Looking to replace my crapy lee 2 cavity. Shooting them through a 1911. Of the readily available molds what version is best and has the most bang for the buck? Looking for two to four cavity, have only used lee 2 cavity molds.
Looking to replace my crapy lee 2 cavity. Shooting them through a 1911. Of the readily available molds what version is best and has the most bang for the buck? Looking for two to four cavity, have only used lee 2 cavity molds.
I like the Lyman 452460, 452630, and RCBS 45-201 SWC
NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle
I have and use that bullet too and can't say enough good things about it. Shoot accurate out of everything I have .452 caliber.
I've always been happy with the RCBS molds. I wish they made a 4 cavity mold! The only experience that I have had with Lyman goes back 35 or 40 years. They made a good mold back then. Saeco makes a nice mold. You might want to look at some of the custom makers. I think a few of them are site sponsors.
If you like the boolet just get the same one in the Lee 6-cavity. The 6-cavity Lee is an order of magnitude nicer than the 2-cavity. And man, can that 6-cavity shuck out the boolets!
Lyman, RCBS are both expensive molds. For the most bang for your buck, I would order MP-Mold or an NOE. Initial cost may be higher BUT they will cast to the diameter YOU want.
If you are going to make a hole in something. MAKE IT A BIG ONE!
When in a .45 mood. I have two- six cavity lee molds. Rotating between them I can run as fast as I can keep lead melted. I have a couple NOE molds for the good stuff, but for smashing plates the lee molds are just fine.
Retired Redleg
I came into this world kicking and screaming covered in someone else's blood, I don't mind going out the same way.
I like the RCBS 45-201 the best. Easy to cast and very durable, trouble free molds.
If you're looking for a good accurate design that will feed through virtually any .45 ACP handgun, the SAECO #069 is hard to beat. It's a #68 H&G copy, shoots at least as well and the mould is much cheaper than trying to find an original #68. Other mould designs, some of which have been mentioned already like the Lyman #452460, #452488, and the RCBS 45-200-SWC make very accurate bullets. I've had all these moulds for years. While they work well in many out-of-the-box unmodified pistols, they don't feed reliably in all of them.
I have a 4 cav. Lyman #452488 that I bought in the late '70s. It puts out beautiful boolits: they don't feed reliably in my 1911, but are a treat in both of my .45 Colts & my 25-2 S&W.
I had a RCBS 201KT that was reliable in the 1911 & was a good mold. In a moment of weakness I gave it to a friend that was getting started in casting (I miss that mold).
I have a 4 cav. SAECO copy of the #068.....a good mold & I use it often.
Henry
+1 for the 4 cav saeco copy of the H&G #068. PCed or lubed with just over 5.0 gr WW231 is a really nice accurate shooter. It is my go to mold.
I have the Mihec copy of the H&G mold with the hollowpoint option in brass. The bullet only weigh about 185 grains but really shoot well.
I used to shoot 230 gr Lee truncated cone tumble lubers and wondered why I couldn't hit anything with a 1911. The Mihec mold works really good and I can cast hollowpoints with very little extra effort.
I've tried a few different 200 grain molds and prefer the Lyman 452460 for accuracy.
A deplorable that votes!
The RCBS or NOE or MiHec or Saeco would be a better quality mold than the Lee. I have no experience with Lyman. The MiHec is not readily available but an excellent mold. I would recommend the H&G68 profile. If a 2 cavity RCBS fits the need that is what I would recommend. I need more volume so I have a 4 cavity MiHec.
For the price of a Saeco you can go with a custom mold.
NOE 453-200-SWC 4 cavity for me
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Saeco and Noe molds like the Noe better as the lighter mold is tiring with long casting sessions
Used a RCBS 45-201KT for years (It's now 45-201SWC, same mold). Good mold.
Then I splurged and got an Accurate 453200H 4 cav. Absolutely Great mold! Just a little tap and it rains bullets. Well worth the money. Quality is just 1st class.
Both are copies of the H&G 68, accurate and run 100% in all my 1911's.
Check e-bay for a Lyman 452460
Picked up a lyman 452460 from a member here. My first non Lee mold. What handles fit the Lyman 2 cavity molds and work well?
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |