lee 6 cavity mold for 45acp/1911

[rp85]

hello;

have avoided the 45acp/1911 for 40+ years, not sure I like this can of worms.

have 7 different lee 6 cavity molds very happy with them. it's the bullet design for the 45acp/1911 pistol that has me confused.

reading to many reviews on internet. i'm going to buy a 6 cavity lee mold just don't know which one. need input on mold selection.

considering the following lee 6 cavity casting molds; #68 clone, a 200 grain rn (which one ?) or the 230 rn (which one?). have the lyman 452374 (225 grain rn) double cavity but is slow. no problems feeding and is very accurate.

thanks for any input.

rp

[gpidaho]

The Lee 452-230-TC works well for me. Gp

[Tom W.]

Me too, when I had a .45. I didn't get the TL design, as I prefer the one with the loob grooves.

[joe leadslinger]

I use the Lee .452-200-RF :lol:

[mnewcomb59]

200-rf is the way to go. Shoots all the way through a deer, shoots flatter than 230s, has the biggest meplat, is the most accurate, etc. My 1911 is set up for 45 super and shoots the 200-rf really well from 950-1200 fps. You wouldn't believe how big of a blood trail this bullet leaves until you see it. I would not hesitate to use it for self defense or hunting, but I would not use the small meplat 230 for either.

When I feel that I would like a heavier bullet, I run the 255-rf at 900-1000 fps with Power Pistol.

[daloper]

I have the Lee 200-RF but I had trouble getting them to chamber. I sent the barrel to DougGuy and after he worked on it, it eats them like candy. I am loading them for my Rock Island 1911. Picked up a spare barrel and had Doug do that one also.

[Ramson222]

I have a lee six cavity that is a clone to of 452374 Very easy and fast casting mold. I got it from another member who said it was from a group buy. This is one of the molds I'm going to keep forever.

[Rainier]

HA! Lots of different answers - I've had great success with the Lee TL452-230-2R from the six cavity mold.

[CastingFool]

I use the Lee .452-200-RF :lol:

This!

[WheelgunConvert]

#68 and lee 230 LTC are both great for me. How plentiful is your supply of metal? The 230 will empty a pot quickly.

[tazman]

I have tried all the Lee molds for 45ACP with the exception of the 160rf and the TL230tc. They all work well in my 1911 pistols.
Of the 200 grain molds, it is hard to pick one that is more accurate than the other.
Of the 230 grain molds, the TL230 2R worked the best for me.
I use Lyman 452460 and the 452374 the most. They are slightly more accurate than the Lee molds for me.

[Winger Ed.]

I shoot a Gold Cup with a lighter spring.
The Lee 200gr. SWC trunciated cone with the single lube groove, and a reduced charge does real, real well.

[Walks]

Lyman #452374 will feed in anything. It's clone's are the same way.
The H&G #68 was designed a loong time ago to feed in 1911's that weren't ramped and throated, only polished. You can get it Bevel Base from Lyman or flat base from RCBS. And either both versions from SAECO.
You can get the Truncated Cone from Lee in both std lube groove and Tumble Lube.
N.O.E. has A LOT of choices. Accurate makes a plethora of molds to chose from.

If you already cast and have a Lube-Sizer, then I would go with the Lee #452-230-TC. It drops from the mold like it was ejected. If you don't, the the Tumble-Lube Version. Use White Label Lube's 45-45-10.

Casting from a 6cav mold will empty a 10lb Pot in less then 10 minutes.

So use a 20lb Pot.

And just to toss in something different.

I'm very fond of the old Lyman #452488, I have a pair of 2cavs. Been looking to replace my 4cav that was "Lost" some years back. That stubby 195gr WC over 3.5grs of Bullseye will put 5rds in one hole at 50-75ft. But moving so slow it won't stabilize until 50ft and past 75ft it sorta falls to the ground.
But a 1911 MUST BE Ramped & Throated as a Factory Gold Cup.

[ole_270]

I have the Lee #68 clone in a 2 holer and the 200RF in a 6. Doug Guy throated the barrel of my Sig so it handles either loaded out as far as the magazines will take them. I've only had a feeding problem when I goofed and left the case mouth too large. With my lack of eyesight and ability with a handgun I can't see any difference between them on the target. I do need to get the 6 cavity #68, or one of the TC's, or the Accurate 205, or another NOE. There's just no end in sight

[JeffG]

I started with the Lee 452-230-TC, which was fine but not consistently big enough for the alloy i was using so went to the NOE H&G 51 copy, 453-237-RN. Great bullet in all my 45’s.

[Bloodman14]

I guess the real question is, 'what are you going to use it for?' That would help us to guide you in the right direction, more or less. I have the Lee TL-230-2R 6-banger, and is the only one I have in .45, because I use it mostly for plinking/target practice. That being said, I would not hesitate to use that boolit for self defense. I prefer the original GI profile in that scenario. So, what are you looking to do with it?

[Rich/WIS]

Use the 452-200 SWC, feeds well in several 1911's. Did mill the top down to remove the bevel so come in about 190 grs with range lead. Advice about pot size is spot on, even at 190 grs empties a 10# pot fast.

[mdi]

I have 3, 45 ACP guns and cast for all. I have molds for the Lyman 225 RN, Lee 452-200-SWC, and 452-230-TC. All feed in my RIA 1911. The SWC does not feed reliably in my Ruger P90, but it handles the RN and TC fine. My H-P carbine gobbles anything I put in the magazine. My 1911 is really accurate with the 200 SWC and the Lyman 225, followed by the TC. If you choose a Lee round nose design, the 1R profile is "stubbier" than the 2R profile and needs to be seated deeper for reliable chambering (I've seen many newer casters' questions on seating/chambering problems with the 1R). Lube is another consideration. In the 45 ACP, alox or 45-45-10 work well, and I pan lube the other designs with my "Speed Green", but like the 38 Special, almost anything will work. If I were to suggest a bullet design, I'd prolly say the Lyman 225 RN is a very good start. Besides, you are allowed to own more than one mold! :mrgreen:

[Boogieman]

The Lee 200gr. #68 style feeds 100% in my Colts, the 200gr. TL not so good.

[Conditor22]

The Lee 452-228-1R DOES NOT chamber well PC'd
I've had good luck with the Lee TL452-230-2R and I'm starting to play with the 452-200-RF to save lead :)

That's one reason I like my 7.62x25 Tokarev -- 90-grain boolits and fun to shoot

[FLINTNFIRE]

My 45 acp loads run from NOE to lee to some others , like the 452-230-2r but have the 228-1r and it works in mine powder coated but i seat it a hair deeper , like the 2r better , I have a 200 hollow point mold from mihec I like as it does use a touch less lead but it does not run as fast as the lee 6 cavity , having mined the berm with my screens yesterday reinforces my dislike of sub 45 caliber as so many pieces of lead slip through and my cat litter scoop broke , I know what a reason , 2 sessions of casting and 1 long session of powder coating 9mm from last berm mining produced a conservative 119 lbs of 9mm , so I contribute to said issue .

[frkelly74]

Personally, I had some trouble with the TL truncated cone design. The mold I had cast a slug that weighed almost 250 gr and had to be seated way deep to get it to function at all in a RIA 1911. I do like the HG68 copy and the TL 228/230 lee designs in the same gun. Both have the reduced diameter noses and will chamber somewhat like a bottle neck cartridge . My glock likes the Lyman round nose one groove 230 gr nominal bullet which I consider to be the original 45 cast bullet.