BD45 Has Arrived !!!!!!

[wiljen]

Having started a thread to see if people wanted to cancel this order, they showed up today. I will begin test casting ASAP and hope to begin shipping toward the end of next week if all tests come back within spec.

[DAFzipper]

Just when hope was getting low!

[hicard]

See, I told you they would be on your porch in no time.

[lathesmith]

wiljen, you have an uncanny sense of timing! I was going to pay close attention to your "cancellation" thread, but I see now that it is cancelled! Was this one of the oldest outstanding GB's on the boards here? I still have an interest in this as Lee seems to have went to a random(to us) lottery system to make these GB's. Mind you, I'm not bashing one of our sponsors, but I would be interested to know how these GB's are playing out these days, as I definitely have a vested interest in this subject.
lathesmith

[Dutch4122]

Wiljen-

If there are any extras in your order I'd like to purchase one; if they're not already spoken for. If none are available that is understandable. Money was tight when you ran this Group Buy originally and I had to pass at that time. Now I'm kicking myself for not getting in while the getting was good! [smilie=b:

[Murphy]

Wil,

Thanks for heading this buy up to begin with. I was feeling for you and understand how it (or tried to) must feel to be in the position LEE put you in.

That being said, same as you my friend...it will be a long,long,LONG time before I EVER enter another Group Buy if LEE is the supplier.

Thanks for all the hard work Wil, I truly appreciate it sir.

Murphy

[wiljen]

Ok, so far:

Base = .452
Nose = .323
Weight = 235gr

OAL for 1911 must be 1.185 or below or it catches the slide stop and jams.
OAL of 1.18 feeds reliably in my Springer, Colt, and Taurus 1911s and the Sig P220.


Original Specs here http://www.castpics.net/Lee_moulds/BD45_09/bd45_09.html

[Hardcast]

As I posted in your other thread, if anyone wants to sell theirs, please let me know. Thanks.

[ddeaton]

:drinks:

[94Doug]

I'm Ready!!

[BD]

Just a note on the OAL for 1911's: next time you clean the gun, look at the back side of the slide stop "button" which rides the inside of the frame. A lot of these are made using a series of passes which leaves a "peak" in the middle of the back side, (or cast in mim from a piece made that way). You can stone the back of that button smooth without reducing the ledge which is caught by the follower on it's way up. That smoothing, combined with a small dimple for the slide stop plunger, will greatly reduce the chances of premature slide lock back caused by the bullet nose hitting the button on the way by. This will help things out with the BDacp as well as similarly shaped HPs like Ranger RTs and Hydroshocks.

BD

[Tuck]

That is a good looking boolit ... almost identical to an LBT 4-holer mould I have that drops boolits at 220 grains, but then I cast with a harder alloy. This one must be a mite longer than the LBT, too. What did the group buy price run? 'Tuck

[wiljen]

That is a good looking boolit ... almost identical to an LBT 4-holer mould I have that drops boolits at 220 grains, but then I cast with a harder alloy. This one must be a mite longer than the LBT, too. What did the group buy price run? 'Tuck


Same as all the other buys - roughly $60 and change.

[xr650]

I'm glad it arrived.
I had almost given up hope. :kidding:

I sure do appreciate your time and patience.

[targetshootr]

I hope I got in on this one but I couldn't find a list of zip codes.

[xr650]

Check your invoices here http://groupbuys.dnsalias.com/

[kooz]

Are these in the mail yet ? looks like they cast just fine

[wiljen]

They are all going out tomorrow. I was out of town over the weekend and cast some from 50/50 this week to double check using 2 different molds. I think all is right with the world so I printed labels and taped boxes today and have them at the door to go to the PO in the morning.

Be watching for them middle of next week.

[DAFzipper]

Mold came today! Did a quick deburr and cleaning and cast a few. With my WW/tin mix cast at 230 grains and .452. Ran pot hot to help cook new mold. Thanks for hanging in there wiljen. This mold is a keeper! Can't wait to shoot a few.

[94Doug]

Mine arrived today! I haven't had a chance to even look at it yet. May be a while until I do get a chance to try it out, so it was GREAT that the Honcho took the time to make sure these were up to specs. Thanks!

Doug

[hedgehorn]

Mine arrived today :) Looks good. I will try to get some cast this weekend. Thanks again Will

[xr650]

Wiljen
My mould came in todays mail. 82901
Looks good.
Thank you for all your efforts,
Larry

[johnch]

43445 arived tonight

I need to take a few days off to cast

John

[475/480]

Got mine today.

Sean

[Ed K]

03046 Arrived today.

Thanks for honcho-ing this one!

[oldfartz]

Got mine, Thankx. 55436

[ddeaton]

45011 arrived, many thanks Wiljen:drinks:

[hicard]

Got mine today. Thanks 96055

[376Steyr]

83647 arrived yesterday. Thanks for running this!

[crabo]

75041 thanks

[Tomhorn]

Guess what I got today? Looks great . Thanks Will.

[475/480]

Cast about 200 today,they weigh 235gr with my WW alloy,which is a little heavy but not too bad .The mould took longer than expected to heat up but cast very good boolits.


Sean

[wiljen]

Cast about 200 today,they weigh 235gr with my WW alloy,which is a little heavy but not too bad .The mould took longer than expected to heat up but cast very good boolits.


Sean


Your numbers match mine for weight and I found it liked to be run hot too. I have been running my mold on a hotplate at about 3/4 setting while the pot heats up and that seems to yield good results.

[Murphy]

Wil,

Mine landed in todays mail (74745). Thanks again for taking the time and effort to honcho this buy.

Murphy

[Pepe Ray]

Thanks Wiljen.
Got mine a few days ago but my P.C. has been broken since last Sat. P.M
Pepe Ray.

[yeahbub]

Willjen!! Many thanks! :-D Mine arrived on Monday and I quickly fired up the pot. It does a great job. With an alloy of BHN 10, they cast .453 and weigh in at 238-240 gr. Niiiiice. It looks like hust the thing for plinking in a .45C M-92. Cans, dirt clods, hedge apples and cow pies - look out!!

[targetshootr]

Mine came yesterday and it looks great. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. 27405.

[only1asterisk]

Mine arrived Friday. Looks good..

[475/480]

Shot the BD230 today,actual weight 235gr
In my Para 45 Acp: It will clover leaf at 7 yards using Blue Dot 8.0-9.0gr=860- 920 fps .
Surplus AA#7-(NOT #107) 9.0 gr = 865 fps. I only had 7 of each loaded to check velocity and feeding.


Sean

[DAFzipper]

Well after my first test cast I was getting a little fining. Checked mold and there was a gap when closed. Alignment pins were not set deep enough. No big deal, I set them a little deeper and no more gap. My next session had no more fining. But now it casts at .451! My 45 needs .452+ to shoot well. Guess I'll have to get out the tape and beagle it. Not sure if I could stand the wait to send it back to Lee. No wonder mine weight less(229, 230 max with WW+ a little tin).

[kooz]

Mine casts at .450-.451 also, I'll be sending mine back.

[wiljen]

Sorry to hear that , sounds like maybe the pins were set before the cavities got cut and it mis-aligned. Even with testing several, proof one can slip through.

[ddeaton]

I guess I better get off my butt and check mine

[94Doug]

me three.

d

[94Doug]

Mine appears to be .4515.... a tad small, I may need to recheck my alloy though.

Doug

[376Steyr]

Mine drops them at .455, still warm from the mould, weighing 226 grains. This is with a batch of mystery alloy, made of odd scraps of stuff from the "lead" barrel at the salvage yard. I'm happy with mine.

[wiljen]

I'm wondering if some of what we are seeing is vast differences in alloy from one to the next.

I did a little math because something wasn't fitting right in my thinking.

If we take the BD45 as a cylinder .6 inches long and use the math of pi* r^2 * h * Sg to find the weights derived for bullets of .450, .451, and .452 caliber respectively we get.

.450 = 274gr
.451 = 275gr
.452 = 276gr

Now knowing that the BD45 is not a true cylinder, the differences between the three diameters should be even smaller in weight. To see averages between 226 and 235 here has to be a difference in alloy, temp, technique - something other than sizing or we'd see molds at .442 to account for the differences.

When you measure - post the length as well as the weight if you would. I'm wondering if some are shorter than others.

[crabo]

Run some through your sizer and you can get a quick visual if it is going to work for you.

[376Steyr]

Ran a batch with standard wheelweight alloy. 235 grains and .452+ diameter. Perfect! Now to lube them up and see how they shoot.

[ddeaton]

Dropping here at 453, looks good so far

[Tomhorn]

I cast quite a few yesterday afternoon. Got the mold a little too hot before I started, but it casts well, all bullets fall out of mold. Size is very consistent, all cavities dropped bullets measuring .4525. This was with straight WW alloy.

[hedgehorn]

Mine has been dropping .4515 Boolits. Has anyone worked up a load for Unique with this bullet yet? I went out today and I can tell you that 6.7 Grains is too hot. I was getting some primer cup flowing into the firing pin cavity. I read Lymans cast bullet handbook and it list 7.3 max with a 225 grain round nose.

[hicard]

Try 5.5-5.8 grs of Unique.

[hedgehorn]

Thanks hicard. I will give it a shot.

[targetshootr]

Mine dropped on the small side too so I'll give beagling a try.

[DAFzipper]

Sent mold back to Lee. There test cast were .452 and .002 out of round. My test casts with #2 where .451 to .4515. They said they were months behind but would cut a new mold. I told them to keep it and cut me a new one. I don't want to let them off the hook that easy. Several group buy molds are coming back out of spec. Waiting on 5 more group buys. No more Lee's for me. Good thing members are giving us other options!

[DAFzipper]

Well after waiting 7 more months I e-mailed Lee on this mold I sent back. Here is the answer I received:

"Mr. Files,

We haven't forgotten about you. I have been trying to locate your original mold or a dimensioned drawing showing what the bullet looked like so we can make a replacement."

I wish they would have contacted me. I sent them a copy of the dimensions form the original thread post and 3 days later:

"Mr. Files,

Your mold will be shipped today to the following address"

So if anyone else is still waiting I suggest you contact Lee! Good thing we now have other options for custom molds. No more Lee group buys for me. It seems as though you have to call and complain to get anything done. Is sure seems like there isn't logic to when a mold will get made.

[DAFzipper]

I forgot to point out that they could not even find my old mold!

[DAFzipper]

Well the replacement mpld is very good. Did some test casts. 237 grains with WW. diameter of .454 to .455. OAL is .607, rear band looked small but measured at .100, first mold measured .110, nose looks to be .330. Now to polish the cavities.