Troubles with Lee improved Minie mold

[melnic]

I have a Chiappa Enfield 1853 replica as well as 2 original Springfield 1863 muskets.
I also have .580, .578 and .576 sizing dies.
Chiappa bore sizes to .578 and one of the Springfield sizes to .580, the other is about .581

Lee bullets drop at about .577-.578 depending on my lead temp.
I tried sizing to .576 and .578 and both are shooting horrible in my Chiappa as well as Springfield.
I'm talking 12-18" groups at 50 yards. sometimes they look like perfect holes in the paper, sometimes they look as if they key hole.

I'm using 2F goex at 60grains.

Skirts on this mold look rather thick.

Anyone have tricks for this mold or should I jump ship and go with a different mold that might be more forgiving of the load?

[PoorJack]

Jump ship. I have yet to get that minie to shoot in any of my guns. Also look at your lube, lead has to be pure, and consider 3f at about 40gr.

[Lou Lou Lou]

Order a .580 Hodgdon mould from S&S

[2horses]

Lou Lou Lou
I have been looking at S&S's website for that .580 mold.
Dont see it at all.
Ive been waiting to order a mold, so glad I didnt order a Lee.
I have an original 63 SA.
Cant wait to fire off some rounds with it.
Thanks

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[Lou Lou Lou]

I saw it in the ship last week. I know it is there. Call them

[2horses]

I saw it in the ship last week. I know it is there. Call themThanks will do.

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[melnic]

I talked to them this morning They had 2 left.

I snagged one.

ssfirearms.com has one more .580 mold left. You will have to call.

[WBR10654]

I have never had any luck with any of the four or five Lee molds I have had.

The last I bought were for the 45-70 and I only bought them to see which bullet I liked (they are inexpensive) knowing I would probably trade them in for a REAL MOLD.

BUT

I think your should not be sizing these down for any of the rifles you have.

I have HEARD that you can be two thousandths smaller than the bore but no one I know recommends it.

I know people that shoot the Hodgdon like Lou recommends but also the old style Minnie.

DPB







I have a Chiappa Enfield 1853 replica as well as 2 original Springfield 1863 muskets.
I also have .580, .578 and .576 sizing dies.
Chiappa bore sizes to .578 and one of the Springfield sizes to .580, the other is about .581

Lee bullets drop at about .577-.578 depending on my lead temp.
I tried sizing to .576 and .578 and both are shooting horrible in my Chiappa as well as Springfield.
I'm talking 12-18" groups at 50 yards. sometimes they look like perfect holes in the paper, sometimes they look as if they key hole.

I'm using 2F goex at 60grains.

Skirts on this mold look rather thick.

Anyone have tricks for this mold or should I jump ship and go with a different mold that might be more forgiving of the load?

[PoorJack]

The ONLY Lee mold that worked for any of my guns is the Target Minie and it's no longer made. It's a knockoff of the Rapine Trashcan and since I didn't have one for my guns with 575 bore, I decided to take a chance. It worked great so I bought another one New Old Stock off Ebay a while back cause two is one and one is none.

Since then, I started some work with a Hogdon. Inital results weren't too promising but after tinkering with powder charge and lube, it's now the go to load for my Parker Hale and musketoon. To sorta relate to another thread, the Hogdon mold drops at 579+. I size it down to .575 with no ill effects to the bullet whatsoever. In my guns, it's a sub 2moa load.

[melnic]

I have the Hodgdon mold plus ordered the trashcan and old style molds from Moose Molds. It is a few week wait though.
I have a bedding issue on the Chiappa so I'll switch to use both of my 1863 Springfields.
By the time the moose molds come in, I'll have a few range sessions with the hodgdon mold.
I"m only looking for say 2" groups at 50 yards

[melnic]

Moose Molds came in and I really like them. Thin skirts on them.
Molts are aluminum and heat up fast. Don't know if its the moose juice they sent me but they release really easy too.
I took the old style Minie sized for .577" and MCM lube and started at 40gr and went down from there.
At 30gr the groups tightened up. Shot 12 rounds and most of them were in a 2" area. I still need more time with this.

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[jonk]

I had that mold. I sold it. Never shot worth a damn. That's not knocking the mold build quality; I have a Lee trashcan and a Lee 6 cavity .515 mold and they both do fine. I have a ton of Lee molds for smokeless bullets that are good. Just that mold... I have 3 guns, it never shot worth a damn in any of them with any powder charge. Personally I think it needs a different core pin to stabilize in most guns, as I always felt the skirt was a bit thick and the taper of the core pin too aggressive.