Lee 452-200RF Base Question

[Foto Joe]

After having purchased my first 6 hole mold for my daughters S&W 39-2 I've got to admit that I'm hooked on the things. Currently I'm using a 2 hole Lee 452-200 SWC for 45ACP & 45 Colt. The boolit performs excellently in both calibers and feeds very reliably in 1911's as long as the magazines are in good condition, that's the "love" part of the relationship with this particular boolit. The "hate" part is that it's an H&G style base and it's a pain in a lube sizer even using Styrofoam padding in the H&I die.

I'm thinking seriously about switching over to the Lee 452-200RF in a six hole mold and I "think" that it's a flat base boolit but I'd like one of you who use it to confirm before I hand over $40 to Midway. Unfortunately the website picture isn't the best and I can't exactly tell if the base is flat or beveled.

http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-452-200-rf.html

Thanks

[prs]

Mine is flat base, about 10 years-old.

prs

[dubber123]

Mine also is a flat base, and it is a very accurate design. Be aware the nose is quite short, and some 1911's don't feed it well.

[TMenezes]

This design works great in my 45 Colt revolvers and leverguns. Unfortunately it didn't work so great in my 1911. That was partly because I didn't size them, and partly because this design was intended for the 45 Colt, not the 45 ACP. For the 45 acp I would look at molds that are intended for use in a semi-auto.

[Dusty Bannister]

"This design works great in my 45 Colt revolvers and leverguns. Unfortunately it didn't work so great in my 1911. That was partly because I didn't size them, and partly because this design was intended for the 45 Colt, not the 45 ACP. For the 45 acp I would look at molds that are intended for use in a semi-auto."

This is somewhat misleading. The Lee catalog shows the listings for these bullets as being suitable for 45 ACP-45 Auto Rim- 45 Colt. There is nothing to indicate one is unsuitable for other applications. ONLY the C452-300-RF is shown as recommended for the 45 Colt and 454 Casull. You may have issues where the cylinder throats of the 45 Colt are larger than the casting however. I think it is a matter of some firearms just have their own requirements. Yours apparently does not like the RF. Mine loves it. Dusty

The 452-200-RF feeds just fine in my Colt original 1911 as does the 452-200-SWC.

[62chevy]

Had great success with the Lee 452-200-RF and 45/45/10 in my semi auto 45. And as long as I do my part it's very accurate too.

[JohnH]

My Rock Island 1911 A-1 does not like this boolit, neither does my neighbors Taurus. Both feed the Lee's 230 TL flawlessly. To give that some perspective, my RI doesn't like Lymans 452460 when lubed with conventional lubes, but when powder coated it feeds fine. I run straight WW and believe the aolly to be a bit soft and sticky for smooth feeding, (some run straight linotype for this reason) the powder coat seems to slick up the nose enough to let the boolit feed. I didn't like Lee's 200gr. SWC either, for the same reasons you bring up.

[Foto Joe]

I don't think that feeding is going to be an issue as I've actually used Lee's 452-160RF without issues other than it didn't have enough "umph" to reliably cycle an officers model consistently. The only time I have issues with the current 452-200SWC's is when I use Kimber magazines in one of my S&W's, I really should just float test both of those things.

My main concern was that I didn't want that beveled base and I'd like a six hole mold and not have to spend a great deal of money on a higher quality mold although I was suitably impressed with the 356-120TC quality wise. It appears that the Lee six hole molds are a little more durable than the two holers. It looks like I'll place an order for the 452-200RF and we'll restock some of my 452's.

[walltube]

Foto Joe,

Contact Erik Ohlen: hollowpointmold.com, he has a cure for the unwanted bevel base. Erik is a long time respected member and healer of similarly afflicted moulds. I recommend Erik's other work, too, without reservation.

Be of good cheer,
Wt.

[30Carbine]

Foto joe pm me I can send you some of those exact boolits if you want to try before you buy, I use them in 45lc and 5 different 1911's no problems I just cast a bunch of them last night. I will pay shipping it wont be that much I am on the western edge of south Dakota.

[Big Steve]

I use this bullet, as cast, tumble lubed. Accurate and feeds well in my RIA 1911, in my Colt GI 1911A1, and in my Springfield XD Tactical. No probkems, I like it a lot. I have not used in in my .45 Colt Blackhawk yet, but I intend to.

[Cmm_3940]

I use this boolit in my 1911. It feeds well when seated VERY short, which needs a decent mag in good condition. I find that the ogive isn't 1911-friendly when seated to more normal 45ACP lengths. Yes, it is a flat base. If the flat base is your only major concern, you may want to consider the 452-228-1R instead.

[Foto Joe]

I do use the 452-228 mold, in fact it's the first mold I ever bought. But as I may have neglected to state, I'm cheap when it comes to lead. I just don't see the need to chuck the extra 30 grains or so of hard to get lead down the tube to put a hole in a piece of paper. Kinda the same reason I don't prefer traditional Keith molds for 45 Colt.

[fredj338]

Yep, flat base. It should feed in any 45. It makes a hell of a bowling pin load.