be seated to chamber correctly. It typically caused a bulge that had to be ironed out prior to the crimp. This is usually a bad idea because it swagges down the base and typically causes gas jetting--never seemed to be an issue with such a low pressure load, but it was irritating taking extra steps. SO... I shaved the mold to the base lube groove, opened up the groove, and slightly shouldered the remaining groove. Instead of the previous 94gr as dropped at .540 length, I finished with 80gr at .457 length. Seating is now smooth as it should be, and the darn thing even tightened up the groups! Shoulda gotten around to this a long time ago! __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

July 1, 2011, 01:40 AM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,777	Super KOOOOLL!! especially that it works better !!! I have a lee 6 banger 158 rnfp that shoots great but the little bevel on the base catches a little lube, wonder how it would affect it if the bevel was shaved off ????? or the bevels cut out ???? I really would like to keep it as heavy as possible ???? __________________ GP100man

July 1, 2011, 10:22 AM	#3
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 1,911	I think rather than shave it off the top I would just bore it out. A 23/64 bit works out at .359 (I think I saw your caliper right). You might even gain a couple grains that way. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

July 1, 2011, 12:07 PM	#5
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 1,911	For the real fun GP, check out the additional mod I did to it---HP'd one cavity. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455062 __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

July 1, 2011, 11:15 AM	#4
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 706	You can certainly bore out the bevel from the base of the boolit. I did this to a Lee .375 mold, and it worked out very well. Here are before and after pics of the boolits.

July 1, 2011, 03:37 PM	#6
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 706	That's a really nice job on that HP'd cavity. I wish I still had my lathe and mill, I'd be playin with this stuff all the time.. Plus, they moved the machine shop at work to another building about a half mile away. No more "government" work..