Does this sound like an H & G # 68 clone

[whisler]

Sorry not able to post pics. About 15-20 yrs ago I bought some 200 gr. cast SWC for my Llama .45. Couldn't get them to feed so set them aside. Recently came upon them again and decided to try again. My buddy has slightly polished and slightly increased the radius on the feed ramp on my .45 so I loaded some dummies long and kept reducing the length 'til they would feed by hand. Loaded up a few and viola, they feed. Now I would like to know what mold this was.
The boolit measures .645 in length, bevel based, with one lube groove, base band slightly taller than front band and nose approximately equal in length to full diameter body. I know this is a lame description but, from pictures I could pull up, this looks like a #68 clone. Any help would be appreciated.

[Old Caster]

Your best bet would be to go online and look up an H&G68 to see if it is similar. Keep in mind that not all H&G68's are exactly the same but real close. Look up a Saeco 068 and a 069 because they are about as close as you can get. Lyman has one too. I think it is a 452630.

[runfiverun]

the lyman 630 has a shorter nose that isn't as tapered or rounded on the tip.
other than that they are quite similar.
if you storebought these ones,i'd bet they are from a magma engineering mold as they have an H&G 68 clone that is dead on.
before i sold mine [magma mold] i sent some samples to a friend that has an H&G 68 origional mold and they fit enough to all but close in the mold.
he said if they were sized for diameter they would have.

[whisler]

Pictures of Saeco 068 look to be much closer that Lyman 452630. Just as you said, this bullet has a more tapered nose and rounded tip than the pictures of 452630. Is there, perhaps, a less expensive clone of this bullet than the Saeco 068 that may have a chance of working similarly. $100 + mold handles might be a a bit harsh for my budget, since I'm retired.

Thanks for the quick replies and helpful comments. This forum is fantastic.

[runfiverun]

lee makes one quite similar.

[whisler]

lee makes one quite similar.

I saw the lee 452-200-SWC on their website and it looked close but it is hard to tell from pictures. Good to hear that it is quite similar. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks again.

[DLCTEX]

Lee is a little different from my MiHec mould, which I am told is a true copy of the #68.

[Cherokee]

The Lee 452-200-SWC works fine in my 1911''s.

[Willbird]

The HG 68 I am told was designed to contact the feed ramp exactly the same as hardball.....the lee bullet I have is a much shorter nose.

[Old Caster]

I have the 068, 069, Lyman 630 and the Lee before it was available to the public in a group buy. My Lee is different in that it has a flat base and the commercial one has a bevel base. The Lee has a little more pointy bullet compared to the rest and it weighs about 10 grains less also. Unless you have two of them together it would be hard to say which is which. Bear in mind that not every H&G 68 mold is identical either but all of them are close. When they were made there were no CNC machines that would keep them all identical. The Lee is not as good as the Saecoes but the price is also way less and you get what you pay for. I wouldn't trust a new Lyman at all. Unless you are going to compete in matches where you want to do everything to win, I think you should get the Lee. I use the 069 at the 50 yard portion of the match and the Lee at the 25 yard line. I don't think the design of the Saeco is better but I am sure that it is possible to make a better bullet with it but probably not enough to matter to you at least at this time. If you are going to shoot these in a Llama and don't have a bullseye gun, by all means don't spend the money on a Saeco mold. -- Bill --

[runfiverun]

the mihec molds were modeled from boolits sent to him that were cast in an H&G mold.
one of his very first group buy's airc.

the h&g's nose is designed to make contact with the feed ramp just like ball ammo and insure feeding.
i kept my copy untill i was 100% sure the 430 mold i have would feed in my 1911's and it does,they even feed 100% in my 45 colt leverguns.

[Willbird]

http://i.imgur.com/Wn5y6.jpg

The one on the left is a Lee bullet (not sure which one) the one on the right I think is an HG68 clone ? The one on the right of all semiwadcutters I have tried in my XD-45 comes the closest to working...the one on the left, forget it.

[Toobroke]

Instead of a clone, why not just get the real deal...it's #668

http://ballisticast.com/Bullet%20Designs%20Page%206.htm

[MtGun44]

What Willbird and runfiverun said. H&G 68 is the absolute gold standard of feeding in 1911s, done right
fully equal to ball. Only the true military barrels of 60 yrs ago or Colts of 25 yrs ago with a .2" wide shallow
groove as a feed ramp and the rest of the barrel rear face totally square will have an issue with a properly
loaded one.

1.250 to 1.260 LOA, taper crimp as a separate operation to a mouth diam of about .471 or so and you will
find the ammo to be absolutely reliable for feeding (powder charge is a separate issue) in any 1911
with what is the normal throating in the last 20-25 yrs. Other .45 ACP guns, probably OK, but I just don't
have the hands on experience to verify it.

Bill

[runfiverun]

i know they'll feed in a kp-90 ruger.

[whisler]

Mtgun44 is right on as far as OAL for the boolit that I have, 1.25 is the length that works, even in the Llama. Now to develop a good load with this boolit. All the replies are appreciated.