Which Lee Mold for .45ACP?

[TinCan Assassin]

I'm divided between The TL452-230-TC and the TL452-230-2R. Any issue feeding TC designs in a 1911?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I can't help with the 1911,
I just thought I'd mention,
I have the TL452-230-TC
Mine drops large .454"
luckily for me I have a 45 colt.
I use it 'unsized' in 45 colt as a plinker round.
Jon

[Kraschenbirn]

Any issue feeding TC designs in a 1911?


Uhmmmm...kinda depends upon your 1911. I don't care much for TL boolits but I do cast and load a 220 gr TC and a 225 gr RN; both sized .452. Either feeds just fine in all but one of my 1911s which include a Series 70 GC and an early Commander. My parkerized, 1943-vintage, Remington-Rand is 100% "as-issued" and doesn't reliably feed the TCs (or SWCs). My other four 1911s have had their feed ramps polished, chambers "throated", and will feed just about anything that will fit in the mag.

Bill

[Shooter6br]

The Lee 230Tl works well in my Kimber and Mec Tech carbine. I would go wit the non TL although i have a few. You can TL regular bullet design. If fact LLA was out before the TL bullets. Besides you can always pan lube the regular style or TL them >I m impressed with the 6 cav Lee

[geargnasher]

Lee makes some "ok" designs for the .45 ACP, but not any steller ones IMO. DON'T get the 230-2R, it's nose is too fat at the base and often has to be seated too deeply to go in the magazines.

Gear

[mongo]

I have the TL452-230-2R 6 cavity mold and it works great in my Colt. I size all my bullets with the lee push threw sizer. Its the only one I got in .45, maybe I just dont know and different, LOL

[geargnasher]

Totally different boolit than the conventional-groove 2R, sorry I didn't clarify. The TL boolit, has a rebated nose base, much better ogive, and is a flawless feeder in a great number of .45's I've tried them in. My problem with the boolit is the TL bands are weak and I had lots of trouble with leading using it.

Gear

[HangFireW8]

The TL boolit, has a rebated nose base, much better ogive, and is a flawless feeder in a great number of .45's I've tried them in. My problem with the boolit is the TL bands are weak and I had lots of trouble with leading using

My experience as well, the TL 230 grain Lee boolit most nearly matches a military FMJ and feeds well, but all the stars must be in alignment for leading not to occur. For my old barrel, which was oversized, it was not to be. I still have a bunch to try in my new barrel.

-HF

[HammerMTB]

The 230TC's run fine in my Glock 30, Taurus 24/7, and Hi-Standard 1911 Tactical. Don't own any old original Gov't Models, so can't say there.
I just got their 200 SWC and it has run in all the guns so far, too.
I stay away from the TL design, mostly because it takes more effort to make pretty boolits, and the GG boolits can be TL'd anyway.

[Moonie]

I like the 230TC NON-TL boolit, I do tumble lube it however.

[fredj338]

I am another in the not a fan of the TL design, but I like to size & lube. Most 1911s will feed the TC design well. My go to bullet for any 45 is a 200grTC from Magma, the Lee is very sim shape.

[wallenba]

My Series 70 Colt likes the 230 TC non-TL best. I wish it was not a bevel base though.

[garym1a2]

I got the TL452-230-2R as my first mold. It always casts large and lead like crazy in my Kimber 1911. I got much better results with the 6up 200swc from them when a lubersizer .452 was used.

[got_lead?]

The 230 TL TC feeds well in all my autos, haven't used the 2R round nose. I would not recommend the Lee 200-SWC (non TL) because of it's long thin nose. It feeds poorly in every .45 I own. It dents the case at a minimum when it feeds, the long thin nose just doesn't work as well as a short fat one.

If you are wanting a 200 grain boolit, try the Lee 200-RF, it's a great feeder, and is accurate.

[35remington]

The nonstandard bullet is the 228-1R. The 1R means one radius ogive. Normally these will load to no more than 1.220", otherwise the bearing surface will jam in the leade and prevent full chambering.

The 230-2R is the tumble lube version with a more faithful nose shape to 230 grain jacketed ball. If looking for a Lee roundnose in 45 ACP, this is the one to get.

Lubed properly the bullet doesn't lead that much in my guns.

[Max Brand]

The nonstandard bullet is the 228-1R. The 1R means one radius ogive. Normally these will load to no more than 1.220", otherwise the bearing surface will jam in the leade and prevent full chambering.

The 230-2R is the tumble lube version with a more faithful nose shape to 230 grain jacketed ball. If looking for a Lee roundnose in 45 ACP, this is the one to get.

Lubed properly the bullet doesn't lead that much in my guns.

These are the same as my findings concerning the -1R and -2R. I finally gave up on the -1R completely because there was no way to make it feed reliably in any of my 1911's regardless of COL. The -2R on the other hand has never had a problem with feeding or leading. My Lee TC's feed reliably in all my .45's with no issues.

[EMC45]

I shoot both the TC and RN Lee bullets with the standard lube groove. They both do well with my SA 1911A1 Mil Spec and the TC one does well in my G36 Glock. The RN is a little too fat in the middle for the Glock's somewhat tight chamber.

[Linstrum]

I'm divided between The TL452-230-TC and the TL452-230-2R. Any issue feeding TC designs in a 1911?

Both of those Lee designs work very well in my Citadel copy of the 1911A. I also tried the Lee 228 grain 1R design and I had nothing but jams and feed failures.

What is kind of nice, using either one, I do okay hitting an 18-inch target at 100 yards with my pistol! I just have to aim high is all.

rl 1068

[DanM]

I will go against the grain here and put a good word in for the Lee TL452-200-SWC. This boolit is super accurate in my Colt. When shooting from my pistol perch at 25yds, one ragged hole groups are common. This little button nose is a smooth feeder too. Supposedly the design was adapted from the successful USAF shooting team design, but I don't know that for a fact. I also enjoy shooting the TL230-2R and the TL230-TC. I do see a few flakes of lead after en extended shooting session. Most of that comes out with the first patch, and the rest is easily removed with a few passes of the bronze brush. So, no big deal there. My series 80 is equipped with a tight NM bushing and a group gripper FL guide rod. These mods made a big difference in accuracy with the factory barrel....

[idahoron]

I got the Lee 230 R2. I wish I would have got the 6 banger. I have poured about 1000 bullets with that mould now. I like mine so far and they feed well in my Kimber. I have only shot a few groups to see where they were hitting. This is the first three shot group I shot with these boolits. it was shot at 15 yards and measures 3/4"

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Pistol%20pics/1-13-12lead.jpg

Since that group I have shot these boolits a bunch. The last time I shot I got some leading. I am thinking I didn't get enough lube on them since I didn't have that trouble before.

This was my one shot group. Ron

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Pistol%20pics/Coyote1.jpg

[AndyC]

I would not recommend the Lee 200-SWC (non TL) because of it's long thin nose. It feeds poorly in every .45 I own. It dents the case at a minimum when it feeds, the long thin nose just doesn't work as well as a short fat one.
Glad I'm not the only one - it's a horrendous design, IMO:

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1438/bulletsr.jpg

[Moonie]

Feeds perfectly for me in 3 1911's, loaded so just a sliver of bearing surface is showing.

[Inkman]

6 CAV H&G 68 200 SWC SKU 90310

This is the mold i started casting with for my 1911s. Loaded at 1.252 to 1.255 OAL they feed and shoot absolutely great in a variety of semi custom 1911s from Ed Browns to PC1911s. Granted i've only cast about 8000+/- so far but i'd say that is a good enough indicator for my purposes.

Al

[ku4hx]

I like these in my Ruger KP-90, Glock 30SF and my 1911. Very accurate. ~230 grain; Lee six cavity TC/TL. LLA + Motor Mica dusting for that non tacky Pewter look.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Another vote for the Lee TL452-200-SWC. Feeds like a dream in the 1911 for me. YMMV
CF

[williamwaco]

+1 on.

Lee TL452-200-SWC

[DanM]

As long as we are talking about the Lee TL452-200-SWC, can anyone expound on the roots of it's design? I have been told that it was derived from the USAF shooting team design. That would have to be from the Curtis LeMay era. The general was a big supporter of competition pistol shooting, and the USAF team had a lot of success during his tenure as commander of the Strategic Air Command.

[Bullet Caster]

I use the Lee 228 gn. .452 with the 1 ogive radius that geargnasher does not like. However, it is the only mould I have for the 1911 in .45acp. It works for me and my Norinco 1911 and have not had any FTF issues. BC

[MtGun44]

H&G 68 is the gold standard of SWCs for 1911s. End of story.
Any deviations increases the likelihood of problems.

Bill

[Wolfer]

I have the 228-1R and in my Ballester Molina I can sometimes go thru a whole clip without a jam but not often