Lyman 45 acp 225grn

[evil5826]

Bought a new Lyman 45 acp 225grn mold. Got my bullets all made and pan lubed but I can't seem to find any loading data for a 225grn 45. Any one else have this mold? And if so what powder you using and how many grains.

In the past i have used Unique for my previous 45's via lee mold however its was not 225 grain.

Mold in question:
Lyman 4-Cavity Bullet Mold #452374 45 Caliber (452 Diameter) 225 Grain Round Nose.

Mod please relocate this post if its in the wrong location.

[cabezaverde]

Use 230 grain data, or buy a Lyman manual.

6 grains of Unique is a good load.

[littlejack]

evil 666:
Welcome to the CastBoolits.
That is correct, use 230 grain data.
There are lots of powders that are right at home with this boolit. I use W231/HP38. 5.1 grins for target practice, and 5.8 for woods carry.
Many folks use the old standard 5.0 grains of Bullseye for the 230 grain rn.
Jack

[Lizard333]

Lyman Manual:
452374

Win 231 4.0gn @ 661fps up to 5.8gn @ 902fps. The 5.8gn is listed as the most accurate tested.
Unique 5.5gn @ 695fps up to 7.3 gn @ 905fps.

I just happened to have my manual open to that very page.......

[Edward429451]

That's my most used boolit. I like 6.5 gr Unique or 5.5 gr WW-231. A max load of 5.8 gr WW-231 does shoot better.

[Lizard333]

I personally am using this as a light load at 4.6gns of 231 and I find it to be more accurate than I am.

BTW, the overall length lists at 1.272 inches.

[9.3X62AL]

Agreed on the use of 230 grain load data for Lyman #452374.

Welcome to the board! If you are seeking cast boolit-specific load data, the Lyman Manuals alluded to above are a fine source, as is the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual #1. This latter book is a bit dated (1986), but covers a lot of "holes" poorly filled by other Manuals.

#452374 has the rep for feeding even in balky old unaltered GI 1911A1s, and that rep is well-earned. It is the most trouble-free boolit for the 45 ACP bottom-feeders ever birthed.

[evil5826]

Thanks gents for pointing me in the right grain range and the other helpful tips like OAL. Its not my first rodio however I usually look up my data in the sierra booklet. This bullet was no where to be found which stumped me. Love the forum lots of good info.

[Echo]

E666, have you miked your boolits? Lyman is notorious for selling undesized molds, and a .450 boolit down a .452 grooved bbl is a sure recipe for leading. But the -374 boolit is a great design.

[Guesser]

I have two of the lyman molds, a SC and a DC; both drop at 230/231 when I use 50/50 WW/PB. I load over 5.0 gr. Bullseye for use in a Ruger BH convertible. Good boolit, good load, good gun!!

[btroj]

Buy a Lyman manual. I think everyone should own one. Or more.

[garym1a2]

For just making holes in paper 4 grains of bullseye works well.

[johnvid]

I also use 4 grains of Bulleseye. You'll need to get your alloy mix close to Lyman #2 so that your boolits get close to .452.

[Lonestar22]

I load 5.0grs of Red Dot with an 1.273" OAL.

[evil5826]

Left: Lee Mold with Alox
Middle: New Lyman
Right: New Lyman with proper pan lubing.

Still need to mike it and load it, however I wanted to poor a few to see how well they came out and then get the proper grains for powder. Not enough time in the day today for me to start loading.

Yall wouldn't know the best way to clean the tips of the bullets if some pan lube/wax got on them.... Besides elbow grease. Sides are clean cause i put them through a sizer.

[35remington]

Mineral spirits will get the wax off.

Do not use the 7.3 grain load of Unique listed in the Lyman manual. It is dated, and much less Unique will get higher velocity than they list.

If you wish to duplicate factory 230, try 6.0 grains.

The Lyman 452374 has changed in shape, apparently fairly recently. It is pointier than it used to be, and a lot of sources note that theirs cast closer to 220 grains.

I like around 4.8 Red Dot myself, for about 850 fps depending upon overall loaded length.

[evil5826]

I just weighed a few, without lube they are hitting at 230 grains. Miking them they hit 0.451ish.
So it looks like ill stick with the 230 grain loads and loads specified here.

I really would like to prevent leading. This is why i got a different mold so I could get a nice lube groove.

[Lizard333]

Mineral spirits will get the wax off.

Do not use the 7.3 grain load of Unique listed in the Lyman manual. It is dated, and much less Unique will get higher velocity than they list.

If you wish to duplicate factory 230, try 6.0 grains.

The Lyman 452374 has changed in shape, apparently fairly recently. It is pointier than it used to be, and a lot of sources note that theirs cast closer to 220 grains.

I like around 4.8 Red Dot myself, for about 850 fps depending upon overall loaded length.

I got that data out of the 4th edition of the Lyman cast boolit manual. I agree it's a little much but dated????

[35remington]

Yes, it is quite dated. That same load at the same velocity has been published in the 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th editions, as well as the Lyman third and fourth cast bullet manuals and their Pistol and Revolver Handbook. Eight manuals, dating back to the early 70's.

As I said, it's dated. Very, very dated. The bullet's shape has also changed to some degree in that time.

And much less Unique gets 905 fps in my guns. Much, much less.

[evil5826]

I was trying to be careful with the kneck and make sure these bullets go in there with out shaving off lead. So far so good, however it got me thinking about crimping. Any one a big believer in it? I hear yes and no when i talk to people in person. I wouldn't know how much to crimp.

[aarolar]

I was trying to be careful with the kneck and make sure these bullets go in there with out shaving off lead. So far so good, however it got me thinking about crimping. Any one a big believer in it? I hear yes and no when i talk to people in person. I wouldn't know how much to crimp.

I don't crimp my 45's at all just remove the bell from the expander die.

[evil5826]

Thats what I did. Not sure if you can see in this picture.
Just figured there was a little space.

[Grandpas50AE]

I was trying to be careful with the kneck and make sure these bullets go in there with out shaving off lead. So far so good, however it got me thinking about crimping. Any one a big believer in it? I hear yes and no when i talk to people in person. I wouldn't know how much to crimp.

If you are shooting it in an auto just crimp the same as you would a jacketed bullet - use a taper crimp die to take the bell of the mouth, because the auto loaders headspace on the case mouth. If for a revolver, I would still crimp the same way. I did this many years for both my Ruger BH with ACP cylinder and for my Colt at the time. Now using same settings for my Kimbers with this boolit, and all works very well. BTW, I have used SR4756 for this for many years, and it shoots very cleanly. You can find the load data in the Lyman manuals listed above.

[Lizard333]

I use a taper crimp. Works well for me.

[Dale53]

Use a taper crimp die AFTER seating the bullet and crimp until the mouth of the case measures .470" outside diameter (right at the case mouth).

Dale53

[evil5826]

Use a taper crimp die AFTER seating the bullet and crimp until the mouth of the case measures .470" outside diameter (right at the case mouth).

Dale53

Perfect! Thanks just bought Lee Taper Crimp Die 45 ACP.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/244052/lee-taper-crimp-die-45-acp

[Echo]

Crimp just enough to un-bell the case mouth. A taper crimp die is desirable.

Re lube on the nose. I splash a scant 1/4 cup of mineral spirits on an old towel, spreading it around and up and down the center, then dump the loaded rounds in the middle, gab the ends, and see-saw the towel for maybe 30 seconds. Gets rid of all the excess lube, and leaves the rounds looking great.

And welcome to the board.