Lead Slug Mould and Lee Loader

[Midnitehound]

An unusual at cost group buy I know but useful for those who use or are thinking of using shotguns.

These are freely available bits of kit, completely appropriate to own, non-licensable, can happily sit in a draw with no legal issues whatsoever even without a SGC.

If you want to cast lead into 12g slug shapes then that is fine but be aware that the law prohibits you from putting these into live cartridge cases without having 12g slug on your own firearms (not SGC!) certificate, big no no. It is perfectly legal to reload your own cartridges with shot. Keep in mind that lead can be highly toxic so you need to educate yourself for casting.

The Lee Loader is an great bit of kit that is no longer in production. It is easy to use and compact, fits in a pocket even. I have an engineer hobbyist friend who has made an improved copy. He will knock theses out at £38 delivered via BACS if we order a number of them. These bits of kit are great and will always have good resale value apart from being useful even if for just making novelties. A few of us on here have them, very difficult to acquire used ones otherwise.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN .410 AND 12G.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBRX6i8Rp6o

As for the moulds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIlmZ_xs45o

http://www.midwayuk.com/epages/Midway_UK.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Midway_UK/Products/792313

There are 7/8 Oz and 1 Oz versions. For a few of them they would come in at £26 delivered rather than £40. It is great fun to just learn to do casting with these and I have even sold these castings as novelty items. These can not be used in live cartridges without the correct permissions.

Ball (double) versions can be used to make your own hard hitting catapult ammo, great fun (Also £26 for any size .311"-.690") Joerg Sprave (youtube slingshot guru) recommends .600 calibre (16mm) as perfect size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Ab7G1NXAU

Let me know if these are of interest, certainly a useful skill as well as entertaining and money saving.

 

[British Red]

I'd take one of each for sure

 

[Midnitehound]

1. British Red - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould

 

[santaman2000]

I've had a couple of the Lee Loaders for 30-06. Never seen the ones for shotgun before. COOL!

 

[TeeDee]

I'll mark my interest and say 'Yes please!' to both.

 

[Midnitehound]

1. British Red - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould
2. TeeDee - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould
3.
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[Damascus]

Interested in ball mould

 

[Midnitehound]

1. British Red - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould
2. TeeDee - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould
3. Damacus - 1x Ball Mould
4.
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[British Red]

1. British Red - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould (1oz)
2. TeeDee - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould
3. Damacus - 1x Ball Mould
4.
5.
6.
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10.

I have just clarified that its the 1 ounce slug that I'm interested in - don't have a lot of luck with lighter slugs.

 

[Midnitehound]

1. British Red - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould (1oz)
2. TeeDee - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould
3. Damacus - 1x Ball Mould
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

I have just clarified that its the 1 ounce slug that I'm interested in - don't have a lot of luck with lighter slugs.

No problem. You may find that the Lee 7/8 Oz may be better in this case though which is what has been found by slug target shooter friends of mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG_WzJrydcA

 

[British Red]

I am a slug shooter - my gun likes 1 oz in a 3" hull

 

[Midnitehound]

1. British Red - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould (1oz) 1oz it is then.
2. TeeDee - 1x Lee Loader and 1x Slug Mould (7/8oz)
3.
4.
5.
6.
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[British Red]

How is this lot coming on MH?

 

[santaman2000]

I was beginning to wonder about the legalities. Not the firearms legalities, but the patent legality. Whether Lee is still making them are not, I suspect they still hold an active patent. They do still make and offer these kits for rifle and pistol calibers.

 

[Midnitehound]

I was beginning to wonder about the legalities. Not the firearms legalities, but the patent legality. Whether Lee is still making them are not, I suspect they still hold an active patent. They do still make and offer these kits for rifle and pistol calibers.

Lee won't give two hoots about 3 or 4 DIY units which are effectively a laithed rod and tube particularly as they haven't been manufactured for an age, they would be laughed out of court too. They are a specialised DIY job and not being passed off as ancient branded originals. Same principle as making car part copies for old cars or even new cars! This whole patent thing can often approach the absurd. Thanks for the interest though.

 

[Midnitehound]

How is this lot coming on MH?

Sorry Red but this has been the slowest GB of all. Everything was lined up before I went to the Moot but unfortunately the middlemen are soooo slow. I just sent an email to be told that the order was only going in this week due to waiting for other stuff, arrrgh! The Dyneema has also dragged too. Both are on track now though. Thanks for your patience.

 

[HillBill]

How much are the double ball moulds?

 

[santaman2000]

Lee won't give two hoots about 3 or 4 DIY units which are effectively a laithed rod and tube particularly as they haven't been manufactured for an age, they would be laughed out of court too. They are a specialised DIY job and not being passed off as ancient branded originals. Same principle as making car part copies for old cars or even new cars! This whole patent thing can often approach the absurd. Thanks for the interest though.

Well, you're probably right about Lee not caring much about a few odd knock offs. However I'm not so sure about the forum mods though. Forum rules also prohibit illegal activity.


The comparison to car parts is a lot, lot more complex though as the car manufacturers rarely hold the patents on the individual body/chassis parts (yeah, I still have associates in the body repair industry where generic parts are exact copies of factory parts) Mechanical parts are a bit different though; generic replacements always differ enough from the OE parts so as not to violate patents while being alike enough to be compatible.

 

[slowworm]

When I looked at getting a set for .410 the seemed to be a few companies in the US that made them so I doubt there's a problem with making them.

 

[santaman2000]

When I looked at getting a set for .410 the seemed to be a few companies in the US that made them so I doubt there's a problem with making them.

All conjecture, but if that's true, then there are three possibilities:
1) Yes, the patent has expired and there's no difficulty (seems the most likely if there's more than one company making them) or
2) They're making them under an agreement with Lee, or
3) They've bought the patent (would also be likely if there were only one company making them rather than "a few.")