need advice on mold

[Ed1]

I'm looking for a good mold for a 45 LC. I want it for shooting at the range only. I looked on lee and Lyman sites and they only show 1 mold each for the 45 LC. Any help is appreciated and Thanks in advance.

[Walter Laich]

I use the Lyman 250 gr RNFP Lyman: #452664 mold (4-cavity) for my Marlin rifle and
Lee 200 gr RNFP Lee #: 90697 mold (6-cavity) for my Ruger Vaqueros.
MidwayUSA.com has these as well as other companies
Both are .452 diameter
I use the 250 gr in rifle cause I'm shooting a very light powder charge in it and get blow back if I don't
Several of my friends use the Lee 200 gr in both

[Hawkeye45]

Look at the NOE site (CB sponsor). He probably has the most choices.

Mr. Ed

[waco]

RCBS 45-270 SAA

Kieth style 270gr SWC with a plain base

NOE also offers the same mold.

['74 sharps]

The original Colt 45 bullet looked like the Lyman 454190 which is flat nose @ 250gr. No crimp groove as you crimp on the ogive, and it is not sensitive to where the crimp is made. The four cavity mold from Lyman works very well.

[Tatume]

I'm looking for a good mold for a 45 LC. I want it for shooting at the range only. I looked on lee and Lyman sites and they only show 1 mold each for the 45 LC. Any help is appreciated and Thanks in advance.

Hi Ed,

I looked on the Lee web site and counted 11 molds suitable for 45 Colt, some more so than others. Lee makes excellent molds.

Take care, Tom

[Ed1]

Hi Ed,

I looked on the Lee web site and counted 11 molds suitable for 45 Colt, some more so than others. Lee makes excellent molds.

Take care, Tom

yea, I didn't realize I could use the 45 acp molds as well.

[Tatume]

Any of the Lee 45 caliber pistol molds that has a crimp groove is suitable for loading the 45 Colt. The designs without a crimp groove can be used, but are not suitable for heavy loads as they are more susceptible to creep under recoil.

[Wally]

My results....

Lee 452-252-SWC Excellent
Lee 452-255-RF Excellent
Lee 454-235-WC Excellent
Lyman Keith 452424 Excellent
Lyman 454190 Good
RCBS 45-250-FN Fair
RCBS 45-255-SWC Fair

['74 sharps]

Any of the Lee 45 caliber pistol molds that has a crimp groove is suitable for loading the 45 Colt. The designs without a crimp groove can be used, but are not suitable for heavy loads as they are more susceptible to creep under recoil.

The original blackpowder 45 load was the most powerful handgun cartridge from 1873 until the 357 magnum came along in 1934. There was no crimp groove in the original design, and no issue with creeping with that load. I have shot almost 10K rounds in my Colt SAA with that bullet and have never experienced any creep with a full charge of 2F and the Lyman 250gr bullet.

[Tatume]

Hi Sharps,

Your full charge of 2F and what we now refer to as a heavy load in the 45 Colt are a world apart. Loads running 1400 fps with 250 grain bullets and without a crimp will creep.

Take care, Tom

[runfiverun]

the black powder is what makes the 454190 work so well.
it doesn't have a crimp groove and sits on top of the powder, it's the crimped over the ogive lightly.

anyway the lyman 452664 is my most often used 45 colt boolit [I have heard of the new ones pouring out small boolits]
and if I had to pick a LEE I guess then I'd go with the 250 rnfp they have, at least to start.

[Hickok]

Lee 452-255 RF, shoots great in my Ruger New Model Vaqueros.

[LenH]

I have on old Lyman 454424 Keith type mold that has served me very well the last 40 years. Check the NOE site they have some nice examples on there.

[Hardcast416taylor]

For just killing paper and cardboard targets I have used many lighter than 255 gr. boolets. I have used a lot of 230 gr RN boolets supposedly meant only for the .45 acp as well as the 200 gr.SWC also meant for the acp loading.Robert

[Larry Gibson]

For just killing paper and cardboard targets I have used many lighter than 255 gr. boolets. I have used a lot of 230 gr RN boolets supposedly meant only for the .45 acp as well as the 200 gr.SWC also meant for the acp loading.Robert

+ another with that philosophy.

I suggest any of the 200 gr "cowboy bullets" with the Lee 452-200-RF at the top of my list.

I also don't hesitate to shoot any 45 ACP 185 - 205 gr cast bullet either, particularly the SWCs as they cut nice neat holes in the target.

Larry Gibson

[Ed1]

Thanks guys. I'm going to the shop tomorrow and probably going to go with the Lee 452-200-RF if they have it. I want to get the Lyman eventually but the funds are not there right now nor is the experience.

[Tatume]

That mold is available at Midway in six-cavity configuration for $40.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/110378/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-452-200-rf-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-200-grain-flat-nose?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I have one and love it. You will find the Lee six-cavity molds to be very high quality. I recommend it.

Handles are $13. Both the mold and handles are available and ready to ship.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/117892/lee-commercial-bullet-mold-handles-for-6-cavity-lee-bullet-molds?cm_vc=sugv1117892

Take care, Tom

P.s., you can use the Lee handles for six-cavity molds on RCBS, Lyman, Accurate, and other molds too. They are also very high quality, and again, I recommend them.