Modified Lee 214 gr SWC Mold

D

Duster340

New member
Hey Folks,

Thought I'd share the results of my first attempt at modifying a mold. I acquired a Lee 214 gr SWC mold as part of a lot of five 44 cal molds. Well, I already have a nice Lee 214 SWC mold, and since they are still in production, I thought, what the heck. Wanted to add some weight to the duplicate mold to come up with a nice WFN/WC. Used a 3/8" end cutting bit and a drill press at work. I opened one side up to a 232 gr "button nose" and the other to a very cool 240 gr WFN/WC (.385 wide flat nose). I still have to polish the cavities to smooth out some tooling marks, but must say I am pleased with the results so far. Looking forward to loading some up to test in my Bulldog and 629. The 240 grainer might make nice deer medicine. Pardon the crummy photos. :o

Be well all



 
Nice job, I especially like bullets with large meplats, like your bullet on the right.

The good thing about Lee bullet molds is they are cheap enough in cost that one can afford to experiment with them.

I've modified a couple of Lee 300 gr 45 gas check molds by milling them to remove the gas check shank.

The end result was one mold throws 267 gr WFN bullets with a flat base, the other throws 280 gr WFN bullets with a slightly heeled base, they both shoot great in my 45 Colt loads.

I have a 44 310 gr gas check mold on the way that I plan on doing the same thing to, changing the mold into a flat base mold.
 
Thanks Hunter. I really liked the thread you posted of the mod you did to the Lee mold. It's on my "to do" list when I find a 310 gc 44 mold. And true about the Lee molds, while I was a bit worried when I made the 1st cut, it was nice knowing I wasn't gonna be out much cash if I pooched it. Lol

Take care and enjoy what's left of the weekend.
 
Thanks Duster.

Well I received my replacement Lee 310gr 44 mold and it was as bad as the first one I returned so it had to go back too, now I have no 44 mold.

I'm thinking about buying the Lee 214 SWC mold and doing your modification, as it will not matter how rough the nose in the cavity is as I'll be re-cutting it.

I sure do like your bullet on the right, I hope you don't mind me borrowing your ideal.

Thanks again for posting the pictures.
 
Sorry to hear about your replacement 310gr mold. Hopefully three times is charm! Have not gotten to the range yet, but I'm already thinking I may want to open that 232 gr button nose of mine up a bit more to maybe a 250ish gr wc. Look forward to seeing more of your mods as well.

Take care
 
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Hey Duster I got in a Lee 214gr 44 mold and did your modification to it.
The mold looks good, I'm not sure what the bullet weight will be but I plan on casting some bullets out of the mold in the next few days.
Thanks for the ideal.
Still trying to come up with a good 310gr 44 mold to modify.
 
Using the top of the mold as my zero I took the depth of my cutter to .685.
This gave me a bullet that looks like the one on the right in the picture Duster posted, the weight of my bullets is 244 grs.

I have not had a chance to work up any loads with this bullet but I'll get around to it one of these days.
I'll most likely start out with some 2400 or IMR4227 for powder choices.
 
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