What mold would you buy for the .45 auto

[capt.hollis]

I got a fella down the road from me that wants to buy in bulk lead cast .45 auto. I also shoot a .45, but not sure which would be best for a solid target load . I need to make this fella happy, he's got a Gold Medalion 270 he wants to trade off for, so I'm on it.
Thanks Guys

[Echd]

For massive quantity I like the little Lee 200SWC tumble lube. The mold being cheap and readily available is a nice plus too, and lending itself to tumble lube makes it even quicker and easier to use.

If you're opposed to TL, any good H&G68 copy or similar would be nice.

[capt.hollis]

For massive quantity I like the little Lee 200SWC tumble lube. The mold being cheap and readily available is a nice plus too, and lending itself to tumble lube makes it even quicker and easier to use.

If you're opposed to TL, any good H&G68 copy or similar would be nice.got ya Echd . How about any Lyman molds? Thanks sir.

[Frozone]

"any good H&G68 copy or similar would be nice"

That would work.

[codgerville@zianet.com]

Lyman 452460.

[Artful]

What's he doing with 'em? - you want to shoot holes in paper then SWC is good - you want to knock steel then heavier is better - you want to take down pins you want something different again.

[capt.hollis]

What's he doing with 'em? - you want to shoot holes in paper then SWC is good - you want to knock steel then heavier is better - you want to take down pins you want something different again.i believe he's wanting to do all of the above with them artful.

[xacex]

If you need to make a man happy get him a Mihec 452 200 grain 45acp mold. Nice solid, and even better hollow-point. My 1911's and Glock love it.

[Artful]

My next question is what's is his gun sighted in for and does it have adjustable sights?
My go to is a Truncated Cone 230 grain which shoots to same POA as factory Hardball.
But for years I used 452460 lyman for bullseye and combat type (3 gun, USPSA, etc).
I also can say HG 68 is a heck of a boolet design.

[capt.hollis]

If you need to make a man happy get him a Mihec 452 200 grain 45acp mold. Nice solid, and even better hollow-point. My 1911's and Glock love it.is the mihec mold aluminum?

[SwedeNelson]

Have a H&G 68 clone and a H&G 34 clone along with some great HP moulds in stock
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=41

Shameless plug
Swede Nelson

[BruceB]

For years, I kept a sizable collection of Lyman (and other) moulds for the .45 ACP.

Virtually ALL of them have now gone "down the road"....EXCEPT for my 4-cavity Lyman 452374.

This 230-grain round-nose does everything I want a cast .45ACP bullet to do. If I was still shooting matches, I probably would have kept the 4-cavity Lyman semi-wadcutter mould, but as it is, the 374 design serves perfectly.

[sparky45]

Lee TC 230 gr in a 6 banger. I've cast thousand(s) of these with just a couple of Lee's molds. They cycle in my 1911 and my XDM without a single hangup. I also shoot them in my two Blackhawks.

[Guesser]

The Ideal/Lyman 452374 has proven to be the best for every semi auto I've ever owned; feeds perfectly every time. Works well in 45 A.R and 45 Colt also.

[mikeym1a]

For massive quantity I like the little Lee 200SWC tumble lube. The mold being cheap and readily available is a nice plus too, and lending itself to tumble lube makes it even quicker and easier to use.

If you're opposed to TL, any good H&G68 copy or similar would be nice.

That's the boolit I use in my 1911, I have the 6 cavity model. Makes lots of boolits quick. They always seem to hit the target, as long as I do my part. However, I have no idea of their performance in the 'target' arena. However, in my use of the projectile, I've never had any problem with feeding or chambering. Nor have I had any problem with leading. I simply cast, lube, and load. I guess I got lucky.

[bhn22]

If pins are on the agenda, pass over the 200 gr and start at 230 gr. I used an LBT 230 LFN for 45 ACP. Veral has many customer use it for medium game.

[Artful]

This is similar to the NEI 5 cavity I use...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/397569/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-230-tc-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-230-grain-truncated-cone



Have a H&G 68 clone and a H&G 34 clone along with some great HP moulds in stock
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=41

Shameless plug
Swede Nelson
As usual, you got some good looking molds there Swede, I especially like these two.
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/1111-096-452%20230Gr%20Small%20HP.jpg
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_454_230Gr._RN_PB.Jpg

[Echd]

I have the 230 HP in your picture there from NOE. It's fantastic and feeds perfectly! Very happy with expansion as well, although I've only ever seen it blow up in water and mud.

[PbHurler]

IMO, You can't go wrong with the two molds Swede mentioned.

[Char-Gar]

In a Lyman mold for target, field and defense I would use 452460.

[TheCelt]

is the mihec mold aluminum?

It's a brass mold and casts the BEST 45 ACP bullets I've ever shot. I've loaded them in front of 5.3gr of W231 up to 8.3gr of Acc#5 and they are consistently accurate. 3.5" Citadel, 4.25" Dan Wesson Guardian Deuce, 5" Dan Wesson Pointman, they ALL love this bullet.

[runfiverun]

well now you got 25 molds to wade through instead of 2 or 3.

if pins are on the list, something about 230 grs or so and with a flat nose will do the trick.
I use a 225 rnfp [comes in a tick over 230 with my alloy] made for the 45 colt in my 45 acp's for plate shooting and for bowling pins.
other than that it's the lyman 452460 from a 4 cavity mold.

[ballistim]

If you need to make a man happy get him a Mihec 452 200 grain 45acp mold. Nice solid, and even better hollow-point. My 1911's and Glock love it.

I just posted on another thread about this mold. Really pleased with this one that I just bought and used in my new RIA 1911 loaded with Green Dot. Very pleased with this mold and it's a keeper for sure!http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/27/nu2u7a6e.jpg

[PS Paul]

For years, I kept a sizable collection of Lyman (and other) moulds for the .45 ACP.

Virtually ALL of them have now gone "down the road"....EXCEPT for my 4-cavity Lyman 452374.

This 230-grain round-nose does everything I want a cast .45ACP bullet to do. If I was still shooting matches, I probably would have kept the 4-cavity Lyman semi-wadcutter mould, but as it is, the 374 design serves perfectly.

I second the notion of the 452374. I've got H&G clone as well, but the ease of casting with the 225 gr. traditional-looking design makes sessions go a little quicker and they feed in virtually everything. Of course, holes in paper aren't as clean as the 68, but I don't shoot bullseye competition, so no biggie there....

[PS Paul]

I just looked up and saw the post above mine with that Mihec 45 200 mold. THAT would be the one. Great, now I gotta look at another mold.

Seems that would be a pretty good boolit for .45 Colt as well. CASS or just plain plinkin' and conserving lead. I bet that would feed in just about every auto-loader and levergun. Nice......

[Artful]

You can get a RN to cut clean holes if it has a ledge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/Boolit/th_NEI241210RNBB5cav2_zpsfc219b4e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/Boolit/NEI241210RNBB5cav2_zpsfc219b4e.jpg.html)

[MtGun44]

H&G 68 GOOD clone, Lee is not too close. 374 is a real OK boolit, but wastes 30 gr of lead for
no benefit, every shot. 452460 is a top one.

There are multiple past threads on this topic.


Bill

[TXGunNut]

IF his 1911 will feed a TC design I'm a big fan of the Lee 200 grainer, liked the 2-cav so much I bought the 6-cav and cast a whole pile of boolits and put the mould away for awhile. TL design makes for a quick lube & size. Most 1911's nowadays feed a TC boolit just fine, some may do better with a RN design. I only shoot paper and plates once in a great while, close enough to the 68 for me. I don't shoot pins but I've heard a meplat and a driving band "grab" the pins on the way thru.

[dbosman]

Lot of good advice above.
Swede's 452 230gr HP RFN used with the flat pins instead of the hollow points would fit the bill, provide a superior mold that will outlast both of you, and give you the option of HP bollits as well. It's rounded enough that it should feed in anything.

[Bret4207]

I'm not sure they are still in production, but the group buy "BD45" has been a real winner for me in all my 45's.

[Artful]

BD45 - Wasn't that a Lee group buy in solid nose?
found it from Feb 2008
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?25823-The-BD45-Group-buy-Starts-Here&highlight=BD45
Ah, here's a picture
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12484&stc=1&d=1238114081
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh59/B52fizzle/bd45_09.jpg

Looks like it was a NOE group buy as well - modified
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?167441-NOE-452-230Gr-HP-(Small-20)-PB
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/1111-096-452%20230Gr%20Small%20HP.jpg

and Accurate Mold has got the 45-250A a close kissing cousin.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/33510159/IMG_0139.jpg

[waksupi]

Love the solid rendition, it's the only one I have used since BD came up with it.


BD45 - Wasn't that a Lee group buy in solid nose?
found it from Feb 2008
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?25823-The-BD45-Group-buy-Starts-Here&highlight=BD45
Ah, here's a picture
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12484&stc=1&d=1238114081
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh59/B52fizzle/bd45_09.jpg

Looks like it was a NOE group buy as well - modified
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?167441-NOE-452-230Gr-HP-(Small-20)-PB
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/1111-096-452%20230Gr%20Small%20HP.jpg

and Accurate Mold has got the 45-250A a close kissing cousin.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/33510159/IMG_0139.jpg

[Bret4207]

Yupper! That's the one. Works great in everything I've tried it in. My 17 Smith just loves it. About the best killing 45 I've used, seems to work better than SWCs at 45ACP speeds. I doubt it's superior for longer ranges though.

[Char-Gar]

I have an original BD from the first run and would agree that it is a great all purpose bullet for the 45 ACP round. IIRC, it morphed off the RCBS Cowboy bullet which is still a good alternative molds for folks to use.

[waksupi]

I've actually had pretty good luck with it at longer ranges. Much of my shooting with pistols here at home is from 40 to 80 yards, and it does well at those ranges. Longer range shooting has been accurate enough to be interesting.

[Bret4207]

Ilm afraid I can't see well enough to really say anymore Ric, but I was thinking more like the somewhat heavier Keiths and RCBS SWC designs that some use in 45ACP/45AR. It's wasted effort for me to try to wring things out with irons anymore at more than 50 yards or so. Maybe my new glasses will help.

[hermans]

Just ordered the 5 cavity NOE aluminum H&G #34 clone, can't wait to get that one casting! My other molds are the Mihec 200gr H&G #68 clone in brass, beautiful mold, casts like a dream and these boolits shoots well in both my 1911 and my Para P14. My other go to mold is a 230 gr RN 4 cavity brass mold from Accurate, also very accurate and reliable.
Lastly, but also very nice boolits, is the RCBS 230gr RN, this mold cast very smoothly, and the boolits will feed in almost any pistol. Only problem with them is that they are only double cavity!

[True.grit]

I got a fella down the road from me that wants to buy in bulk lead cast .45 auto. I also shoot a .45, but not sure which would be best for a solid target load . I need to make this fella happy, he's got a Gold Medalion 270 he wants to trade off for, so I'm on it.
Thanks Guys

I have a cheap Lee 6 banger that cast 230gr truncated and it feeds all my 45 cal guns from xds to ar45. For the money invested in a lubber / seizer you can do the tumble lube and save money as well as time. The 45-45-10 works for all my cast boolets including rifle. I wish I would have never invested in a lubber / seizer it just gathers dust now. Just sayan

[zomby woof]

I use the LEE 200 SWC. It works great in three 1911's I cast for. I also use the LEE 160 but it is only a two cavity.

That MINEC 200 looks real nice though.