.45 mold for 1911

[kcinnick]

I just got into the .45 game and I am looking for my first mold. What works better in a 1911 round nose or Truncated cone.

I am looking at the Lee 6 cavities to try out, I like how the 120TC works for 9mm, and I hope I get the same results with the TC out of 1911's. I was told round nose was better for 1911's, just want to get the info from the best source on the net. They will be coming out of a Springfield Loaded MC operator and STI Trojan if that matters...

I'll be ordering dies, primers, and WST next week, so I will probably add in the molds at the same time.

[40Super]

Get a good quality 200gr SWC mold(H&G #68),I think it is by far the best bullet for the 45ACP .Extremely accurate,you won't go wrong with it.Then later you can try others for a change of pace.
I have had good experiance with TC's in most of my auto calibers,so my second choice(again 200gr my preference).

[bobthenailer]

Never had any problems with the 200 gr swc HG 68 or its clones in any 45 acp ive owned in over 40 years. I also have a 230 rn but i hardley use it except for speed reloads in my S&W 625 revolver.

[geargnasher]

H&G #68 by MP molds, Accurate molds, or maybe even Ballisti-Cast.

For 230-grain moulds get an Accurate 45-230L or 230G

Lee makes lots of good designs, but none for the .45 ACP are any good except for the tumble-lube roundnose 230. Even the TC moulds (I have both) don't shoot well in my guns.

Gear

[btroj]

I am very pleased with my MP 200 swc. Does everything I need.

[GT27]

1911's were originally designed to shoot the roundnose 230 grain ball. If yours hasn't been throated I would recommend the Lee TL 230.The only way to know whats going to shoot well and function in it is to try a variety. I shoot the TL 230 and like it,functions and accurate! GT27

[geargnasher]

I keep hearing it mentioned that the 1911 was originally designed for 200-grain bullets. Not that it matters, all the modern ones I've seen come factory-sprung for 230 ball ammo.

Gear

[tomme boy]

I was always told it was the 200 gr RN. The Military then made it a 230 RN

[MtGun44]

Unless the gun is a pre 1970s Colt or an unmodified military gun, it will feed H&G 68s set
up correctly.

Throating for SWCs has been standard in all 1911s that I have seen since the mid or late 1970s


Load H&G 68 in .452" diam to 1.250 to 1.260 LOA, 4.8 gr of Bullseye or TiteGroup, taper crimp as a
separate operation to a mouth diam of .470-.471" and you will have success.

Bill

[sparky45]

I have 3 Lee molds for the 45 and I like ALL of them. All of them are 230gr. I have 2 RN with one being the TL, and the other mold is TC. I have 5 - 45's and they all eat and enjoy whichever boolit I feed them. Of the 3, I prefer the TC mold, it makes great boolits. Each one is accurate in my guns, at least as accurate as I am with ANY gun.

[kcinnick]

Well, the goal is a load for single stack. I currently shoot an STI trojan in single stack, but in 9mm, I am ordering one in .45 and I also have an MC operator. So, what advantage is there going with a 200g load bullet over a 230 g design?

I thought I was going to get a lee 120 TC for 9mm then buy a better mold, but I haven't found a reason to yet!

I plan on using WST for a powder.

[shooterg]

I advantage of 200 gr. over 230 gr. ? Your lead makes MO BOOLITS !!

[kcinnick]

I advantage of 200 gr. over 230 gr. ? Your lead makes MO BOOLITS !!

I am more concerned about felt recoil and getting the sights back on target than making more boolits!

Whatever gives me the best ammunition is what I want to go with.

[softpoint]

Another good mold IMHO, is the 452460 Lyman. I have had good luck with it in all my 1911's and my 2 625's:cbpour:

[catboat]

I've had excellent results with a SAECO #69 200 grain flat base SWC mold in my two Springfield 1911's.

I just picked up a used, but like new, Springfield 1911a1 milspec in 45 acp.

From a 2-handed grip, arms rested, 50 feet distance (indoor range-it's cold here in Maine in the winter), the first 5 shots I fired at a target with it (50 ft conventional slowfire target) shot into a ragged one-hole group about 0.75". That's a quarter on the right side of the target in the picture.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m7/catboat/SA1911a1006.jpg

SAECO 200 grain SWC (#69) sized .452", 4.0 grains Bullseye. 100% feed and eject during the range session with it. This bullet does very well in my other Springfield 1911. Highly recommended.

This is the 4 cavity mold, but they do make a 2 cavity. Not cheap, but then again, look at the results.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/621168/saeco-4-cavity-bullet-mold-069-45-caliber-452-diameter-200-grain-semi-wadcutter


I'm having the pistol converted into a wadcutter gun for 2700 bullseye competition.

[.5mv^2]

I used to buy 200 grain RN FP lead boolits cast by S&S. They are listed for the 45 colt and flat out shoot great in my 1911's. I don't cast for 45 yet but I got a chance to try 30 Lee 160 grain RN FP. They shot great.

I havent yet but that is my next mold. Less lead=more boolits.

[Dale53]

The .45 ACP is my favorite cartridge of all times for a handgun. Not the only one, but the favorite. I have fired over 100,000 thousand rounds of .45 ACP in 1911's and Smith 625's.

My favorite bullet is a Mihec clone (actual copy) of the H&G #68 flat base 200 gr. SWC. I mostly shoot this with 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent for target use. This bullet will feed in most unaltered 1911's (it was designed so the strike part of the nose hit the feed ramp exactly the same as hardball). I have also driven this at 1000 fps (with a full load of Unique) for self defense or the old IPSC power level.

If you wish to use a 230 gr bullet my choice would be the Lee 230 TC with conventional lube groove. In my 625's (this is my speed reloading bullet of choice), this is only slightly less accurate than the Mihec #68 (Mihec shoots well under an inch at 25 yards, the Lee 230 TC shoots at 1 1/4" at 25 yards). The old standard hardball load is 5.0 grs of Bullseye with the 230 gr bullet. The Lee bullet should feed well in any decent 1911.

FWIW
Dale53

[Quigley284]

I have a Lyman 452460 that shoot and pretty good in my Kimber. I have an HG #68 on order from one the group buys they offered. Looking forward to that one. BE powder. Mike

[.5mv^2]

Seeing all the good results with a variety of bullets. There must be no bad choices for the 1911.

[gbrown]

I've shot a Colt Commander I got used in '76. It loves the 200 gr SWC. Only ball I shot thru it was issue stuff from the SO. Never had a problem. Don't know how many SWC have fed and gone down range from that sweetie.

[kcinnick]

I have been doing a lot of reading, and it seems like the 200g SWC is the most popular bullet for lead shooters in USPSA. Anyway, I will look for a 200g H&G clone.

[Sonnypie]

I shoot an original 1929 Colt 1911A1. And I have some original ammunition from that era, corrosive priming. It's number 996 of 1000 made by Colt in 1929.
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa382/Sonnypie/PB270045.jpg.
That style bullet has never failed in that gun. So when I was looking at casting my own for it, I naturally looked towards what already worked.
My first mold was the Lee Tumble Lubed design. TL452-230-2R (http://www.titanreloading.com/molds/bullet-molds/45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt/lee-dc-mold-tl452-230-2r-)

I decided to hollow point the mold (http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa382/Sonnypie/HP%2045s/) and it went straight from the box to the drill press. Makes some nice HPRN cast bullets.
I have to wonder if a HP bullet is worth it in a 45ACP though. I have my doubts it will blossom at the freight train speed of a 45.

Next I decided to get a 6 banger mold and decided on Lee's loob-grewued 228g style. 452-228 1R (http://www.titanreloading.com/molds/bullet-molds/45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt/-lee-6-cav-mold-452-228-1r-)
It sure can drink lead and poop bullets!

I have had no problems with either of the bullets I cast in the gun. Shooting steel targets, it bangs the gong all day long.

Don't forget to get the handles for the 6 banger mold. :oops: [smilie=l:

[gbrown]

Sonnypie-- Look at this picture in this article. Very nice.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletAlloy.htm#WW

I have an NOE rerun in 452 230 HP coming and can't wait!!

[Sonnypie]

Here, I brunged it over...


http://www.lasc.us/DSCN1662-avatar.JPG

Stick-on WW, 45 ACP 200 gr. HP @ 800-850 fps fired into water.

Stick on's (if you can get them) are nearly straight lead. The ones I've had were dead soft.
I wonder if it would perform as well or better in living tissue?
I've been casting mine from Magnum Shot with a taste of tin added. BHN is running 11.8-12.1, which is double what the one in the article is.
I know a lot of lives stopped when knocked down with the good old 45 ACP.
I happened to see a blurb about the 45 VS: the 9mm. They were saying how the 45, because it is big and moving slower @ ~800 FPS tore as it went in.
Then they shot molding clay packed in containers and the 9mm traveled through, were the 45 opened a huge hole inside.
And those were FMJ bullets, not HP.

Have fun with your new mold!
And don't wreck the water troughs. :bigsmyl2:

[kcinnick]

Unless the gun is a pre 1970s Colt or an unmodified military gun, it will feed H&G 68s set
up correctly.

Throating for SWCs has been standard in all 1911s that I have seen since the mid or late 1970s


Load H&G 68 in .452" diam to 1.250 to 1.260 LOA, 4.8 gr of Bullseye or TiteGroup, taper crimp as a
separate operation to a mouth diam of .470-.471" and you will have success.

Bill

What do you mean by taper crimp as a separate operation? I use Dillon dies, and I am pretty sure it only seats and crimps the bullet in one push. I have an extra space on my press, I never mounted the powder check, I never saw a reason too, I look in every case as it comes up to that empty station.

Nick

[kcinnick]

Instead of debating, 9mm or .45, why not go both! I am either carrying a 9mm with 14 or 18 rounds or a .45 with 9 rounds. Both have their place.


Here, I brunged it over...


http://www.lasc.us/DSCN1662-avatar.JPG

Stick-on WW, 45 ACP 200 gr. HP @ 800-850 fps fired into water.

Stick on's (if you can get them) are nearly straight lead. The ones I've had were dead soft.
I wonder if it would perform as well or better in living tissue?
I've been casting mine from Magnum Shot with a taste of tin added. BHN is running 11.8-12.1, which is double what the one in the article is.
I know a lot of lives stopped when knocked down with the good old 45 ACP.
I happened to see a blurb about the 45 VS: the 9mm. They were saying how the 45, because it is big and moving slower @ ~800 FPS tore as it went in.
Then they shot molding clay packed in containers and the 9mm traveled through, were the 45 opened a huge hole inside.
And those were FMJ bullets, not HP.

Have fun with your new mold!
And don't wreck the water troughs. :bigsmyl2:

[40Super]

raise your seater die up a full turn so the crimp feature doesn't touch,then readjust the seater stem to get your oal back to where it was.Then get a (if you use Dillon,my crimp dies are)dedicated taper crimp die and put in the next station after seating. That way the crimp isn't being applied to the case while the bullet is still moving.Some do it this way,others do it in one step.

[kcinnick]

Quick question, I should be sizing to what, .452 for general .45 use? I could slug my barrel, but the gun getting the most use out of these is 12 weeks out... I plan to have plenty cast by then.

Thanks

[Dale53]

kcinnick;
This is straight from the Dillon Web Site:

NOTE: All Dillon Pistol Die sets include our sizer/ decap die, seat die and a separate crimp die. (Taper crimp for autos; accu-crimp for revolvers.)


When you add in the "powder through die" Dillon's are actually four die sets. They seat in one die and crimp in the last die, like they should.

I size all of my .45 ACP bullets to .452" for both my three 1911 platforms as well as my two Smith 625's and my Ruger Convertible.

There are some 1911's out there that require .451" bullets, I've been told... If it will chamber ok with .452" bullets, then you are "good to go"...

Dale53

[kcinnick]

kcinnick;
This is straight from the Dillon Web Site:

NOTE: All Dillon Pistol Die sets include our sizer/ decap die, seat die and a separate crimp die. (Taper crimp for autos; accu-crimp for revolvers.)


When you add in the "powder through die" Dillon's are actually four die sets. They seat in one die and crimp in the last die, like they should.

I size all of my .45 ACP bullets to .452" for both my three 1911 platforms as well as my two Smith 625's and my Ruger Convertible.

There are some 1911's out there that require .451" bullets, I've been told... If it will chamber ok with .452" bullets, then you are "good to go"...

Dale53

I guess I never paid that much attention to it. Once I set it it just works, never had a reason to question its operation. First hiccup was last week when a primer got turned sideways in the primer system and it wouldn't index. I gave it a quick cleaning and lube while I had it apart and started pulling the handle again. I like that extra hole, while I am seating I just look and can see if the powder charge is right. I check it every now and then just to make sure and it always averages out at the end of the session.

Thanks for all the info.

[40Super]

I have a Kart NM barrel that does require .451 sized bullets.With .452 ,it will constantly get stuck rounds any time one isn't absolutly perfectly straight and the case wall thickness is not over .011,ect... .That is an aftermarket barrel so not "standard", but they are out there. I would say it is safe to size them to .452, but me personaly, would only do 1 or 2hundred ahead of time.It sure would s**k to have 1000 or more loaded up only to find they won't chamber.

Maybe only size a bunch of them,and let the rest unsized,then wait for the barrel so you know what will or won't work. I have never loaded a single round before I had the gun in my hands for verification.Just started casting,but I would cast a bunch ahead(at .453-.454)but wait to size, if you don't shoot'em as dropped. I have another barrel that is happiest with .4535 bullets,so I'd be good to go either way.