RCBS 45-230 CM Question

[Pilgrim]

My RCBS 45-230 CM casts at 217 +/- gr. It seems a bit light to me and I'm trying to figure out if I have a bad mould. What does you guys/gals get from your 45-230? Pilgrim

[Outpost75]

Weight is alloy dependent. RCBS bases the weights of most of their molds on linotype, whereas the Cowboy molds are based on 1:20 tin/lead, which throws heavier.

The 217 grain weight is about what I would expect if you were using commercial hardball 92-6-2 alloy or linotype. Pure lead runs about 235 and 1:20 should be very close to 230.

[Bryan527]

Mine weigh around 220 grains using Lyman #2 from Rotometals. In the RCBS sheet with the mould, it says the Cowboy moulds need 20:1 alloy to get the advertised weight.

The sheet also says that an alloy with more lead and less tin will weigh heavier and be smaller in diameter. Less lead and more tin will be lighter in weight and larger in diameter.

I have a question for you regarding this bullet: what seater stem are you using? The ones in my RCBS .45 ACP die set leave rings on the bullet.

[Pilgrim]

I removed the seating stem and looked at it. I've been loading the 452460 which has a flat nose, so I use the flat seating stem. It is darn near all flat! There is a very thin ring around the flat portion. The other stem in the die set is clearly for a round nose. The flat nose seating stem does not leave any marks on the 45-230 CM when I seat it.

[beagle]

Duane, I just take a 5/16" bolt chucked in an electric drill, use a file and turn the shank down to .260" and then turn the hex head down to the diameter I want and polish the numbers off the head and have a nice, custom made TP that works great./beagle

[Walter Laich]

I filled in the round nose one with JB Weld and now have a functioning flat nose TP (had an extra one)

[Pilgrim]

Duane, I just take a 5/16" bolt chucked in an electric drill, use a file and turn the shank down to .260" and then turn the hex head down to the diameter I want and polish the numbers off the head and have a nice, custom made TP that works great./beagle

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Thanks John!

[cajun shooter]

Tom, at Accurate Molds makes a set of three aluminum TP that will cover most bullet sizes as long as they have some sort of flat meplat. He only charges $5 for a set of three. Best deal going out there when it comes to having the correct TP. Later David