what size mold for .45acp

[mebe007]

Ok guys I'm in for the mihec 200gr hollow point group buy. Should I go with a .452 or .454 mold. Boolits need to be .452 for the pistol(1911)

[geargnasher]

What alloy are you planning to use?

Gear

[mebe007]

All I have at the moment are batches of clip on wheel weight ( may need tin not sure yet) and also have separate batches of clip on which I'm guessing will need to.be blended with lino to be used in .45acp

[plainsman456]

I size mine to 452 and have been rewarded with good performance.
Tried 451 and no joy with that.I use WW that are air cooled casting 200 grain SWC.

[HATCH]

I would go 454. That way you can size them down to 454.
If you go with 452, it might be possible that they might be slightly smaller then you desired diameter of .452.

[mebe007]

I just didn't know if I chose .454 my lube grooves would be too shallow once siped to .452. Is this true? Sorry if you haven't figured I'm new

[geargnasher]

I doubt it. The only real issue I've had with lube grooves was sizing MORE than three thousandths on a boolit that only had .008" grooves in the first place.

Gear

[mebe007]

So go .454? I just want to.make sure I get it right since its not a cheap mold

[Phillip]

The rule of thumb I was taught, was you go with .452 if you were going to use the boolit in an auto only. If you were going to also use it in a revolver, then .454 and size down for an auto.

Autos generally have tighter tolerances, so you can use the .452. With revolvers you can some times run into worn throats, cones and barrels (Like the 1917 ACP revolver). So the 454 would be a better choice.

[mebe007]

I just want to make sure I don't run into too small boolits

[btroj]

I would just get the .452. Chance of it casting undersized is pretty small. You can always adjust your alloy a bit to help control diameter for the last thousandth if required. My .452 Mihec mould casts right at .453, couldn't more perfect in my opinion.

[MikeS]

I was under the impression that the stated sizes were not what the mould dropped, but the intended size after sizing. the .452 would be fine for .45ACP and newer 45LC pistols, and the .454 was for older 45LC pistols, am I wrong?

[MtGun44]

MikeS is right. For a 1911, get the .452, it will cast a bit larger and size down to .452.

The .454 is for old revolvers with larger groove diam, pretty much pre-WW2. The current
crop of .45 Long Colt guns are using .452 groove diam barrels, too. BUT, with a revolver with
oversized throats, like the S&W and Colt 1917 models, the .454 is recommended. My 1917s
have .455 throats.

Bill

[bobthenailer]

If a bullet mould is made correctly it will cast a bullet a liltle larger than stated 0.452 with the alloy that that company uses as a base alloy most are about 16 bhn . and will still size to 0.452 useing WW
If you get a custom you can spec the dia with the alloy used . I speced all of mine at 0.452 with WW alloy . you can make them a little larger useing a harder alloy and a little smaller adding lead to WW

[captaint]

mebe - go with the .452. With Mihec they're gonna be slightly bigger anyway. 452..enjoy Mike

[MiHec]

My molds cast bigger - so if it is stated .452 mold will cast .452+ (most cases .453)

[Doby45]

Mine does exactly as Mihec states. Just as my 401 M-P mold casts with WW right at .403