Lee 405 hollow base mould

[Steve fuller]

I bought this mold to try in my 45/70, the question that I have is if I should use an over powder wad or just let the base cavity fill with powder.  If I do use a wad would it be beneficial to fill the cavity with lube.   I would appreciate any advise I can get from someone who has tried this bullet.  Thanks,  Steve

[dodd3]

steve shoot it as is it is designed  so the hollow base fills out when the cartridge is fired to act as a gas seal no need for a wad.  
bernie  
 

[rk4570]

Steve...... Ive used the Lee HB in my Sharps as a Chicken & target bullet out to 200yards with good results. I use a Walters  Wad under ie soooooo I guess the ans. is try it both ways to see what works for you......

[JBMauser]

I have wondered about wads and the base of this bullet with respect to lube under the bullet.  I guess the best thing to do would be to just lube the grooves and stuff it down on the powder.  I am new to this but all I read talks about getting some lube down below to soften the fouling on the back end of things so to speak.  I have been filling the base with lube and seating the bullet over a wax paper wafer, can't say one way or the other if it is worth doing.... comments?  JB

[JBMauser]

My second question about the lee HB is this.  If the base is to expand then this should be a dead soft lead bullet and not from WW correct?  I have been casting them with WW and have just gotten dead soft lead. Do you all shoot this soft or hard?  any performance issues with lead or alloy?
JB

[Steve fuller]

JB I finally had time to try the bullet with only two loads both the same powder , 1 load with .03 was carton wad and 1 without wad, buloets were 50/50 mix lead and WW. I got leading with both loads but the load with the wad shot a group one half the size as the load without the wad. I'm going to keep trying different loads and alloys with this bullet.  I'll try to keep you posted

[GRININ BAREIT]

I bought this mold to try in my 45/70, the question that I have is if I should use an over powder wad or just let the base cavity fill with powder.  If I do use a wad would it be beneficial to fill the cavity with lube.   I would appreciate any advise I can get from someone who has tried this bullet.  Thanks,  Steve

Steve, This is a BP bullet design.  20:1, 30:1 or 40: 1 alloy with a good (SPG)? or home brew lube to keep fouling soft. Swab with wet patch & dry patch every shot while working up load.  2fg powder to base of bullet with out compression & no wad to start.  Then with lube in hollow base, then continue experiment with variations in powder, comp. volume, wad & etc.  My best load with 18 twist Uberti 1885 20:1 bullet @ 408 gr. SPG lube, 65 gr. GOEX 2fg light comp. to just engage rifling.  100 yd. 5 rnd. 1" horizontal 1 3/8" vertical c to c.