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IMHO it's .40S&W/10mm.
Very few boolit molds available. You basically have TC, SWC and WFN. There's not even a lot of SWC molds available. I know Accurate has some listed in their catalog but I can't stretch my $$ that far.
I love shooting my 10mm pistols but casting for them is work, there's just nothing exciting about it like there is for other calibers.
Nothing boring about it. Less bullet selections is a good thing. Saves you money in the long run. I have four molds, two WFN, one RF and one RN. Spans weights from 180-220 grains. That's enough selection for the cartridge.
In comparison I have thirty-five 35cal molds. Some of those are for rifles. But the selection just means I shoot less of all of them. I could honestly cut it down to a few molds because most of them don't do any better than the others.
You would think 38 special or 357 would be the most boring. Right? Well let's see....I have to choose from:
* 2 cavity H&G factory hollow point #51 - bought it many years ago and have yet to use it
* H&G 4 cavity #51 swc plain base - my go-to bullet
* H&G # 73 145gr 4 cavity pointed bullet plain base - just for fun but VERY accurate - shoot them in Officer's Model Match Colt
* H&G #39 4 cavity 158gr RN - for the Rossi 92 and good old fashioned 38's
* H&G #39 4 cavity rn gc - for the 357's in the Rossi 92
* H&G # 50 4 cavity 148gr wc - but I don't shoot wc's
Did I forget any?
LEE 175 gr. TC.
Sure wish LEE made that 145 gr. SWC in a 6 cavity mold.
Shiloh
I've got a bunch of .38/.357 molds, I've got more .44 molds than I do .40 molds. I'm going to see what Arsenal offers and try and pick up a multi-cavity for my 10mm. I agree with ya Shiloh on that 145 SWC.
Only one mould I use for 40, it works -all I need. The worn out Lees are on the shelf. I like boring casting - means no problems. I tinker with the 30 cals. Then there is the 9mm, boring to cast but a pain to load. Don't shoot the 9 much as it's SD.
Besides the Lee 175gr TC
I cast the NOE 402-160-RN
Attachment 197341
I like the 175 TC by lee, works fine.
I only have one .40 and it is actually a Hipoint carbine not a pistol.
Does a dang nice job of putting holes in things though.
I use 2 molds by N.O.E and they are 160-180 grain.
There is nothing wrong with boring calibers.
It just leaves more time to shoot with out all of drama.
Boring is good. For me, 230 grain RN for .45acp, it seems to always work well where many other bullet shapes go stupid.
I would argue it is 45 ACP, while you have a ton of different bullet shape you do not have any issues with lead hardness causing leading, I have shot 45 cast from pure lead all the way up to pure lino with no leading.
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There's a huge choice of boolit shapes for the .45 ACP Everywhere from the 155 gr SWC to those hulking 255 gr SWC.Quote:
Originally Posted by acoop101
For me, it is a BORING old Lyman 429421. I bought the mold in 1974 and it has cast about a bazillion boolits and everything I stick 'em in seems to shoot great when I do my part. I know a lot of people here have said that they loose accuracy at long range and don't enter the forcing cone as well as some designer boolit, but I think I will keep being bored with Elmers old boolit.
I have a LEE 175 gr TLSWC with the back band trimmed to the next groove. Lowers to about 158 gr.
Shiloh
Any round ball mould. From .25 to .62. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. Once the wrinkles are out, there's nothing of visual interest.
Next in line in the "Hallelujah it's over!" line is .45 Auto pistol. Cast a supply, put the mould away, and hope you don't have to see it again for a long time.
Thats a hard question. If the alloy is right, the alloy temp is right and the mold temp is right you will get good bullets. Its monotonous for sure, and I guess boring covers it pretty well. Now, if something is not right it can be a challenge getting things going. I would say 45's, because at one time I cast and shot more of those than anything. My working stock of 45's nearly fills a 5 gallon bucket.
So you're saying there's other options besides the HG #68 [emoji6]Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasGrunt
I kind of agree w/ them. The point is that 45acp is extremely easy to cast for. Only issues I've ever had was needing to throats a barrel. Even then if I would have stuck w/ the #68 it wouldn't have been necessary.
the old 45, 230g rn, it just works, soft lead or hard,
and like above said, pour a bunch of them , a bucket or several buckets, and put the mold away for a long time, :razz:
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now 44 and 357/38 boolits, a nother story, seems everytime I turn around noe or someone has a neat new boolit design to play with, and wala, got another mold laying around