lube groove width/depth

[AtlLaw]

I notice that the lube grooves on my 2 Lee moulds, 340 gr .457 FB and a 440 gr. .501 FNGC, are comparatively thin and shallow.  Much more so then my RCBS 44 and 45 moulds (Keith style GC and RNFB respectively).  It seems counter intuitive to me that a heavier bullet would need less lube surface... 

I also found out that the bullets from the Lee moulds aren't as easy to pan lube; they don't hold the lube as well as the RCBS moulds.  I attribute this to the smaller grooves.

I first thought that, possibly, the GC bullet didn't need as much lube as a FB bullet, But the Lee FB grooves are comparable to the GC grooves as are they in the RCBS moulds.

Can someone enlighten me on basic groove width/depth theory?     We don't need to go into groove bottom shape... round or square is fine with me!   

[Nobade]

Since Lee lathe bores their moulds the smaller lube grooves are easier/faster/cheaper to cut. And smokeless powder guns don't need much lube so they are sufficient for that new fangled stuff. If you try to use most Lee bullets with black powder you quickly find they are inadequate. (With the exception of custom designs Lee has made in the past. )

[.22-5-40]

Hello, AtlLaw.  Like Nobade said, the smokeless powder guns don't need as much lube.  But also, keep in mind that when Keith designed the #429421, there wasn't Alox, or other modern lubes around.  They needed more of the available stuff to do the job that requires less lube today.

[AtlLaw]

Well, that makes sense I guess...    They sure are a pain to pan lube though...    I ended up hand lubing most of the ones I kept before I ran them through the sizer to set the GC and scrape off the excess lube.

Always looking for a bargain (you'd think I'd learned by now you get what you pay for...) I see that Midway has the "RCBS 1-Cavity Bullet Mold 50-400-SWC 500 S&W (500 Diameter) 400 Grain Semi-Wadcutter" mold on sale for $47.47.  Now, THEMS some fine lookin lube groves!   

But NO gas check!     So, I'm worried about using them at full velocity rifle loads...    I guess I'll just play with this Lee mold for a while and see what happens.  Good for the learning curve I guess.   

[Tom W.]

Just because there is no gas check doesn't mean it's gonna lead your barrel. A lot depends on the type of lube and the alloy that you use, as well as the bullet fit to your bore.

[Nobade]

I haven't tried that bullet in a 500 S&W but it sure works well in 50 cal. fast twist muzzle loaders.