If you were to only get one mould?

[nyviking67]

So currently I only have one firearm. A kimber 45ACP. And will be casting for that handgun alone for the forseable future. So my question(s) are this.
1. What style boolit for range shooting do you guys recommend? Am leaning towards SWC style (approx 200gr) over the RN style (approx 230gr). Other suggestions?

2. Am looking at Accurate Moulds with 4-5 cavities in a single mould. Should I get brass or stick with aluminum (I've read all about the temp consistancies of the different moulde materials and am leaning toward brass). However is the increase in weight a good tradeoff for better boolit casting.

I do plan on casting 1000's of these each year as well so quality and durability are key.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Tim

[beagle]

A Lyman 452460 or the equivelant should take care of all your needs until you get hooked with the "got to have another mould" fever that all us casters catch./beagle

[Reload3006]

not question MP 454-200 you get what you pay for

[lbaize3]

There is a current group buy for a .453 dia 230 grain fp mold you might like to take a look at...

[mpbarry1]

not question MP 454-200 you get what you pay for

+1. It is the world famous HG 68 design. drops em perfectly, it is the one. It is my first mold. I also got a 200 gr HP design mold from miha. so if you decide you need two... :)

[btroj]

I would go with the MP 200 swc also.

[southpaw]

See if you can aquire 100 or so of some different designs. That way you could see what works in your gun. That being said the 4 or 5 different styles that I have sent out of my 1911 have all fed and shot well.

Jerry Jr.

[nyviking67]

+1. It is the world famous HG 68 design. drops em perfectly, it is the one. It is my first mold. I also got a 200 gr HP design mold from miha. so if you decide you need two... :)

The question I have is since you recommend the 454-200 but my sizer is 452 should I just get the 452-200 or will a 454 have any problem with a 452 sizer?

Thanks.

[btroj]

My MP 200 swc is spec'd to drop at .452. The bullets are Lilly sized when run thru my .452 size die in the Star.
I don't think you go wrong with either size but I prefer the .452 as it drops closer to the size I want.

[geargnasher]

My MP 452-200-SWC is spec'd to .454" because sometimes I like to shoot soft scrap that tends to cast small compared to wheel weights. Like most of them I see, I ordered mine without the bevel base.

Sizing down two thousandths if necessary for a .45 pistol boolit is not an issue at all.

If I could have only one, it would truly be a toss up between the 4-cavity MP and my three-cavity brass Accurate #45-230L, spec'd at .453" with WW alloy. As far as I'm concerned, there is no room for improvement with either design or mould, I couldn't be happier with either of them, and they have made all my other .45 ACP molds (8) instantly obsolete.

Notice that both moulds are brass, and both are very expensive. Like was said earlier, ya gets what ya pays for.

Gear

[mpbarry1]

I have the 452 mold. Casting hot it drops just over that. I size to. 4525 and went out and shot some today in a bizzard. No leading in my sig. That is good since i made 3000 of em. (Sometimes I get ahead of myself). I will send you some if ya want to try em out. I could throw in some hollow points too. Pm me if interested.

[sig2009]

There is a current group buy for a .453 dia 230 grain fp mold you might like to take a look at...

I don't see this anywhere in the group buy section. Help me out here.

[mpbarry1]

The group buy for the 200 grain brass HG 68 mold has closed, but miha may still have some left. they come up for sale on here about once a month. He also has an aluminum 6 banger on his site http://www.mp-molds.com/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=5&=SID. PM miha and see what he has. The good news is that he is going to be making molds full time so I think he will be making a lot more shelf molds in the future. His web site is MP molds www.mp-molds.com. His email is miha.prevec@siol.net. A very good vendor.

I missed the part about 230 grain mold. The only one I saw was an NOE 230 HP in the active GB. NOE makes a fine mold.

[Blammer]

I'd pick this one. :)

I'm liking it more and more.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=1411056#post1411056

[azrednek]

Try this guy for a sample pack of various 45 cal boolits. He is currently backed up and wont be taking new orders for a couple of weeks. Find what works best for you before you invest in a mold. My gut feeling though if you're like most bullet casters you wont be satisfied with only one mold. Like guns, one can't possibly have enough molds!!

http://www.mattsbullets.com/

I use the Lee 200gr RNF for my 45 cal plinking needs and I'm considering a lighter weight RNF from Lee plinker to stretch the number per pound. For serious target shooting or hunting I have SWC's in different weights. I also have a couple of gas check 45 molds that improve the shot to shot accuracy in worn and/or pitted bores. The gas checked loads for 45 ACP and 45 AR do nothing to improve the performance in a good bore. I honestly can't see having just one. Having a favorite yes but you may want to economize with a light weight for plinking, have a heavy weight HP for hunting, a super accurate SWC for serious target shooting or a 100% reliable style for self defense. Just to many bases to cover with only one mold.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dnisbet/crimp-1.gif

[MT Gianni]

My Kimber target will feed the 452460 like it was flowing water. It will not feed anything sized over 0.453 and prefers .452. Slug your throat before you order any mold.

[Mk42gunner]

Another vote for the Lyman 452460. Sized to .452, I have never had a failure to feed in my Kimber no matter what magazine I was using (GI, McCormick, Wilson and I am sure there were others).

Robert

[nyviking67]

My Kimber target will feed the 452460 like it was flowing water. It will not feed anything sized over 0.453 and prefers .452. Slug your throat before you order any mold.

yeah that's exactly what I'm gonna do. Also will try RN, SWC types as well to see how it likes it too.

[MtGun44]

For THE ONE mold for .45 ACP. H&G 68 clone (Lee SWC 200 is NOT) with Lyman 452460
close behind.

Bill

[lbaize3]

Sig2009,
dagnabit! I got it wrong, was thinking of NOE 453 200Gr. FN HP Brass on page two or the 452 230gr RF HP Rerun on page three of the Active Group Buys.

Sorry I got those rascals mixed up.

Leonard

[sig2009]

Sig2009,
dagnabit! I got it wrong, was thinking of NOE 453 200Gr. FN HP Brass on page two or the 452 230gr RF HP Rerun on page three of the Active Group Buys.

Sorry I got those rascals mixed up.

Leonard

That's ok. I see the link for the MP mold above for the .453 200gn. I may have to pick one of these up although I do have the Lyman 452460 which is a great mold!

[williamwaco]

I have used several 200 SWCs over the years.
I have found all them to be very good and feed flawlessly.
I am currently using the Lee six cavity

Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 452-200-SWC 45 ACP, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt (Long Colt) (452 Diameter) 200 Grain Semi-Wad cutter

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/336035/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-200-swc-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-200-grain-semi-wadcutter

I use LLA and tumble them.

Stay away frin 185 grain bullets. Some people like them but I have never been able to get them to feed reliably.