Who makes the best bullet molds?

[orpington]

I am planning on casting bullets. Who makes the best molds--Lyman, RCBS, other? In my experience, Lee products tend to be inferior.

Also, with regards to a melting pot\furnace, what are your recommendations?

 

[dragon813gt]

Mihec(MP), Accurate and NOE in no particular order. I sold all of my Lee molds and switched to the custom makers. It's been money well spent and I would do it again in an instant.

Lee's molds are the one product I will say are inferior. The rest are usually bashed for no good reason, progressive presses aside. You can buy a bunch of Lee pots for the cost of one RCBS or Lyman. Keep dirty lead out of them and they don't leak.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Ill forgo the brand recommendations on a pot but i will suggest a bottom pour over dipping. Started out dipping and the bottom pour makes for a much smoother operation for me.

Also a 20 lb pot or bigger if your going to cast a lot.

 

[oldandslow]

Tom at www.accuratemolds.com.

best wishes- oldandslow

 

[Curator]

Veral Smith at Lead Bullets Technology makes the absolute best bullet molds by far. Not only can he cut the mould to match the throat of your rifle, but if you tell him the alloy you will be casting he can get you bullets to drop at exactly the correct size you want. His patented sprue plate makes for minimal weight variation, super flat bullet bases and no torn sprues. His Long flat nose and long wide nose designs are the standard for hunting cast bullets in revolvers. Google LBT bullet molds

 

[X-Ring]

If you don’t have deep pockets RCBS makes a good mold. You are correct Lee molds are cheap, but I have made plenty of good bullets with them.

 

[Duvel]

I have 14 (I think) LEE molds, and cast for 9, 10, .357, & 45 Colt. Thousands of bullets dropped, and they generally hit what I'm aiming at, so no complaints.

I will eventually buy a NOE or two, but only because I'm looking for a few .401s that LEE doesn't offer.

.02

 

[rcmodel]

My personal experience over 50 years of bullet casting is that Lyman, or RCBS cast iron molds are far superior to the Lee aluminum molds.

Plus, the time tested bullet shapes they offer are far better for feeding then some of the shapes Lee offers.

I have a 230 Lee TC .45 ACP mold that I have never got to feed right in two 1911's that will otherwise feed empty resized cases!

Plus, it seems aluminum molds heat up faster, but won't stay at operating temperature and cast good bullets if you lay one down long enough to wipe the sweat out of your eyes.

But maybe that's just me??

rc

 

[Duvel]

356-120 has feed (from 1.110 to 1.160) flawlessly in a TP9, XDM, and others.

401-145 & -175 at 1.145 & 1.150 (respectively) is perfect in my G20, both with stock & LW barrel.

45 Colt, well...

Generally I cast a BHN 11ish (except for Colt), using a single mold I've developed a rhythm that's fast and drops a good looking bullet.

Now I do size-coat-size, so inconsistencies that might cause issues could be masked by my procedure.

Edit: By no means am I suggesting that LEE molds are the best, just that they've worked for me. I do look forward to picking up a 'better' brand.

 

[stubbicatt]

I don't presently have any custom made moulds. But I have found that the old Ideal and older Lyman moulds work very well, the newer ones I have been quite disappointed in. I like my RCBS and Saeco moulds also, they cast very consistent bullets. And consistency is the heart of accuracy.

I had a Hoch mould in .459" which cast beautiful bullets. It got sold off to another however.

 

[highlander 5]

I've RCBS,Noe,Mihec,Nei,Saeco and LBT molds and have to admit the NOE molds are the best machined molds I've seen in ages and the owner Swede Nelson is quick to respond if you have a problem. I've tried a couple of Lee molds and just couldn't get a decent looking bullet from them,ended up giving them away.

 

[USSR]

I've got over a dozen moulds, consisting of: Lyman, RCBS, Lee, MP Molds, and NOE. In MHO, Mihec at MP Molds makes the very best moulds. If you've never cast with a brass mould, you don't know what you're missing.

Don

 

[david bachelder]

I have owned and used several LEE bullet molds. Once you develop a cadence that works with aluminum molds, you can cast a boat load of very nice bullets.

 

[kerreckt]

I agree entirely with post #13. I have Lee, RCBS,Ideal,Lyman and others but when you hit that groove with a Lee 356-125-6 (or other) aluminum mold and drop many perfect bullets every time. They will pile up fast. All with $20.00 mold. I like all the molds I have. Best for me is what I am using at the time.

 

[fireman 9731]

I use Lee and haven't had any problems yet.

 

[armoredman]

I have both 2 cavity and a 6 cavity Lee mold - the bigger mold seems to be made slightly better, but I have no complaints. The .401 175 grain mold drops some of the nicest bullets I've ever seen.
I have an NOE .314 129 grain mold for 7.62x39mm, great mold. I had a Lyman single cavity, sold it, too slow.