I have a bullet mold for casting my own lead bullets that require sizing. Primarily 38/357.


What is the best precision bullet mold to buy ?

Would like a variety of have on hand since I have an ample supply of lead from hard to soft.

Even interested for black powder rifle and pistol.

I only started casting about a year ago, so my experience is limited, and advice worth what you paid for it. I've used Lee and RCBS molds. I actually prefer the Lee molds in practice...they're aluminum and heat up faster and are easy to keep at temperature. The RCBS mold took forever to cast good bullets, and imo was just harder to work with. Being steel, it is definitely a higher quality tool, and all else being equal will likely outlast the Lee. But I could buy 2 or 3 of the Lee molds for the price of one RCBS. Both drop perfectly good bullets.

I have several Lee molds and a Lyman mold for 525 pellet for 12. I like the ease and lightweight of the Lee brand, and I haven’t worn one out or ruined it by use.

Another vote for Lee Molds.

I started with lees but gradually replaced with lyman steel ones.
Steel ones work well when using a solid hot plate.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
I started with lees but gradually replaced with lyman steel ones.
Steel ones work well when using a solid hot plate.

I have not cast for decades, and the mold I have is steel ... that I kept warm on a hot plate too.

What system do you all like for sizing ? Due to moving a couple times I can not find my sizer so will need to buy a new one.

Lyman or RCBS.

I'40 I've used lyman for 40+ years with no problem.

quote:

What system do you all like for sizing ? Due to moving a couple times I can not find my sizer so will need to buy a new one.

I don’t resize. I cast with range scraps that are almost pure lead and very soft. I powder coat and send them down range in 38,357,45acp at standard velocity and have no leading.

Yes it’s more work, more steps etc. doesn’t matter, it beats cleaning lead out several guns.

When I was casting for 45/70 I used harder cast bullets and SPG for lube. But I foolishly sold that rifle.

Accurate custom molds

I own the 36-127-Q and 36-140-O. One is a 127gr. Tumble lube flat point used for my .38 Specials. This bullet usually weights 128gr. with. 92-6-2 alloy after sizing .358 and lubing with liquid alox. Accurate with both Unique and W244 powder, this is my favorite cast bullet for the .38 Special.

The 36-140-O is a gas checked conventional lubed flat point. Actual weight is around 139gr. Lubed and sporting a gas check using 92-6-2 alloy. Sized at .358 it Seems to shoot well in my Marlin and .357 GP-100 with moderate load of W572 and no leading. Lyman orange magic has been an excellent lube to pair with this bullet.

Both of the above molds I designed by making minor changes to existing molds in the catalogue. The proprietor Tom accepted the changes and made me wonderful 3 cavity iron molds for each.

I will hopefully have a few more custom molds from Accurate in the next year.

I have some Lee 2 cavity, Lyman, & NOE molds. The molds are steel, aluminum, & Brass. My favorite molds are the NOE aluminum. The brass molds are very nice, but they’re heavy, and it makes a difference towards the end of a 20# pot. The Lyman steel molds work great, but only have 2 cavities, which takes a considerable amount more time to cast a pot over a 5 cavity mold. The Lee 2 cavity molds are half the size of the Noe 2 cavity molds I have, & have a harder time regulating temperature.

Thanks ! Looking at Accurate molds now.

NOE makes very good molds but availability is spotty. Accurate or Arsenal will make you a mold to your custom size and ship in 2-3 weeks. Quality and tolerances are very good. Lee is a joke