First post(be easy on me) Help me pick molds. Please.

[hbar]

Hello, I have read posts here for a long time. I just do not ever feel the need to post. I usually find the answer after searching and reading. I finally registered and have some questions.

I am going to cast for 9mm, 45acp, and 45lc. These will be sized through a Star.
The 9mm and 45 acp are all XDm.
The 45lc will go in my Uberti SAA, and my Model 94. I want to make sure, the lever will feed.

I need help picking out molds for these. I know I prefer round nose bullets for the semis. I think I may order the Lee molds for now, and then decide if I need something "better".
I have found these, but dont know if they would be good for me. Any constructive input would be appreciated.

45lc
Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 452-255-RF 45 ACP, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt (Long Colt) (452 Diameter) 255 Grain Flat Nose

Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 452-200-RF 45 ACP, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt (Long Colt) (452 Diameter) 200 Grain Flat Nose

9mm
Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 356-125-2R 9mm Luger, 38 Super, 380 ACP (356 Diameter) 125 Grain 2 Ogive Radius

45acp
Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 452-200-RF 45 ACP, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt (Long Colt) (452 Diameter) 200 Grain Flat Nose

Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 452-230-TC 45 ACP, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt (Long Colt) (452 Diameter) 230 Grain Truncated Cone

I want something to start off in each caliber. i usually shoot 115 or 124 in 9mm.
200 and 230 in 45 acp. and 45lc has been multiple grains, since I have just shot what I could find.

I want to make sure, i can use these with a gas check. and will I be able shoot these bullets without a gas check? if none were available?
I am fairly open to try others. Also, I am not set on Lee. I was using it as a starting place. If there is something better, that isnt terribly more expensive, I would love to hear about it. Thank you.

[Bullet Caster]

hbar,

Welcome to cast boolits. Of course, there's not turning back now; you're hooked. First thing you need to do is to slug your bore for each weapon. That will give you a starting point for the size needed for each pistol. Use plenty of oil when you do this and use dead soft lead to make your slug.

I use the Lee .452 255 RNFP for my Uberti 1873 SAA Cattleman 4 3/4" bbl. loaded over 5 grains of Bullseye. I also have the Lee 228 gn. 2 ogive radius .451 mould I use for my .45 Norinco 1911 as well as use it for the .45 Colt. It usually drops around 230 grains. I use 5 gn. of BE also for the
.45 ACP.

I use the Lee 124 gn. TL .356 for my 9mm. I've used from 4.0 gn. to 4.7 gn. of BE for the 9mm depending on if I am reloading FMJ or cast boolits. More for the FMJ. My C9 pistol is rated +P+ so I can shoot a little more BE, but never more than 4.9 gn.

Eventhough one is a tumble lube design, I still tumble lube all my pistol boolits with Recluse 45/45/10 which is 45% Lee Liquid Alox mixed with 45% of reduced Johnson's Paste Wax and 10% Mineral Spirits. Tumble lubing is a lot easier than pan lubing for me anyway.

Hope this helps. BC

[runfiverun]

i would bet that the 200 gr colt boolit will work just fine in the acp.
the colt boolits look like good choices.
i would rethink the 9mm choice for one that pours closer to 358 or to 358.
you can size down [if necessary] but it's hard to make them bigger.
in fact the 45 colt 200 rf boolit [sized to 452] would be a good one to try and wear out for all three 45 cal guns.

[Silverboolit]

hbar...Welcome to the best sight on the net!! I use the Lee 230 gr. 2 radius mold in my .45 ACP as well as my neighbors Taurus. This bollit absolutely feeds flawlessly in either. I run them through a .452 Lee sizer and tumble lube. No leading at all in either gun. Right now, I am loading the Lee 200g H&G copy and bee naving good luck with it also.
In the ACP, you may want to check your magazines as some have a different release point than others and can make a difference in feeding.
In my Ruger NMB .45, I have used both the Lee .452 255 RF and the 200 grainer. Both shoot very well.
Like run5run says, in 9mm try a .358 mold and see if they fir without sizing. Most 9mm do better with a little bigger slug.
Also, slug your bores and then decide on which size you need. Lots of luck to you in your new adventure, don't give up!!!

[9-toes]

hbar, I'm currently working up a load for my XDm 9 and chose the
LEE 120 grain TC as the profile had similar characteristics with Hornady XTPs. My dummy round fed fine and did not show any issues riding up the ramp.

It also drops at .358 and weighs in at 124 grain but that is probably my alloy.

[hbar]

how about this for 9mm?

http://leeprecision.com/6-cav-358-125-rf.html

6 CAV 358-125 RF

Lee Six Cavity Mold produces a .358 diameter 125 grain round nose bullet suitable for cartridges like 38 Special, 38 S&W, 38 Colt New Police, 357 mag, etc. Bullet Mold lube and handles sold separately.

Ballistic Coefficient = .116
Bullet Overall Length = .540 inches.
Distance from the crimp groove to the nose of the bullet = .275 inches.

and for 45
as mentioned by runfiverun. this would be good for ACP and LC? That would be great. which do you think would be better? i know, its subjective.
http://leeprecision.com/6-cav-452-200-rf.html

6 CAV 452-200-RF

Lee 6 cavity block produces a .452 diameter 200 grain Round nose bullet suitable for cartridges like 45ACP, 45 Colt, etc.

or

http://leeprecision.com/6-cavity-452-228-1r.html

6 CAVITY 452-228 1R

Lee 6 cavity block produces a .452 diameter 228 grain round nose bullet suitable for cartridges like 45 ACP, 45 Colt etc.

and then, if I want to run gas check, with these I have to use the PB plain base checks? Thanks for all your help.

[runfiverun]

you won't need gas checks.
if you want to load the 45 colt into big boy territory later then you get the bigger mold and go from there. i doubt you'll need them even then, i haven't yet and i push things along sometimes.

that lee mold is similar to the one i use in my 9mm's but the lee needs to be seated a bit deeper so be aware of that when starting load development.
but you'll want the diameter more than the case capacity anyway's.

i like fp's for general everyday stuff.
and the rnfp is the most versatile from pistols/revolvers/and leverguns.
target shooting,hunting,defense i'll take the rnfp.
if i needed specialized stuff i'd go there,but i don't.

[L Ross]

I shoot the RCBS-230-CM in 45 Colt and 45 acp in the auxilary cylinder and auto pistols with complete satisfaction.
In my 9m/m I use Magma's 130 gr RNFP made for 38 spl cowboy use sized to .357" but I realize that is not a solution for the average bullet caster.

Duke

[runfiverun]

the magma 125 rnfp is the one i use in my 9mm's.

[MikeS]

Your choices seem pretty good. The only changes and/or additions I would make would be trying a 358-105-SWC for the 9mm (I need to get one of these myself). While it's designed for the 38 Special many folks here have used it in 9mm with good results. I've been meaning to get one of these so I can make some light 38 loads for my mother, and now that I'm going to start loading 9mm, I've got yet another reason to get it! For the 45ACP add the 452-200-SWC which is Lee's clone of the H&G #68. While many complain that it's not really a clone of the 68, it's pretty close, and my guns couldn't tell the difference between it, and Mihec's clone of the 68, or SAECO's clone either. The H&G #68 is the goto boolit of 45ACP target shooters for many years, with good reason, it's accurate, and feeds in almost any 45 out there. Also, of the moulds you listed, you are aware that one of them is a duplicate, the 200rf you show for both the Colt, and ACP rounds. I'm just pointing this out so you don't accidentally buy 2 of them when you only need one! Another good Lee boolit, although it's a TL design, so you would need to tumble lube it, rather than running it thru a Star (although you could size it in the star without using lube) is the TL452-230-2R round nose boolit. It's the one to get if you want a round nose boolit. Don't bother with their 452-228-1R as you'll need to seat it fairly deeply to get it to feed, and it's a design with 2 lube grooves, a PITA with a Star. Although after saying that, it IS a good design if you want a roundnose boolit for the 45 Colt, as you can use the upper lube groove as a crimp groove. I have a 2 cavity version of both of these round nose boolits, but they've been modified into hollow point boolits by Erik of hollowpointmold.com and make really nice HP boolits! I use the 2R in my 45ACP's and the 1R in my RBH in 45 Colt.

[hbar]

I ordered these two for now.

Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 452-200

Lee 6-Cavity Bullet Mold 358-125

after, I make and shoot some of these, I am sure, I will continue to collect more molds.
Like guns, holsters, powder, dies, you keep trying until you find the exact one you like.

I would like to look at some of the other mold makers, but it looks like "in stock", is non existent.

[RobS]

i would bet that the 200 gr colt boolit will work just fine in the acp.
the colt boolits look like good choices.
i would rethink the 9mm choice for one that pours closer to 358 or to 358.you can size down [if necessary] but it's hard to make them bigger.
in fact the 45 colt 200 rf boolit [sized to 452] would be a good one to try and wear out for all three 45 cal guns.

+1 here........The Lee 358-125-RF is an option. I've recommended this one for 9mm and it's worked very well; I think you'll like it.

[Larry Gibson]

I got to your post a little late. I've been trying the Lee 452-200-RF in my 3 M1911s (P14, Colt series 70 and Colt Combat Cdr). All 3 of them feed SWC 45 ACP designes of 190 - 205 gr slicker than snot. They also feed most any type of bullet made for the 45 ACP. However, the ogive is considerably different on the Lee CBA bullet. Only one of my pistols will feed it. I've found the Lee 452-190-SWC to be an excellent bullet in the .45 ACP, .45 AR and the .45 Colt for loads up through 1150 fps in both handguns and rifles.

With the 9mm I've found the Lee 356-120-TC to be an excellent bullet in many 9mm handguns and subguns. I've yet to have a feed problem with it. It is also quite accurate. I also laod them for excellent accuracy in the .38 Super for my Spanish Destroyer carbine. Additionally they make excellent CBA level 38/357 loads that shoot very well at reduced vellocity and feed reliably through M73 rifles. My mould drops them at .358 - .359 so they also make a nice plinker/small game bullet in my .35 Remington.

Larry Gibson

[KCcactus]

I think you made a good decision to start with the 6 cavity instead of the two. My first casting experience was with a borrowed Lee two cavity. The 6 cavities work much better. I have Lee 6 cavity molds in 38, 44 and 45 that are old enough they are all discontinued, plus a 358-105-SWC I purchased a couple of years ago to feed my 9mm XD. They all make large piles of nice bullets in a hurry.

One thing you didn't mention is your lead pot. What will you be using? Those 6 cavity molds, especially the 200gr., will go through lead in a hurry. I started with a 10 lb Lee bottom pour and recently added their 20. If I want to cast a lot, I use the 20 first, then refill and switch to the 10. By the time the 10 is low, the 20 is ready to go again. If I could only have one pot now, it would be the 20.

When you are ready to step up, check out some of the custom makers on the site. Their molds are works of art. The group buys can be a slow process. But, they usually make some extra, so you can check to see what they have on hand from recent buys.