Lee Mold way oversize should I send it back?

[lakota]

I just got a new Lee 2 cavity mold for my .380 Ruger LCP. It is a 102 grain round nose .356" mold. I cast a bunch up and ran them through my Lyman 4500 sizer that has a .358" sizer die installed. I figured I would lube them as I have never had a Lee die that required any sizing. Well I notice they are going through the die with a good deal of resistance and come out shiny. I decided to test load one and the bullet got stuck up inside my seating die. I got the dial calipers out and this .356 mold is dropping bullets that measure .360".  I recall reading somewhere that cast bullets shouldnt be sized down past a certain amount but I cant recall what that number was. Should I get a .356" sizer die for the Lyman or should I send this mold back?

[D Crockett]

 yes you should send it back to lee D Crockett

[Range Rider]

The demensions of the finish casting are based on the use of "dead Lead", pure lead 99%.  If you are using scrap or unknow alloy your finshed casting can vary. Just a thought.

RR

[BCB]

I have sized boolits down from 0.284 to 0.278--that is .006" and I never had a problem...

I have sized the Makarov boolit that is cast as 0.365" down to 0.358" and didn't have a problem..

Size it down and see what happens...

Is it worth the money to send a Lee mold back?...

Good-luck...BCB

[lakota]

I have sized boolits down from 0.284 to 0.278--that is .006" and I never had a problem...

Is it worth the money to send a Lee mold back?...

Good-luck...BCB

Midway will take it back and exchange it but I have to pay return shipping which will be probably over a third of the mold's value money that might be better spent on a .356 sizer die for my 4500 sizer. What to do?

I was using wheel weight alloy by the way. I have flared cases to the point of damage and they will not accept a bullet. All attempts at seating bullets(in unprimed cases) have resulted in crushed cases and bullets stuck in the bore of my seating die. I have to take the die apart and whack the bullet out.

Such aggravation  just to be able to afford to plink with my LCP

[lee1954]

I have the same mold    ---- Lee 356 102 1R

I too think that a .356 with wheelweights  would be just what I wanted in a 9mm mold...
   I don't think that a return will help since mine is the same.about,,, .358
 I plan to get a .356 sizer to fix it
 
It shoots, good as cast,, as a  light load in the wife .38 Chapter Amrs Undercover... and the round nose helps, with a speed-loader...

I'm not saying that it is right --but for years people screamed  --- LEE make undersized molds.....  now they are to big...   dan

[mdi]

Just a thought; are the bullets round? Perhaps a speck of lead or dirt is holding the mold open a few thousandths. I'd clean the mold and see if it is closing properly...

[qajaq59]

Did you check it with a micrometer or a set of calipers? The calipers aren't always as accurate.

[lakota]

All I have is a set of Lyman calipers. I need to pick up a micrometer.