Jim Lambert, Dennis Madriaga and myself each received a
prototype of this mould for testing prior to it going into
full productlion. All three of us agree it is a winner and
for the money a really super buy.
Jim used an alloy consisting of basically
wheel weights plus about 2% tin. Paul Hail who cast the bullets for Dennis used straight wheel weights I believe. They got bullets dropping
out real close to the stated 400 grains. I used a super hard
type metal alloy I have and got bullets dropping out at 362.5
grains on average and the consistency was really great. This
is an LBT style mould for those of you familar with the LBT
moulds that Veral Smith used to make and a few other
companies still do make. It is a plain base flat point
design.
I have tried these bullets lubed with Paco Kelly Blue Lube,
Midway Drop Out and RCBS Green Lube. Can't really say I found
any noticeable difference regardless of the lube used other
than those with the Midway Drop Out seem to squeak a bit
going in the case but still shot fine and didn't lead and the
velocity and accuracy was on par with the more conventionally
lubed bulets. I've shot them unsized as the dropped from the
mould and also sized to .476" using an RCBS LAM sizer die in
my RCBS Lubri Sizer. I have found no detectable difference in
accuracy either way as both are shooting better than I do.
The test gun for all this testing is the Taurus Raging Bull
in .480 Ruger provided by Taurus for Product Testing. It is a
winner also. Try it and you'll like it.
Lubed with Paco Kelly Blue and unsized I got a velocity of
1110 fps and a SD of only 18 using Starline Cases and 21.5
grains of W296 fired off with CCI LPM primers. Using factory
iron sights and my tired old eyes groups ran from about 1.5"
to 2.5" at 25 yards. Experience has shown that's about my
limit with iron sights these days.
Lubed with Midway Drop Out and unsized I got a velocity of
1114 and an SD of 14 using the same load as above. Groups
were also in the 1.5" to 2.5" range at 25 yards. Yes some
were better but when I do better than 1.5" I am having a good
day with these old eyes which need trifocal glasses.
Lubed with RCBS Green Lube and sized to .476" over 22.7 W296
in Starline cases and using the same CCI primers the velocity
was 1171 and SD was 26. Groups were the same 1.5" to 2.5"
again due more to my eye sight than the load or gun. Only
with a scope do I shoot better and this particular gun I am
determine to be used as an iron sight gun.
Both Dennis and Jim see better than I do and also Paul Hail
has shot some in his SRH and they are doing better than my
averages since they see better than I do. This bullet will
shoot as well as you are able to shoot. Of that you may rest
assured.
Next time I cast a batch of these I'll use the wheel weights
plus 2% tin mix also and expect them to fall out about 400
grains and based on experience with other 400 grain bullets
in the RB I expect to push them about 1200 fps. This is an
excellent bullet for use in guns of this bore diameter and
should be adequate for most any game you wish you hunt.
Lee has another winner on their hands and at the price they
charge I don't see how you can afford to be without one if
you have a gun chambered for the .480 Ruger or .475
Linebaugh. Production moulds will be available in November of
2001 and they will be listed in the 2002 catalog according to
John Lee. Use the Mould Number and Catalog Numbers listed
above to order yours. John told me the production moulds will
be cut the same as the preproduction moulds we tested so
you'll be getting the same excellent mould we have.
This one gets the Graybeard Seal of Approval and a big thumbs
up
This one is priced too low to NOT have one in your
mould collection if you have a gun of the right caliber to
use it.
Visit the Lee Precision website by clicking on the name.
Additional contact info for Lee is:
Lee Precision
4275 HIGHWAY U
HARTFORD WISCONSIN 53027
262-673-3075 Voice
262-673-9273 FAX
info@leeprecision.com