I have a dilema with my .45 bullets

[randy_68]

In my other post I told of getting my new mold from Lee. The box is marked TL452-200-SWC but the mold is stamped 452-230. I decided to keep it anyway and use it. Now after casting some bullets and getting ready to reload them, the OAL is way off if I follow Lee's OAL reccomendation. I'm not so sure these are 230 gr as I don't have a scale to check them on. If any one has either one of these molds could you measure the length of just the bullet. Mine measure .587.
I guess I need to get a grain scale to check my bullets.

[cbrick]

I guess I need to get a grain scale to check my bullets.

Yes . . . And your powder!

Rick

[kweidner]

+1 cbrick

[41 mag fan]

If you live close to me, being in SW IN myself, I could weigh and measure the ones you have, if you're close. I'll send you a PM

[MtGun44]

Just curious, but how do you think you will reload ammo without
a powder scale? This is potentially dangerous.

Bill

[DLCTEX]

Lee loader with dipper. Or on a press using the Lee dippers. Many thousands of cartridges have been loaded this way.

[cbrick]

Just curious, but how do you think you will reload ammo without
a powder scale? This is potentially dangerous. Bill

Potentially?

Well, he's in SW Indiana and I'm not.

Rick

[cbrick]

Lee loader with dipper. Or on a press using the Lee dippers. Many thousands of cartridges have been loaded this way.

Perhaps but I would certainly check the charges on a scale before I chambered a single round.

Rick

[Cherokee]

Lee does not make a 452 230 SWC so I think the mold is marked wrong. My conventional lube groove 452-200 SWC measures .643" tall. Have no idea what the TL SWC would measure.

[Balta]

Bullet look like this one but in TL design?
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=53852&d=1349548711

[Sweetpea]

I just checked the length of my Lee TL 452-230 Truncated Cone Boolits, and they measure at .625

Pictures would help

[Sweetpea]

My guess is that your mold is mismarked, BUT you need to find out for sure, and YOU NEED A SCALE!

[randy_68]

Guys, I have a powder scale but it only goes to 100 grains. I have been loading jacketed bullets for a few years but never needed a scale beyond what I had. I am just wanting to check the weight of these bullets because I don't trust the markings now. Before I load them I would like to be sure of their weight , that is all. I'm new to cast bullet making so sorry if I sound like a DA.
And as I suspected the mold might be marked wrong because if I load them according to the 200 grain OAL they look right but if I load them according to a 230 Then I have 2 bands sticking out of the case.

Also maybe this will help. Here is a couple of pics with the bullet seated at 1.190( Lee spec for cast 200gr) and it is flush with the hood of the barrel. If I load it like the spec for a 230 at 1.270 it is waaay too long. So I think my mold is mis-stamped.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/randy_68/photobucket-9121-1358475859891.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/randy_68/photobucket-7320-1358475883712.jpg

[rsrocket1]

Do they look like this:
58707
These are TL452-230-TC
If so. I load them to 1.19" COL and shoot them with 5.0g Unique (could go to 5.5g, but I'm only punching paper) or 4.0g Bullseye. If you have problems with the bullets not going that last bit into the chamber, 1.17" COL should put the shoulder right at the edge of the case mouth. I drop the charge by 0.2g for those bullets, but I leave so much margin for safety that I probably don't need to drop the charge at all.

[randy_68]

I just checked the Lee sight as and as another responder said, Lee doesn't make a 230 grain SWC design like I have so the mold has to be stamped wrong. I will email Lee about this as it could/has caused a problem. Luckily I did not load any yet.
Thanks for your help guys.

[Dewey606]

Would those bullets, TL-452-230-TC, also be good for 45 Colt? I was hoping to find a TL bullet for 45 Colt and if I can use it occassionaly for .45 ACP all the better. Thanks.

[lavenatti]

Guys, I have a powder scale but it only goes to 100 grains.

It's a bit of a pain but you could chisel the boolit into 3 pieces and weigh them individually.

[captaint]

Randy - First, get a scale. I got one from Sinclair, a little electronic unit, very accurate and great for weighing boolits. I think it cost around 30 bux, on sale. I wouldn't personally load ANYTHING without a scale of some sort - period. Get that done, then proceed. You'll be much happier. Apologies for the scolding. Mike

[jmort]

I hate using scales for reloading. I use dippers but still weigh my first couple dipper loads to check any new powder to make sure it was properly labeled and the scale goes back on the shelf until I buy some new powder. Fortunately, the dippers will normally throw light charges and it is next to impossible to over charge a load with a dipper if it is the right size with the right powder.

[randy_68]

Andy from Lee responded to me and I will return my mold to them and they are sending me a new one. It is marked wrong.

[Casting_40S&W]

The boolit in question is a TL.452-200-SWC, it appears to have not been engraved with the correct "200" at the factory. You would want to use load data for a 200 cast Lead bullet.

[Wayne Smith]

Now you know the reason the Lee scale is inadequate. 500 gr is a minimum in MHO. I have two that are 1000gr scales. Got them off eBay years ago for pennies on the dollar.

[Cherokee]

Dewey606 - You should be able to use the bullet in 45 Colt, I sometimes use the conventional lube groove version sized .452 and taper crimped.

[375RUGER]

I'll make a short argument why you need a scale.
4.5g of Titewad generates 20,000psi behind a 200g boolit
it only takes 3.3g of Titewad to generate 19,400psi behind a 230g boolit

[crash87]

Andy from Lee responded to me and I will return my mold to them and they are sending me a new one. It is marked wrong.

Hold it now a minute randy,
IF that mold of yours is a good one, as in, cast perfectly round bullets and works good for you, DO NOT send it back, you never know what you'll get back. If its just a mis-marked mold, get out a engraver and make a note of it. also
I have never used mfg recomended OAL to make my ammo. Very seldon does this work for me as there are to many variables in firearm chambers, etc. Use what works in your "specific" firearm. Fit the bullet to the gun not vice vercy. JMHO

[HangFireW8]

Hold it now a minute randy,
IF that mold of yours is a good one, as in, cast perfectly round bullets and works good for you, DO NOT send it back, you never know what you'll get back. If its just a mis-marked mold, get out a engraver and make a note of it.

Well, it's up to Randy what he wants to do, but I can identify with what Crash87 says. Last year I received an 8mm Karabiner in return for an 8mm Maximum that was more of an 8mm Minimum. I only figured this out after I cast up a bunch. I called up Lee and had another return all set up and then sat down with my micrometer; I decided I liked this Karabiner more than my first.

So now I had two, and I still had to order another Maximum.

Moral of the story- once you have a good mold, don't get rid of it.
HF

[alamogunr]

If you don't want to weigh boolets or reload for your elephant rifle, why would you be handicapped by a 100 gr. capacity scale?

I have two scales that are 500 gr. capacity. The only time I have ever set either up for more than 50 gr. was to weigh an occasional jacketed for calibration. Sierra is supposed to be very accurate in their stated weight.

[cbrick]

The only time I have ever set either up for more than 50 gr. was to weigh an occasional jacketed for calibration. Sierra is supposed to be very accurate in their stated weight.

I wouldn't bet the farm on that!

Rick

[alamogunr]

I wouldn't bet the farm on that!

Rick

Are you saying the only way to go is to buy a set of check weights?

[cbrick]

Are you saying the only way to go is to buy a set of check weights?

I'm saying that most of the jacketed bullets I've weighed had as much or more variation than my cast boolits including Sierra. Weigh some and see for yourself. I sure wouldn't set a scale based on the weight marked on a box of J-bullets. They are mass produced, how could they possibly maintain even 1 gr consistency and in particular across many lot numbers, forming dies etc.

Check weights aren't all that expensive and are a far better way to go.

Rick

[gray wolf]

Some of these post literally make me shake my head in amazement.
That's an open ended statement, I guess some will figure out what I mean.

[randy_68]

Well, I decided I'm keeping my mold. It is a 200GR SWC bullet (which is what I ordered) and after making and loading a bunch of them I found that my gun likes them. I guess I should have done some more homework before posting about what bullet it was actually making. My bad. It is marked wrong and Lee offered to exchange it for me but it only cost $20 and it would cost me half that to send it back. I know what it is and it works so I will just keep it. I did set my bullet depth according to my barrel, flush with the hood, and it comes out at 1.190. I ran 70 rounds thru my gun without a hiccup of any kind. They are accurate and fed and ejected perfectly. Thanks for all your help and info guys as I'm new to casting and new to the .45. We were all new to this at one time or another!
Later.

[Wayne Smith]

Yup, we were all new to this once. Sometimes it is hard to remember that!