Fixed my 45

[chris in va]

After struggling with the Lee 452-230-TL2r mold, I ordered the 452-228-1r and put some downrange today.

This was at 10 yards.

Before...

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5053/p1000188m.jpg (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/p1000188m.jpg/)

After...

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2269/p1000186nv.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/p1000186nv.jpg/)

Measured 1.5" across, no tumbling. See...I *knew* it wasn't anything to do with my shooting!;)

[RobS]

Glad you have it figure out..............I assume it had to do with bullet fit................to no surprise. :)

[462]

Much better.

So, do you attribute it solely to the change from a tumble lube designed boolit to that of a conventional design?

[gray wolf]

That's on of my old targets--just kidding.
Good work, and good shooting.

[HeavyMetal]

Your good to go!

Now for the $64.00 dollar question: will you ever buy another TL mold?

[geargnasher]

Chris, that's not bad considering how soft those freshly-cast boolits had to be. What alloy are you using? Remember that antimonial alloys age harden, and it takes two-three weeks for them to settle down. Water-dropped gets them much harder, and that happens more quickly, but you probably don't want to do that to your .45's.

And honestly, that's a tighter group than the several I shot tonight with my Boss's Kimber with the same boolitcast from aged ACWW, sized .452", 5.2 grains of Universal, seated 1.225" and lubed with FWWFL, so good on you. (My very similar Kimber shoots 1.5-2" at 15 yards with those loads rested if I do my part, I was testing the function of a new WC slide lock lever he had ground down to prevent premature slide lock, it worked, but the gun is a rattletrap and either it doesn't like the loads or I am unable to shoot it well, we'll see).

BTW, where did you get those custom targets? :kidding: Mine sometimes have blue lines all accross them, sometimes they have installation instructions in French on the back side, sometimes they have fax spam ads on the back, you name it. I like to recycle :mrgreen:
Gear

[chris in va]

So, do you attribute it solely to the change from a tumble lube designed boolit to that of a conventional design?

It's hard for me to say either way. I loaded both exactly the same but get keyholing with the TL design for some reason. This boolit drops at .452 so I didn't bother ordering a sizing die like I did with the 9mm. Would I buy another TL mold? No way, especially after my 9mm fiasco.

I didn't bother trying groups with the Witness, just used my Sig this time. I'm selling the Tanfoglio anyway so don't really want to clean it again.

I will say one thing, and many other people have the same issue. This bullet ogive shape makes contact with the leade right above the case rim. It won't chamber until about 1.23, and I noticed the Hodgdon site lists it at 1.20. I bought some Universal today and can't wait to load some up and try again.

Can't tell you how relieved I am to finally get things in order. My CZ shoots like a laser, now my Sig does too.

[MtGun44]

Glad you have success.

Never been a fan of TL designs. Certainly is cheap and easy for the newbie when it
works but sure causes a lot of problems when it doesn't.

I wonder how many try a TL design, get results like Chris' and give up on casting
in disgust?

Bill

[geargnasher]

I use both the Lee round nose and TC in the .45 ACP, both tumble lube designs. The TC is not quite as accurate as the round nose, but the round nose leads more. Go figure. Neither keyhole, and both will shoot under 4" at 25 yards out of a 4" BBL, maybe better with some other nut behind the trigger. Some guns don't like some boolits.

Gear