.401 1 groove vs 6 lee molds for powder coating method

[iroquois]

When using the ESPC method, is there any relevance to better accuracy based on the number of lube grooves?
I will be using these PC boolits for competition and practice.


Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 401-175-TC 40 S&W (401 Diameter) 175 Grain Truncated Cone with 1 lube groove
Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold TL401-175-SWC 40 S&W (401 Diameter) 175 Grain Tumble Lube Semi-Wadcutter with approx 6 lube grooves

[Maximumbob54]

I doubt this is going to be a sure bet across the board with all guns but I've had the best luck so far with the TL designs. I have that one shown and the 158gr for .357 magnum and both of those have been accuracy loads so far.

[Russel Nash]

I was wondering when you were going to make it over here from the BE forums.

I would think it all depends on where you size them at, either .400, .401, or .402 .

Some guys are casting and then waiting a few days or weeks, then sizing, powder coating them, and then sizing again.

I have known some guys who take a Lee tumble lube boolit, tumble lube with Lee Liquid Alox (LLA), and shoot it like that, without even sizing it.

[garym1a2]

I like the 175-TC single design the best. Decent accuracy and it's my fastest casting mold. They just drop out 6 at a time perfect. With their weight and a mild load they are super-soft when running them at minor PF's for production.

I normaly Lubesize them and shoot. But I am trying a batch of them with powder coat as I like to cut down my smoke generation at the bigger matches.

[iroquois]

Thanks guys for all the feedback.

Someone on the Brian Enos forum suggested slugging my barrel would help which I plan to do this week once I get my hands on a sinker.
Have any of you tried a custom sizer with PC?

[garym1a2]

Conventional lube I size to .401 and they work fine in my G35 KKM and G22 Storm Lake. Plus they work fine in my brothers lone Wolf.
But, my loads are gross in the Glock 22 barrel. Leaded in less than 50 rounds.

[bstone5]

The tumble lube 40 cal bullet from Lee is easily powder coated and has shot well in a variety of guns.

I cast, powder coat and size to .401.

I do not use the Lee hand mold since I got a mold for the Master Caster Machine.

Before I got the master caster I shot several thousand of the hand cast tumble lube bullets cast by hand.

I started just sizing and tumble lubing, work well but still got a little lead, when I started powder coating the lead went away.

[popper]

Have both of those in 40. Only difference I could tell was POI. Both PCd, same alloy, same load. TL hit higher (~1" IIRC) consistently. Didn't have a chrony then but assumed the TL was slower. I use a single groove boolit now.

[Intel6]

Just to reiterate what I posted on the Enos Forum, the TL style bullet gave me problems in some of my .40's.

[philzilla]

I use both and they both work for me

[takasaki]

For the .40 i use the 401-175-tc which is the single lube groove and found i like that best, however i really like and continue to use the tl452-230-rn and the tl358-158-swc for microgrooves and love them.

[fredj338]

If you are going to size them, I would go single groove. The more guys I talk to, the more I am glad I never went to a TL design.

[Echd]

I just finished loading a couple thousand of the 401 single groove. They sure shoot well for me!

Disregard the one in there without a primer... sometimes my case feeder likes to toss one in my "output" bucket!

Also, if you are just getting into loading 40, go ahead and get yourself a Lee "U" die for the 40... you will thank me later. No more bulge busting and no more pregnant brass.

Personally, though, I would LOOOOVE for somebody to make an exact copy of the bullet from Blue Bullets, the no groove one... that in a 6 cav, maybe with a very slight bevel, would be great.

[Walter Laich]

There are custom mold makers who can do that for you. All it takes is $$

[Echd]

Yep, accurate has a reasonably close approximation I have considered.

[igolfat8]

I cast with a Lee .401 - 175 TC single lube groove. It shoots well and quite accurately in my G35 / KKM. I have also shot this same bullet in a G22 with stock barrel with zero leading. FWIW I use Smoke's powder paint too.

Here is my process:
1) Cast bullets
2) Powder coat
3) Size to .4025"
4) Load
5) Shoot with a big grin

[Newtire]

I have used p/c boolits in tumble lube as well as single lube grooved design in 9mm and got same good results with both. Size them thru NOE push thru sizer after p/c. Just my experience.

[gnappi]

I have both (two of each) of the Lee 6 cavity types, TC and SWC and accuracy for me is left ventricle / right ventricle at 30-40 feet.

The SWC's OTOH feed 100% better in 1911 non ramped guns. The TC's hang up on the junction of the frame and feed ramp where the SWC's do not. I'm not willing to "fix" a gun for a bullet style so I just use the SWC's in the 1911's like my Delta and R1 Longslide without integral feed ramps.

Now in my Tanfo, Beretta, SIG, S&W and Taurus .40's both style bullets are equal in every way.

[Tonto]

Disregard the one in there without a primer... sometimes my case feeder likes to toss one in my "output" bucket!

Lower left of center about 6 rounds from the bottom? I had to try and find it.