Opinions on which mould for .45 hardball equivalent

[Mohavedog]

Hi esteemed casters,
I am looking for a mould that replicates a 230gr rn for practice that feeds as good as hardball in most 1911 platform .45's. I want a wide flat nose for possibly less penetration and harder hitting. I basically have narrowed my choice down to two Lee moulds. The first one is the 452-230-TC in 6 cav. I like almost everything about this one except for the fact that it has a bevel base. I don't usually like bevel base because of lubing issues and possibility of gas cutting. The plus factors are ease of seating and excellent feeding in almost any 1911. The second one is the 452-200-RF in 6 cav. This one falls short in that it is only 200 gr and may not feed as well due mostly to shorter loaded oal due to boolit design. Please let me know if my thoughts about the bevel base are justified or needless worries.
I'm looking for experienced opinions from folks who have used either of these boolits. Also, point out other moulds I may have overlooked from other makers. Why the Lee moulds? I hesitate to spend big bucks blindly without knowing how they will work in my weapons and I can gamble a bit on the less expensive Lee's. All weapons have factory ramps and throats and have not been worked over.
Thank you, Dog

[geargnasher]

Bevel base has never been a problem for me in .45 ACP as long as they are cast with good sharp edges.

Lee moulds are fine, especially the six-cavity ones.

The Lee 230-TC with the single, standard lube groove is a very reliable feeder in all of my .45s, but hasn't always been the most accurate in my guns. Your results will probably vary.

Many here report excellent results from the Lee 200 grain bevel-base sem-wadcutter, but I can't comment. I have a Mihec H&G #68 clone that feeds and shoots great in all my guns.

If you want a large meplat, you might have to monkey with your feed ramp, magazine brand, and and seating depth to get something that your gun likes.

I'd say buy what appeals to you and try it, it's the only way to know. Get a two-banger at first and if it doesn't work, you're only out 20 bucks. If it does, upgrade to a six-cavity and don't forget to get a set of $12 handles to go with it.

Gear

[MtGun44]

Lyman 452374 duplicates hardball.

"duplicates hardball" + "wide flat nose" ??

And I want a blonde with red hair, too. :bigsmyl2:

The Lee TC 230 is a good feeding design, may give you what you want.

How about this one?

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=161&pictureid=2905

200 gr HP shaped just like the Ball round. MP mold. Reliable feeder.

Bill

[drklynoon]

I use the lee 200 gr swc. The bevel base has been a pain when lubing previously but a new teqnique learned here for my lubrisizer may alleviate this problem. Instead of keeping my lube under pressure the whole time the technique is to pressurize the lube when the bullet is in the die then back off the adjuster prior to the upstroke on the handle. As far as feed reliability, I short seat mine to factory OAL and it feeds fine. My dad has a rockisland and his barrel throat will not allow this but he does not have any feed problems anyway. I have no experience yet with the other lee deignes but maybe this technique will help you with the bevel base. Cheers and good luck.

[Iron Mike Golf]

I have used the Mihec #69 clone (like #68, but flat base) and the Lyman 452460.

In my gun (Colt Series 80), no issues with the feeding. The 452460 doesn't like GI style mags. Nose is too short.

Accuracy is great with both.

[MtGun44]

The H&G 68 is flat based or bb.

Bill

[Yooperdad]

Dog, I have cast a few thousand with the 6 CAV TL452-230-2R and tumble lube them with 45/45/10 from Recluse on this site. My 1911 A1 is a little sensitive to loading some designs, but not an issue with this boolit. Highly recommended.

[Mk42gunner]

I know you said you want a 230 gr boolit, I believe the Lyman 452374 is the closest to Gov't Hardball profile.

I use the Lyman 452460 (208 grainss in my last batch of WW). Mine feeds great in my Kimber from GI magazines, you may have to adjust the OAL to get it to feed everytime.

I started with a used DC, and recently got a 4 cavity for this boolit.

Robert

[Mohavedog]

Thanks so much for the observations and opinions - that's what I wanted. I think I was misleading in the ambiguity of "duplicates hardball with a flat nose". I should not have even mentioned the word "hardball". My carry load uses 230 gr jacketed hp's and I wanted to use a lead practice load that kept the felt recoil and point of impact the same. The plus would be if the performance on target was good I may drop using the jacketed rounds altogether. That is the reason I wanted the flat nose, and the other object was reliability in feeding.
I'm very strongly leaning to the TC, and from your opinions the bevel base can be dealt with.
Thank you all for your help. Dog

[fredj338]

I know you said you want a 230 gr boolit, I believe the Lyman 452374 is the closest to Gov't Hardball profile.

I use the Lyman 452460 (208 grainss in my last batch of WW). Mine feeds great in my Kimber from GI magazines, you may have to adjust the OAL to get it to feed everytime.

I started with a used DC, and recently got a 4 cavity for this boolit.

Robert

I agree, I have the Lee 1R, nice bullet, but steeper ogive. The Lyman is almost identical to most RNFMJ, "ball".

[Cherokee]

I have been using the Lee 230TC for several years in a variety of 1911 and other 45's. Works great, accurate enough for me and cast very easily in the 6 cavity version. I like the one lube groove and the BB is no problem with my Star sizer. It will also work fine in the Lyman with the proper technique.

[Grandpas50AE]

My first cast boolit for the 1911 was the Lyman 230gr RN which had a flat base. Never had a leading or feeding problem as long as I used the 50/50 lubes like Javelina and seated to 1.260". Years ago I switched to the 200 gr. SWC Lyman, which is a BB. Lubed with Javelina lube and seated at 1.240" it will feed in all four of my Kimbers (Raptor 5", Eclipse 5", ProCarry II 4", and UltraCarry II 3"). It gives no FTF, FTRB, or any other problems in the past 10k of them Ive shot, and no leading issues either. I load them with medium load of SR4756 which runs at 970 fps out of the 5" guns. My brother's ProCarry II HD and Para P14 both love this load as well.

[Cadillo]

I cast and use several .45 ACP Boolit designs. Some work great in some guns and not at all in some others. You would be better served by stating what gun make and model you intend to load for, so that those who cast and load for similar guns can tell you what does and does not work in theirs.

[Mohavedog]

I cast and use several .45 ACP Boolit designs. Some work great in some guns and not at all in some others. You would be better served by stating what gun make and model you intend to load for, so that those who cast and load for similar guns can tell you what does and does not work in theirs.

Good idea.

2 - Colts, #1 main carry piece, 80 series ofcr mod 3.5", #2 secondary carry piece, 70 series commander.
2 - SA's , #1 bedside piece, SA LW Operator, #2 SA 1911 A1 don't shoot much.

1 - S&W 4506, DA/SA decocker. Not too high on must function list as I'm probably going to sell it in near future. Nothing wrong with it, I just want to stick with one platform

The Colt's and SA's all have trigger jobs and extractor/ejector and recoil spring tweaking, but ramps and throats are factory stock. I have variety of mags to work with.

Hope this helps in providing info. Dog

[Shiloh]

LEE 452 1R six banger works great for me.

Shiloh

[Forrest r]

I use the lee 6 cavity 200g rf bullets, shot 1000's of them over the years. They've been a great bullet for me with no feeding problems in factory, gi or aftermarket mags. They hit hard & are easy to find an accurate load with different powders.

I wouldn't count the 200g bullets out in the 45acp, they'll hold their own against the 230g bullets & really shine when their hollow pointed.

I own a 6 cavity mold & like to use the lee 200grf bullets for hot plinking loads of bowling pins & steal. I use a lyman 4 cavity mold, 452488, for light plinking loads & punching paper. And I use a lyman 2 cavity mold, 452460, every now & then for grip it & rip it loads for general plinking.

Some 452488's that I cast last week.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/452488-1.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/452488-2.jpg

[ChuckS1]

The H&G 34 is the was designed to duplicate the Govt FMJ profile. The NOE clone that was just run also matches the Govt profile. Here's a picture of the H&G 34 and a military hardball round.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p121/ChuckS1_photos/DSC01632.jpg

The RCBS .45-230 is a pretty close second.

The Lyman 452374 is too pointy, IMHO.

[Shooter6br]

ilike the MP 200 g mold .But a 6 cavity is nice

[BD]

BD acp or any of it's clones. It's what it was designed for.
BD

[Le Loup Solitaire]

As mentioned Lyman 452374, H&G #34 and RCBS 225 grain round nose with two bands....that is pretty close to the H&G 34. All shoot well when properly loaded. LLS

[45-70 Chevroner]

Lee 1R 230 gr. six banger works great. When molding, boolits pile up fast.

[milprileb]

I shoot tons of cast 45acp loads and try to replicate the GI 230 gr loading as much as possible.

My results with bullets:

a. Lyman RN 225 drop well and shoot poor groups
b. Lee 228 drop well and shoot far better but its a stubby bullet
and may or may not feed well so be prepared to adjust OAL. I think its
lube groove is too shallow but White Label lubes give me no leading.
c. Rcbs 200 gr SWC and Lee 200 gr SWC molds drop well, give superb
accuracy and feed well. The nose on Lee is a poor copy of HG 68 design
but results are fine. I just live with the Lee bevel base design and wipe
lube off base. I use a corroplast piece on seating die punch of 450 and it
stops 98% of lube on bullet base. Corroplast is those plastic signs you see
along the road all time by realitors.

In a perfect world: H&G molds will meet any 45acp demands. I make do with
the Lee 6 bangers and if results count... 228 gr RN and 200 gr SWC Lee bullets
are all just fine. I would not continue use of them if they were not.

[rsrocket1]

I just got the 6 banger TL-452-230TC at the end of November and cast around a thousand boolits in a couple of sessions (once you start, you don't want to stop).
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj96/rsrocket1/TL452230TC_2nd_Casts.jpg

They all feed and shoot perfectly in my old, picky Thompson AO 1911 which often chokes on SWC's but feeds fine with round nose hardball and lead. I didn't buy a sizer and found that I needed to seat the bullet to where the cone ends and no higher. With that arrangement and a mild taper crimp, I get perfect feeding every time.

See the nice wide metplat? :-D

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj96/rsrocket1/LEE45ACP_loaded.jpg



I just got a Lee push through sizer and will test it to see if I can seat them higher so I can test hotter loads without going too high in peak pressure.

[beagle]

Try a few 45-230CM RCBS bullets. They have the weight, a wide meplat and feed in the M1911 from my experiences./beagle

[BD]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=124154

Most current version of what you're looking for.
BD

[Rico1950]

Bevel base solution to try:
Take a small square piece of the foam used in super markets to pack their meat and place it on top of the sizing die. Now place your bevel based boolit of choice on top of that square of foam. Size your boolit and the foam is punched to the bottom of the sizing die and seals most of the lube that wants to run under the boolit. You can size hundreds of boolits before you have to punch out a new piece of foam.

[Mohavedog]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to enter your experiences and opinions. I made my decision and ordered the Lee 452-230TC with the standard lube groove. I think I can live with the bevel base with the advice some have posted. I did consider the TL but decided on the non TL version. I will post my experiences and range report as soon as I have info to share. Regards, Dog

[idahoron]

This is a little late but I like the TL452-230-2R in my kimber. Although a coyote in southern Idaho didn't like them. Ron

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Pistol%20pics/Coyote1.jpg

[milprileb]

On the subject of lube on bottom of bevel base bullets, this is temperature driven to some extent. I noticed last summer as I lubed a zillion bullets out on the shaded patio in 80 degree
weather that my 450 Lyman did not put much lube on bullet bases once I put a piece of that
corroplast in the sizing die... it just stayed on top of the punch inside the die and I got nearly zero lube on bullet bases. IT would last me about 300 bullets sized and then come out and need to be replaced.

In cooler weather, that plug of corroplast will come out almost after six sized bullets as the lube is really sticky due to colder temps and bevel base lubrication becomes a PITA again.

I am hopeful my Lyman heater on 450 base with reostat will let me get the temp right and be back to the same success I had last summer.

[r6487]

ideal 454 190 45 250 grain rnfp works for me. that's a thumpin' round. about 5.5 grains of unique gets around 900 f/s--only problem is i have it in an old idea single cavity mold, that the wife picked up at a yard sale

[dnotarianni]

Lyman 452374 with 5.0 of bullseye will duplicate most .45 carry ammo in felt recoil and Point of aim

Dave