Suggest a mold for 45 ACP?

[brewer12345]

I shoot a lot of 38 special and like tried and true designs, so I am thinking about adding a 1911 to the stable. If so, I need one or more molds for the caliber. Can anyone suggest a mold for the cartridge? Are any of the Lee mold designs good general purpose designs? I was thinking about something in the 200 to 230 grain range. Are RNFP designs good choices in this caliber?

[sierra1911]

I’ve enjoyed shooting Lee TL452-230-2R boolits from a 6 cavity mold, first lubed with 45/45/10 and now HiTek coated.

[HATCH]

230 RN is a good solid profile.
runs in every 1911 that I have come accross

[jcren]

The Lee 200 swc (traditional lube design) is a solid version of the classic h&g 68. Hard to beat for general purpose 1911 use.

[RobS]

Hard to beat a round nose for a classic and the lee 2R 230 grain (not the 1R 228grain mold) is close to a round ball nose profile. The Lee 200 grain SWC (not the TL version) is also another good design which as been already stated similar to the classic #68 design

[Tom W.]

The Lee 230 gr TC works well.i have an aversion to the tl design..

[turtlezx]

160 gr rnfp lee 200fps faster with less recoil than the 230 gr and uses less lead

[Victor N TN]

I'm really partial to my H&G 34 230 grain 6 cavity. It has the same shape of a military 230 FMJ design bullet.

[Virginia John]

What was said above is all good recommendations. I am a little partial to Lee molds they have a 6 cavity 200 gr SWC in the H&G design as well a 6 cavity 230 gr RN and I love the fact that they are aluminum. These are the 2 main ones that I use for my 1911's.

[DocSavage]

Accurate has a 200 gr rn didn't notice a flat point though. I would go with a mold from NOE or Accurate more money than Lee but the mold will be right the first time.If you get a mold from Tom at accurate he will cut the block to your need not a generic diameter. I've molds from both vendors and they are the best looking and machined blocks I have ever seen.

[lotech]

For about thirty years, I've used a SAECO #069, a copy of the H&G #68 SWC, 200 gr. I also had a #68; the SAECO bullet shoots at least as well.
Another that was quite accurate that I used some time ago was the Lee 190 gr. SWC. I don't know the model number, but it had two thin lube grooves (not the tumble lube design).

[44MAG#1]

No one seems to mention the Saeco 058. While it may not give NRA Bullseye accuracy and may be more difficult to get to run as well as others with that large diameter meplat it could be doubled as a self defense bullet. Weighs 210 to 215 grains as cast.
Since most are not NRA Bullseye quality shooter I feel most would not notice the slight lack of accuracy.

[lightman]

If you don't require nice clean sharp holes in paper targets then the original 225-230 grain round nose is reliable in almost all handguns. If you want more of a target bullet the SWC's in the 185-200 grain range will function in most handguns. The brand of mold is like asking about die brands or what truck to buy. Lee has their loyal followers and are very affordable. RCBS makes a great mold, although only 2 cavity. Lyman and Saeco both make molds in either of these bullet types. And there are several custom mold makers that make really nice and affordable molds.

Personally, I used a RCBS 45-201 for years. It shot well and functioned in several different handguns. My current favorite is an original G&G 68 with 4 cavities. I also have a H&G 130 with 4 cavities. Both of these are a joy to cast with and well worth the cost and effort to obtain them.

Theres really not a wrong answer here but Good Luck in your choice.

[Texas by God]

The Lee 200 grain semi wadcutter and the Lee 230 grain truncated cone are my favorite two bullets for the 45 automatic.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Boolseye]

Notice a pattern? :-)
definitely a good 230 RN and a good HG-68 or clone are tops for my .45 ACP casting. I own a NOE 4-cav for the HG-68, and the Lee 6-cav for the 230 (TL version). Both are extremely accurate.

[frkelly74]

I have had some fun with the Lee 452- 230 tumble lube design and also the Lee 452 - 228 design. The 230 gr bullet has a reduced diameter in the nose and I have never had one not feed. The 228 gr design had to be experimented with the get it seated deep enough to feed properly. But once that was resolved it has worked fine. The 230 gr truncated cone flat nose bullet was unreliable in my gun as in It would not feed very well, and it always cast very heavy, up to about 250 gr . The 200 gr Copy of the #68 works well in my RIA 1911 but not in My Glock 21. I need to do a lot more testing/ shooting but this is my experience so far.


I almost forgot but I started powdercoating a Lyman round nose 230 gr bullet. It is the old old bullet that Is the first bullet I ever saw that guys were casting at the pistol club when I was a kid hanging around. It raised my awareness that you could make your own bullets and they all called it the Chinese Hardball bullet. Never a hiccup so far. It is relatively pointed for a round nose bullet and feeds really well. Not a 6 cavity mold though.

[Randy Bohannon]

Mid Way often has the RCBS 230gr. RN .452 on sale for $60.00. You will not do better on a quality iron mould for less.I could not get any cast bullet to shoot in my CZ CCO until I sent the barrel to our forum resident DougGuy to have a proper leade cut to accept cast boolits.Accuracy was never an issue but feeding and chambering were not good until DougGuy's work.

[tazman]

I am using the Lyman 452374 and the Lee H&G 68 clone for most of my 1911 45ACP usage. Both feed well and are accurate in all my 1911 45ACP pistols.

[mdi]

If you are new to the 45 ACP I'd recommend starting with a few 230 gr FMJ to get the hang of reloading the cartridge. Then I'd move to a 230 gr LRN regular lube groove design. Then when you get the hang of casting 45 caliber boolits, a 200 gr LSWC is a great 1911 bullet. Perhaps some will say just go straight to a SWC, but I believe in a logical step by step approach, get the basics down with an easier to use item then go to the other more challenging items.

At this time I have two molds for my 45 ACPs, a Lyman 225 gr round nose and a 200 gr Lee SWC standard lube groove (both with "soft alloy", about 12 BHN lubed with a home made version of Carnauba Red). Both have been very accurate in my guns and when sized to fit the gun can be almost leading free...

[Alstep]

Hivelocity has a good deal on an RCBS mold on swapin & sellin

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?354666-For-Sale-RCBS-45-201-SWC-two-cavity-mold-with-handles

Have the same mold myself, can't go wrong.

[gwpercle]

200 grain 45 boolits are a good choice for general use. My first 45 mould was the old
Lee 452-228-1R... it was a poor choice...
Go with the 452-200-SWC ...it will do fine and cut clean holes. If you feel the need for a 230 grain boolit get the 452-230-TC , truncated cone beats the round nose design seven ways to Sunday.
Avoid the tumble lube design....they can be problematic in some guns. My theory is some 45's have shallow rifling and the TL design may not get enough bearing which can lead to inaccuracy.
Gary

[CASTER OF LEAD]

The Lee 230 gr TC works well.i have an aversion to the tl design..

I too have the Lee 230 TC in their TL design. I PC, them and have used just BLL on these. They never failed to feed and shoot extremely well out of my Ruger SR1911. This boolit mold is my answer to your question. - CASTER

[tigweldit]

I've been using a Lyman #452460 4 gang (my only .45 mold) since 1962. Half a dozen .45's, and more than half a century later, that mold still puts out match quality boolets, that feed very well. My series 70 Gold Cup with that boolet and 4.5-4.8 grains of Bullseye, shoot better then I can hold.

[crackers]

The round nose has the best chance of functioning across many gun designs but much depends on what course the bullet rides into the barrel - the individual gun.

[trixter]

I shoot a lot of 38 special and like tried and true designs, so I am thinking about adding a 1911 to the stable. If so, I need one or more molds for the caliber. Can anyone suggest a mold for the cartridge? Are any of the Lee mold designs good general purpose designs? I was thinking about something in the 200 to 230 grain range. Are RNFP designs good choices in this caliber?

I have played around a lot of boolit shapes and sizes. and settled on two, Lee 452-200 SWC, because of the beautiful round holes it cuts in the target paper, and then I also have a Hollow point mold which casts 3 types of boolits from Mihec. Hex hollow point, round hollow point, and solid nose. This mold is a piece of artwork. I powder coat them all with Eastwood Ford light blue and send them downrange 1000's upon 1000's with joy, much joy. Try it, you will like it

[fredj338]

Most 1911 will feed a RNFP or SWC just fine. If you want one bullet for a myriad of guns then go pure RN or the TC should also work.

[jmort]

I have not met a Ranch Dog design I do not like
You can get it as a HP

214371

This is the .45 Colt I use

[brewer12345]

Sounds like to 200 grain swc is the ticket. Thanks!

[Moonie]

The 3 boolits I would reccommend and the ones I use in 45acp are a 200 SWC of the 68 or clone persuasion. The 230 TC from Lee and the 200gr HP Mihec, 452640 I think it is. I hoot mostly the 200gr swc, I have the lee 6 banger version of the 68 (close approximation anyway).

[Boolseye]

There’s also NOE’s 213 RF. I have the RG2, quite the devastator.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mr_Sheesh]

Lee 452-230TC looks decent, I've had great luck with the J-Word version of this in the past so I want to try that one out.

In the past I've had some failures to feed with SWC j-word bullets, which convinced me to stay with LRN cast boolits. But I haven't tried them, admittedly. Maybe see if your gun likes a few before committing to them? (For a defense gun, FTFs are BAD - You don't want ANY. And I'm picky LOL)

[lightman]

I plan to cast with a new to me H&G 68 4 cavity mold for the first time this afternoon. Really looking forward to it!

[Shiloh]

The LEE version of the H&G #68 is my choice. My piece shoots several different boolits very well.

SHiloh

[PhantomRider64]

Hard to beat a round nose for a classic and the lee 2R 230 grain (not the 1R 228grain mold) is close to a round ball nose profile. The Lee 200 grain SWC (not the TL version) is also another good design which as been already stated similar to the classic #68 design


Why not the 1R 228gn???




I have had some fun with the Lee 452- 230 tumble lube design and also the Lee 452 - 228 design. The 230 gr bullet has a reduced diameter in the nose and I have never had one not feed. The 228 gr design had to be experimented with the get it seated deep enough to feed properly. But once that was resolved it has worked fine. The 230 gr truncated cone flat nose bullet was unreliable in my gun as in It would not feed very well, and it always cast very heavy, up to about 250 gr . The 200 gr Copy of the #68 works well in my RIA 1911 but not in My Glock 21. I need to do a lot more testing/ shooting but this is my experience so far.


I almost forgot but I started powdercoating a Lyman round nose 230 gr bullet. It is the old old bullet that Is the first bullet I ever saw that guys were casting at the pistol club when I was a kid hanging around. It raised my awareness that you could make your own bullets and they all called it the Chinese Hardball bullet. Never a hiccup so far. It is relatively pointed for a round nose bullet and feeds really well. Not a 6 cavity mold though.


How deep did you have to seat the 1R 228???





200 grain 45 boolits are a good choice for general use. My first 45 mould was the old
Lee 452-228-1R... it was a poor choice...
Go with the 452-200-SWC ...it will do fine and cut clean holes. If you feel the need for a 230 grain boolit get the 452-230-TC , truncated cone beats the round nose design seven ways to Sunday.
Avoid the tumble lube design....they can be problematic in some guns. My theory is some 45's have shallow rifling and the TL design may not get enough bearing which can lead to inaccuracy.
Gary


Why was it a poor choice???


I recently purchased the Lee 1R 228 mould and will be casting with it here in just a little bit. I purchased this mould because I could not find the 2R that was not TL. I am sure that as I progress in the hobby I will by purchasing more moulds,,,hey, its only $$$,,,

[RobS]

The ogive on the 228 -1R Lee design is fat and with today's pistols the barrel throats are virtually non-existent. Having this issue means one needs to seat really deep say at a 1.18" COAL if your barrel is like most manufactured barrels. I purposely design bullet molds to have the nose length necessary to feed and function while keeping any full diameter or ogive interference out of the equation etc.

[RobS]

As an example this is what I asked Tom at accurate molds to draw up for me:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-230V-D.png


With this design I can seat to a more traditional COAL without having to throat my barrel. This also allows me to shoot this design in numerous 45 ACP's.

[jmort]

I will take this

215727

[Grmps]

I also found that the Lee TL452-230-2R worked best in the most guns. The smaller nose is the key plus it's a 6 cavity.

[Boolseye]

What I have heard over the years is that Lee's 230 gr. RN is pretty close to the original ball ammo in terms of shape, and thus is a very reliable feeder. It's also a good accurate boolit. I gave some to some fellow Bullseye shooters and they were both very impressed with the way they flew.

[Panman213]

I use the Lee 230 TC and the 230 RN TL both shoot good, also have had good luck with either of the two 200gr SWC designs from Lee. Ive even used the 200gr RNFP meant for the 45colt it worked good too but I have to seat it deeper than the crimp groove to get it to chamber in my SR1911.

[nemohunter]

Hard to go wrong with either 230 gr rn or 200 swc. Both perform great in all manner of loads.

[Texas by God]

The Lee 228 1R has to be seated deep to work correctly. I learned this and did that and it worked fine for me for a long time; but as stated I prefer the flat point of the swc and tc.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[PhantomRider64]

Thanks for the replies and info.

Sent from my SM-S920L using Tapatalk

[shortlegs]

201 gr swc rcbs mold over 6 gr 231 was my bowling pin load.