Boolit for .45ACP & .45 Long Colt ?

[tom357mag]

Looking for a Lee mold for both caliers above. I don't care what grn it is. I will be using Unique and can't find an exact match in my Lyman cast bullet book. Any help would be great!
Tom

[bigboredad]

I like the Lee 255 only thing i dislike is it needs to be seated deep to work in the acp

[ku4hx]

How do the revolver's throats and semi auto's bore compare diameter wise?

[Jim..47]

I've used the Lyman 230 Gn. in my 1911 45acp and it works well. I also have a 200 Gn and its good to, but not as good as the 230.

[David2011]

Hi Tom,

Welcome to Castboolits.

I know this isn't a 100% answer to the question you asked but please at least look at it. The Lyman 452374 is almost identical to what John Browning intended fore the .45ACP and it works well in the .45 Colt as well. It doesn't have a shoulder like many .45 molds. Trust me that you would never regret buying this excellent mold.

Some people will not like this and there will possibly be many posts that don't agree. I've spent many hours developing a good understanding of the way the 1911 feeds. Sorry; I made an assumption that you're casting for a 1911 in .45ACP. The Lee round nose molds have a strange 1R ogive radius which you may be able to get to work but they do not meet the geometry intended for overall length and may require experimenting to get reliable feeding. The truncated cone Lee molds come pretty close to matching the geometry of the Lyman 452374 even though they look very different. They'll work just fine in the .45 Colt as well. If using a 1911, look at the shape of the inside of the magazines. They're contoured the same as the Government hardball bullet shape so any boolit that isn't that shape may not fit in the magazine unless loaded to shorter OAL.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/204749/lyman-4-cavity-bullet-mold-452374-45-caliber-452-diameter-225-grain-round-nose

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/397569/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-230-tc-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-230-grain-truncated-cone

David

[Kraschenbirn]

You don't state what make/model guns you're going to be casting for but any of the 225-230 gr. RNs or TCs (I prefer the Lee or Saeco designs) should work for both calibers. You'll need to slug the bores and measure cylinder throats to determine correct boolit diameter for each gun.

Bill

[GSSP]

I like the LBT 230 gr FN PB in my Ed Brown 1911 and will sometimes use it in my Ruger NMBH for light plinking loads for the kids.

Alan

[Gunslinger1911]

Lee moulds are so inexpensive try to get a round or TC for the auto and a SWC for the Colt. If money is tight - I'd go with with the Lee 230 TC for double duty. I have loaded the Lee 250 SWC in the auto, REALLY smacks the plates and bowling pins with authority !!!
For some $ I REALLY like the new NOE 230 hp / 250 solid round / flat nose. (3rd and 4th from the right )63646

[runfiverun]

i use a 45 cal 225 rnfp intended for the 45 colt in both 45's.
i ignore the crimp groove when i am using it in the acp and use it in the colt when needed. i use it in the 45 auto rimmed case too, and roll crimp it when necessary.

[jim147]

I shoot the Lee 230 grain TC out of 1911, XD and SAA. It works really well over some RedDot. The local varmints don't seem to like it much.

jim

[jmsj]

Tom,
Welcome to Castboolits.
I have used both the Lee 452-200-RF and the Lee 452-255-RF in 45 ACP and 45 Colt. I have not tried any of the other Lee molds in both calibers. For all around use for I would suggest the 200 grain mold. I get better groups with the 255 grainer in my guns. The 200 grain bullet works OK in 45 ACP but I get better groups in my 45 Colts with the 255 grain boolit. In one of 1911's the 255 is the best load I have found for that gun. Loading the heavier 255 grainer in 45 ACP can be a little tricky to someone new to loading because of having to seat the bullet deep and setting the OAL. If one is not careful when loading the heavy 255, he could have some over pressure loads.
Last year I worked on a S&W 625 that shot the 200 grainers better than anything I could find.
Good Luck, jmsj

[littlejack]

Hey Tom:
Welcome to the CastBoolits.
Myself, i'm working on loading up some of the Lyman 454190 boolits, sized to .452 in my 45acp. This is the original slug for the 45 Colt cartridge, handgun and lever action. These boolits are dropping a little over 250 grains.
I have loaded up and shot some of the Lee 255 round flat slugs. These really hit hard. I used the reloading data from the Speer #12 manual for the 45 acp and there own jacketed 260 grain hp. I loaded with the Herco powder, per the manual data.
The 454190 boolit is a little longer, so the powder charge will have to drop for this boolit, and it's seating depth.
Reguards
Jack

[.5mv^2]

I target shoot both calibers. I bought a 160g Lee mold and shoot it in both. I used to shot a lot of precast 200 g rnfp bullets and they shot excellent too.

[beagle]

The RCBS 45-230-CM seems to be a pretty good choice for me in both the M1911 and my Ruger convertible. You might look at it./beagle

[bobthenailer]

Mike Venturo recommends the RCBS 45-225-CAV as a good all around bullet for the 45 acp & 45 LC

[Jim..47]

I target shoot both calibers. I bought a 160g Lee mold and shoot it in both. I used to shot a lot of precast 200 g rnfp bullets and they shot excellent too.

Those 160 Gn. bullets must feel pretty light and very comfortable to shoot. Maybe I will try them some day.

[Bullet Caster]

Tom,

Welcome to Castboolits. I use the Lee 255 grainer in my .45 Colt (Uberti) sized to .452 and the Lee 230 grainer for my .45 acp sized to .451. As was stated above, the 255 grainer smacks targets with authority. I've got a few 230 grainers sized to .452 for my .45 Colt but haven't loaded any yet. That will be an upcoming project to get the 230 grainers to shoot out of the Colt. I use 5 grains of Bullseye powder for them both. That get's you into the neighborhood of 750 fps. If you want a stronger shooting .45 Colt, then use black powder since the .45 Colt was originally designed for black powder. You can get about 950 fps using black powder. You fill up the case with BP and squash the boolit down on top of the powder. When using BP you cannot have an air space between the boolit and powder.

The original cowboy cartridge of the old West was a .44-40 which means a .44 caliber boolit over 40 grains of BP. Since the .45 Long Colt came along it also uses 40 grains of BP which will fill up the case. The older cartridges for .45 Colt were designed with a baloon type cartridge that will, in fact, hold 40 grains of BP. You cannot get a full compliment of 40 grains in the modern .45 Colt case. The old baloon type cartridges are hard to find and aren't made any longer, so you have to make due with the modern casings. BC

[.5mv^2]

The 160s are basically as long as they are wide. I don't have the load data in front of me but I use Promo. They cycle in my 1911s and Hi Point. They are fairly short and I guess could be an issue in some guns.

They shoot light. I think I have them at about 1100 fps. I like to think of them as pre-expanded 9mm or 40's. About the same weight and velocity out the gun. At distance they probably lose more velocity faster but at close range no fowl. I like them in my Bond in 45 Colt, it can be a firecracker with heavy rounds, less push than a 230 grain.

[WHITETAIL]

tom, Welcome to the forum!
I would go with the 230gr. for the first try.
The 230gr. works well in the 1911.
So see if your 45 long works.:redneck:

[jtaylor1960]

Are you shooting them from the same gun or two different ones?I have a 45 Colt/45ACP convertible I recently traded for.It's good to see another caster in Pa.When I talk about cast bullets to most locals they get a strange look on their faces and then change the subject.

[fredj338]

The 200gr LFP works well in both. It hass a crimp groove for the 45colt & should feed in most 45acp pistols. The WFP can cause issues in some sensetive guns, but feeds in all my 1911s & XDs.

[.5mv^2]

I have a convertible Ruger and a Bond and a some semi autos also.
Since starting daylight savings time I had some light after work so I got out some 160 grain 45ACP hand loads and notice they are pretty well point of aim. I am at 40' holding on two handed with the X laying on top of the front sight. The target is a 25 yard handgun target center.
http://www.veloliner.com/smallgun/llama.JPG

I think in this day and age shooting less lead means I can shoot more.

My favorite 45 bullet has been the 200 grain rnfp. I don't have quite the accuracy yet with the 160 but it is close.

[detox]

I think in this day and age shooting less lead means I can shoot more.


The RCBS 201 Gr Semi Wad Cutter (H&G design) is a verygood bullet, but for shooting less lead a like 38special/.357 revolver best.

[fcvan]

Since the question was for a Lee mold to work in both, I would have to say the 452-200 RF as it is a good place to start. My first Lee mold in 45 was the 452-228 1R as I was shooting a Springfield Armory 1911-A1. When My dad picked up an old Colt (circa 1898) I loaded some of those for him and he was happy. The RF design is more traditional for the Colt and looks great but the RN shot quite well. I have the 452-255 RF and may try it in the 1911 but would really like to get the 200 RF. I size to .452 in my Lyman 450.

You will find yourself collecting molds and Lee's are affordable. After 26 years of shooting .45 I have 6:

450-200 1R
450-200 1R HP
452-200 SWC
452-228 1R
452-255 RF
C452-300 RF Gas Check

I have shot them all through the 1911, a 5 5/8" Vaquero in 45 Colt, and an H&R 1871 Classic Carbine in 45 Colt. The first two molds are actually conical molds designed for a percussion revolver and are therefore tapered. They measure about .453 at the front band and .450 at the base. This aids in seating them in the Cylinder of my 1858 Remington copy. I seat them with plain based gas checks made from soda can. I have shot them in the 1911 and the 45 Colt weapons surprisingly without leading. With warmer Colt loads I used corn meal as a filler which protected the base and helped seal.

Using corn meal filler was a throw back to black powder loads. It was a fun experiment and worked great. Since I now have the 45 PB Checkmaker I likely won't be using filler again. Most of my loads have been with Unique and some with 4227, at least in the Colt loads. Carefully working loads up using the 200 1R HP has produced some amazing performance in the Vaquero and the carbine.

Using the 452-200 RF as a starter boolit for both the ACP and the Colt should give you good results. It saves a little lead and reduces perceived recoil at nominal velocities. You will eventually get more molds but the 200 RF is a good jumping off point. Oh ya, one other mold is the .454 Round Ball mold for the 1858 Remington. I have loaded it in the 1911 and the Colt just for giggles. The 1911 fed them reliably (it feeds anything for me) and the carbine was a cream puff at 950 fps. Pretty darned accurate too!

[HangFireW8]

The Lee round nose molds have a strange 1R ogive radius which you may be able to get to work but they do not meet the geometry intended for
overall length and may require experimenting to get reliable feeding.

David,

As the name indicates, the Lee TL452-230-2R has a 2R nose that closely approximates the original FMJ ball. It worked well for me, until I got a MP 200 SWC. Uses less lead, feeds as well, cuts a cleaner whole in the paper.

HF

[.5mv^2]

The 160 has a fairly steep curve but has worked in 3 different 1911's and a Hipoint. :) Of course cycling is not an issue in a revolver or double barrel.
Here is a pre-cast 200 the Lee 160 and a Berry 230.
Uses 20% less lead than the 200.
http://www.veloliner.com/smallgun/345.JPG

[Lance Boyle]

The RCBS 45-230-CM seems to be a pretty good choice for me in both the M1911 and my Ruger convertible. You might look at it./beagle

Heck I can get .455 from my this RCBS mold. Should do well if you get one that can cast fat.

[Springfield0612]

I used the Missouri Bullet Co. 200 gr RNFP in my .45 ACP XD and had zero feeding issues. So when I bought my first mold I got the Lee 200 gr. RNFP. I seat them the same and use the same powder charge as the MBC's and so far no issues. I also bought the 230 gr. RN mold but it is still new in the box, gonna shoot through some 200's to see how they feed and function.

[detox]

Look at these three RCBS 45 bullets L to R
Hornaday 230 hardball, 201 Grain Semi Wad Cutter (WW lead), 230 Grain Cowboy (20/1 lead), 250 Grain Keith Style (20/1 lead)

[Jim..47]

I see a lot of posts where the Boolit shooter is concerned about how much lead the boolit uses in comparison a larger or smaller boolit. I assume that these bollits are being discharged into a public range?

The reason I ask that is ,myself I am fortunate to have a decent home range where I can recycle the lead, although it is a considerable task to say the least. I was given an old dumpster, a smaller one, about 5' wide and 4'X4'. I just boarded up the front and then covered it with particale board or whatever is handy, and then hang my targets on the front.

To harvest the lead I pull the dumpster over and sift through the dirt/sand. Are any of you using a similar backstop if you have a home range?

[Bullshop]

I like the look of the coyboy boolit. Should feed good from a lever gun too.

[detox]

I like the look of the coyboy boolit. Should feed good from a lever gun too.

Cowboy bullet available in two different diameters .452" (part #82233) and .454" (part #82234). That is a .454 in picture.

[detox]

I see a lot of posts where the Boolit shooter is concerned about how much lead the boolit uses in comparison a larger or smaller boolit. I assume that these bollits are being discharged into a public range?

The reason I ask that is ,myself I am fortunate to have a decent home range where I can recycle the lead, although it is a considerable task to say the least. I was given an old dumpster, a smaller one, about 5' wide and 4'X4'. I just boarded up the front and then covered it with particale board or whatever is handy, and then hang my targets on the front.

To harvest the lead I pull the dumpster over and sift through the dirt/sand. Are any of you using a similar backstop if you have a home range?

Good idea. you are very lucky to shoot at home.

[David2011]

David,



As the name indicates, the Lee TL452-230-2R has a 2R nose that closely approximates the original FMJ ball. It worked well for me, until I got a MP 200 SWC. Uses less lead, feeds as well, cuts a cleaner whole in the paper.

HF

My apologies! You're correct about the 2R radius. I just remember the Lee as being hard on my eyes and having a shoulder that was not part of the original design. I like the 200 SWC myself as well; just wasn't sure it was a good answer to the OP's question. The vast majority of my .45 ACPs are from a Saeco #068 mold that I got from an old friend who has since passed.

These are pictures of a FMJ (they all look about the same), the Lyman 452374 and the Lee 2R. I just like the smooth transition from radius to straight sides of the Lyman.

643206432164322
David

[detox]

David,



My apologies! You're correct about the 2R radius. I just remember the Lee as being hard on my eyes and having a shoulder that was not part of the original design. I like the 200 SWC myself as well; just wasn't sure it was a good answer to the OP's question. The vast majority of my .45 ACPs are from a Saeco #068 mold that I got from an old friend who has since passed.

These are pictures of a FMJ (they all look about the same), the Lyman 452374 and the Lee 2R. I just like the smooth transition from radius to straight sides of the Lyman.

643206432164322
David

Yea, It seems bullets with longer bearing surface would be more accurate

[Artful]

I shot a fair amount of 1911 Bullseye and loved the Lyman 452460 200 grain SWC - I used my 45 LC for Sillywet and used RCBS 255 Keith -
Currently I'm using 230 grain Truncated Cone Single Lube Groove from NEI that Walt recommended. All my gun's have the newer .451 bore's and I used it in IPSC and with 1911 and S&W Revolvers and Worked Well in Ruger Convertible as well.

Something similar to this design
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/397569/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-230-tc-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-230-grain-truncated-cone
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/primary/397/397569.jpg

What I don't like about the Lee design is it appears to have a Bevel Base.

I prefer a flat base myself unless you have a specific need for the Bevel Base.

[CML]

Are you shooting them from the same gun or two different ones?I have a 45 Colt/45ACP convertible I recently traded for.It's good to see another caster in Pa.When I talk about cast bullets to most locals they get a strange look on their faces and then change the subject.

Question on your convertible. What is the bore diameter and the throat diameter of each cyl? Just curious, if you've checked them.

[armexman]

Hello, hello
Mr. 357mag did you go off to GBO and ask the same questions and were enamored by the learned response from the sages at GBO???? other than Veral of course.

[Springfield0612]

Just reporting back about the Lee 200 RNFP feed and function. No feed issues, very accurate boolit, even with LLA 45/45/10. I shoot into shredded rubber to recylce my lead and the rifling grooves are beautifuly cut and the boolit itself has very minor deformation once going into the shreded rubber. I've shot 300 rounds so far and like this boolit so much I put the 6 cavity 230 gr RNTL mold on ebay for the wolves to fight over like the piece of meat that it is.

I need to LEE-MENT the mold however, the number 2 cavity does not like to let the boolits drop free. I did a batch of 550 boolits yesterday and it took extra time helping the boolits drop free. When I get home I'll do some before and after photos of the boolits and post back here.