.459 chambers but .462 won't

[Spokerider]

I'm in the process of choosing a mold for the Contender 45 70.
I have slugged the bore at .459
I have two different cast bullets I loaded into an empty case today, to check for ease of chambering.......or not. One is a Meister .459 plain base, and the other is a Mountain man custom .4615 GC boolit.

The .459 chamber easily and extracts easily. The .4615 does not chamber, it hangs up with about .250-.300 to go......obviously, it's to big.

So my question is.......should I order the mold in .459 or gamble and request it sized to .460? I don't have a .459 sizer, but I suppose I could buy one if it came down to needing one. I don't have a .460 boolit to try either.

[knifemaker]

I would gamble and get the .460 as that size should give you good accuracy and not lead the barrel as it will be 1 thousand over your groove dia. If it fails to seat, you can always get the common .459, but I am willing to bet the 460 will work.

[waksupi]

I would go with the .461. Its easier to size down, than to size up.

[Wayne Smith]

Think about this in the long haul. You will, eventually, have sizing capacity. Molds are not that precise most of the time unless you exclusively buy custom made. Might as well plan that purchase into the process and get one when you can. Doesn't really matter what kind unless you are shooting a lot of competition, then save for a Star. The Lee style does not lube, the RCBS/Lyman does. Take your pick.