Lee 45 .452 mold size?

[AmishWarlord]

I see that all Lee 45cal. molds are .452 in size.

Aren't 45cal. gun barrels .454 in size?

Shouldn't the mold size be .456 giving a size of .002 over the size of the barrel?

[trying2learn]

I have heard a 45 is normally around 452. Mine measures out to 451 so I shoot 452 or 453. At least that's how mine worked out and from what I understand so do most 45's.

[Casting_40S&W]

45 acp's shoot .451 jacketed, .452/.453 cast boolits.

[ShooterAZ]

Not all 45's are created equal, such as 45 Colt.

[1bluehorse]

Most all "modern" 45 colts have .451 "ish" bores. Thats what jacketed bullets are sized to and thats what most firearms are geared for..the throats on the other hand can be all over the place. My early Ruger 45's throats ran .448-.449 with .451 bores, the last two I purchased were .450ish throats and .451 bores...reamed the throats on all to .4525 and all is well...I size my cast bullets to .452

Note that at .450 throat dia and .451 bore, jacketed bullets would shoot just fine....only us weirdo's :-D have trouble with those dimensions...:Fire:

[JedYonkers]

My lee 452 mold drops wheel weights and 20:1 alloy at .454 pretty consistently.

[zomby woof]

My LEE 452 swc drops at .455

[mpmarty]

Prior to WWII the 45 colt revolvers were .454 bore. Since then almost all 45 cal pistols and revolvers are .451/.452

[Harter66]

RBH 76' vintage. 451 groove 453 & 454 cylinder . Both Lees and the RCBS drop 454 .