Round ball molds

[thompson50]

So I have some questions about round ball molds. I currently have a few Lee molds and one Rapine. I need another for a new 45. cal I recently purchased. On gunworks I can get a double cavity Lee for $30, while the Lyman is $85 plus $50 for the handles. Is the extra $100 worth the investment? I’m in my late 40’s and I’m a good shot, but all my guns shoot better than I can.
What are your thoughts on molds and what the quality is with today’s manufacturing.

 

[user 49399]

I have Lee and Lyman molds and both work equally well.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I like the Lee double cavity molds. The price is right. The sprue is cut off at the surface. The diameter accuracy is close enough. My .445 double cavity comes out .446. my .490 comes out .490. I haven't used a Lyman in years so I can't offer any thoughts on those.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have molds from five or six different makers. Well taken care of, they will all give you good service. The quality of your lead and the talent of the caster are more critical than the maker of the mold. There are, of course some truly low quality molds, but Lee and Lyman both make fully serviceable molds.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Eric Krewson]

In my opinion the newer Lee molds are much better than the old ones, more precisely cut and mate up better with no slop. I have Lee molds from the early 70s and ones from today, there is a big difference.

 

[Grenadier1758]

So I have some questions about round ball molds. I currently have a few Lee molds and one Rapine. I need another for a new 45. cal I recently purchased. On gunworks I can get a double cavity Lee for $30, while the Lyman is $85 plus $50 for the handles. Is the extra $100 worth the investment? I’m in my late 40’s and I’m a good shot, but all my guns shoot better than I can.
What are your thoughts on molds and what the quality is with today’s manufacturing.

To a large extent, it will depend on what you are expecting out of your shooting experience and how much you are shooting. For most of us, and that includes me, the Lee mold is the obvious choice.

 

[thompson50]

Thank you all for your input. I’ll get the Lee and save myself some money.

 

[user 34300]

Who has lee molds in stock?

 

[thompson50]

Who has lee molds in stock?

Who has lee molds in stock?

https://www.thegunworks.com//They seem to have quite a few

 

[tenngun]

Bought both in the 1970s never found anything better about Lyman.

 

[hanshi]

I have at least 6 or 8 different makes of molds. I have quite a few Lyman molds but they were purchased decades ago when they were easily affordable. The majority of my molds are Lee and I prefer their quality and low(er) price. My old .445" Lyman mold throws a ball closer to .443". My Lee .440" mold throws a .440" ball. I still use both depending on what I want to cast.

 

[NorthFork]

Lyman and RCBS are more durable than Lee and will last more than one lifetime. That said I own more Lee molds than Lyman or RCBS. Lee is about perfect when it comes to price vs function.

 

[brewer12345]

https://www.thegunworks.com//They seem to have quite a few

Good prices as well. Nice find, although I am all molded up at present.

 

[BadDaditood]

For round ball Lee’s are great, especially the new ones. I just paid $90 for a Lyman from a member here, however it’s a very specific discontinued Sharps bullet, which is a good price these days.
Still, you can get 3 Lee molds for that amount.

 

[Ian Straus]

I have found Lyman molds are more durable. My Lee Minie molds have suffered from the core eventually coming loose, as the rivet pulls through. But since you can buy 4 Lee for the price of 1 Lyman, the prospect of the Lee mold eventually wearing out is not too bad.

The Lee mold, being aluminum, heats up faster.

Lee offers to repair a mold for half price (plus postage) but after you pay the postage that is not a big savings over buying a new one at their low standard prices. So to me that repair offer is only valuable for the one Lee mold I have that was made to order (for .675 round ball). The important thing to me is that Lee did make two of those molds to order for an affordable price, oner for me and one for a friend. And mine shows no sign of wear, I was just casting with it on Monday.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Lyman and RCBS are more durable than Lee and will last more than one lifetime. That said I own more Lee molds than Lyman or RCBS. Lee is about perfect when it comes to price vs function.

Lot of good comments so far. I am puzzled by the "durability" comments however. A mould does not (or should not) take any punishment in normal use. I have both Lee and Lyman moulds. But cast equally well. There is a difference in handling while casting. Lee heats and cools more rapidly than Lyman and the user must learn to work in those limits. Lyman is heavier and that can be a factor you user might want to consider, especially if heavy runs are planned.

 

[NorthFork]

If you do high volume casting with a Lee, you WILL wear the mold out. But like another poster said, you can buy multiple Lees for one Lyman.

 

[mooman76]

If you do high volume casting with a Lee, you WILL wear the mold out. But like another poster said, you can buy multiple Lees for one Lyman.

If you take proper care of the Lee, it should las more than a life time. I have yet to wear one out and some of mine I bought well used. I have cast thousands and thousands of RBs and bullets. Proper care means lube, where it needs it and not beating on it. I do tap mine lightly when needed to help it release but don't hit on the mould itself.

 

[user 34300]

Whenever possible I buy the Lee gang molds. I am results oriented. Casting on a one or 2-cavity is fun for a while. I prefer to cast several hundred at a time. I am good for and hour or so and then I turn off the pot.

 

[hanshi]

I have molds from Lee, Lyman, RCBS, Saeco, DGW, T/C, Tanner and a couple more. The total # is in the dozens. All cast well and have provided countless projectiles for the pursuit of targets, game and plinking. The Lyman, RCBS and Saeco were bought way back so weren't particularly costly. The Saeco, in fact, were three (2 x 4 cav & 1 x dbl cav) and sold to me by the LGS owner brand new for pocket change. For rb it's 95% Lee that's used.