Best mold and Lead mix for 165 and 180 Gr. .40 S&W cartridge

[LEADLUBBER]

Hello All,


I am going to want some bullet molds that will work well in the .40 S&W cartridge case


I would prefer to have as many cavities as possible to speed the casting process, as my time is somewhat limited....



What are the recommendations for the best price/ best quality/ best bullet design mold with the most cavities?


Also, what is the best lead mix and BHN to use this in this caliber?

[jameslovesjammie]

I have had good luck with just about any boolit mould in .40 using as cast wheelweights and water quenched wheelweights. For 180 grain, I have the Lyman .40 cal truncated cone and it has performed quite well. If I was going to purchase new again, I would get the Lee version of the same boolit in a 6 cavity. My Lyman is out of round.

In the 165 grain area, Mihec has a really nice 150-160 grain round nose flat point (that can be ordered with a hollowpoint if you want). I have it in the 150 grain version and it has really been a winner so far!

[LEADLUBBER]

Thank you JLJ!

[truckmsl]

I use the lee 6 cavity truncated cone in 180 grain. I generally cast with the equivalent of 50/50 wheel weight and soft lead water quenched with very good results, with target loads running a measured average of 850 fps, lubed with carnuba red, sized to .401.

[Justinsaneok]

I'm wondering the same thing. I want a six cavity for sure. I want to use it for .40 and 10mm . A mold with reversible pins for hollow points or flat points would be a huge plus.

[fredj338]

I don't think there reall is one. IMO, all guns are diff, but std lube grooves, air cooled wwa lloy & white label CR work fine for me w/ 175-180gr bullets @ 900fps. Powder choice comes ito play as well, I like med burners & lead bullets.

[MakeMineA10mm]

To the OP's question, there is no need to look farther than Midway's every-other month special on Lee's 6-cavity Truncated Cone moulds for around $35. They have them on sale for both the tumble lube version and the standard lube groove version. Wait another month and they put the handles on sale for around $12. With my soft boolit mix (2/3 WW, 1/3 pure lead + 1% tin) they come out at 182grs. I have the std lube groove version and shoot them in the 10mm at about 1000fps with excellent results. Lee says they weigh 175, but obviously that varies according to your alloy.

[RGMJ]

I use a six cavity Lee mold - 175gr, Truncated cone. I also use a Lee 2-cavity mold 175 gr TC which i modified by removing some top metal with a lathe so I can cast 155 gr. bullets with wheel weights. Remove about 2-3mm metal to get close to 155 gr.

I'm about to purchase an RCBS mold TC 200gr.

Goo luck with your casting!!

[smilie=s:

[Ausglock]

G'day.
I run a Lee 175gr TC 6 cavity conventional lube bullet in 40S&W through a Glock 35 with Factory barrel.
Alloy is 50/50 WW/Pb water quenched. Lubed on a Lyman 450 with BAC lube.
Loaded with 5.3gr WSF in Win cases with Win WSP primers.
I fired 200 of this load yesterday at the range and afterwards removed the barrel to have a look down it. No leading. Nice shiny bore.

[casterofboolits]

I have two Lyman four cavity #401654 40-175-TCBB moulds nd they drop 174-175 in my alloy and work great in my EAA Witness sized 401. Cast Dia is 403/404. Both moulds cast like a dream!