Lee vs Lyman moulds

[cytorg]

I need to get some moulds in .395 and .530 roundball and I'm wondering what the consensus is for Lee vs Lyman. Tha Lee is a aluminum mold and is cheap. Lymans are steel but quite a bit more expensive and rapine's are the most expensive.
I'll be casting about 40-50 at a time.
Would it be worth the extra $'s for the Lyman/Rapines?
Thanks!

 

[Kentuckywindage]

I think the Lyman would be the way to go.

I have a couple lee's and after 300 round balls on my .54, its starting to chip and leave an ugly sprue.

Its really up to you. I know i'll buy Lyman as soon as i can afford a couple.

 

[GreyWhiskers]

At one point in time I had given up on Lee molds and went to steel molds like RCBS and Lyman. I was casting a lot of bullets and didn't have much patience. Now that I'm older and wiser :wink: I found that if you follow the instructions and take a few other precautions, Lee molds will work fine. If you don't, you can ruin them in short order. GW

 

[Swampman]

I prefer the Lee. I get better results.

 

[Darkgael]

I, also, prefer the Lee moulds. I think of them as "inexpensive" as opposed to "cheap". As already noted, if you follow the instructions, they work as well as any other mould and are just as durable. I have a broad selection of Lees and have cast thousands of bullets from some of them. They continue to drop very nice projectiles.
I do own Lyman, RCBS, and some fine brass moulds; those are for bullet styles that Lee does not make. In general, I use the Lee. All of my RB moulds are Lee.
Pete

 

[jdstrang]

... I'm wondering what the consensus is for Lee vs Lyman...

And I'm wondering where they put the Holy Grail after they did the dishes. :haha:

There is no consensus, only prejudices. :hmm:

Mine is, if you are a light-production caster, follow instructions and take real good care of your equipment, then the chea -- er, inexpensive Lee mounds should serve you adequately. :grin:

But if you produce hundreds of bullets at a session and have lots of sessions, ride your moulds hard and put 'em away hot, then you need something more substantial and forgiving -- like Lyman, Rapine or NEI. :bow:

I've heard that we get what we pay for. After lots of years of paying and getting, I tend to believe that. :surrender:

 

[jtmattison]

I have several Lee and Lyman moulds. They both have their merits. I use Lee primary for roundballs and Lyman for conicals. Lee moulds heat up fast so you can get right to work. Most of the time the first ball comes out as perfect as the last ball. The heavier Lyman blocks take some time to heat up and can throw the first few bullets less than perfect.

:2

HD

 

[bwhoffman]

I allways get good results with the Lee molds, been using them for roundball and regular pistol bullets for 25years. I never really owned a steelmold until just this year...a lyman .600 for the trade gun. its a used mold and has had some interior surface rust from being put away hot andempty. This carries over to the finished product! But this isasmoothbore and doesnt really matter for me. The steel is heavier and wears on you, but I do like the release (drop out) of thesteel mold overthe lee.

For the difference in monies, for the amount of your casting sessions, I would lean towards the lee molds either from totw or f&m reloading for cost.

 

[Coot]

Search past topics on the forum for lots of posts on this subject.
Both are capable of producing fine results. I (as do many) have some of each. Lyman is sturdier for long term use & high production. Lee is less expensive & easier to heat up but also easier to damage. If it is something that I use lot (say .490 roundball - 3 guns) I look for a Lyman. Something that I use less (say .36 conical) I get a Lee.

 

[Tumblernotch]

Amen to that! I have both, but I prefer the Lyman.
:thumbsup:

 

[cytorg]

Thanks for the responces! I knew I'd get good advice here! :thumbsup:

 

[rabbit03]

I shoot mostly competitin and use Lee for casting my balls.

You comin to the shootin in La coste at the end of the month? And to Brady in either May or June???

rabbit03

 

[Idaho Ron]

I don't cast for round balls, so take this advise for what it is worth. I cast conical bullets. I use Lyman, RCBS, and Lee. The lee's out shoot the others HANDS down. I have shot MANY sub 1" groups with open sights with Lee bullets. I like mine. Ron