Lee molds for 45 ACP [Archive]

whisler

03-09-2009, 08:06 PM

I'm fairly new to casting except for round balls for muzzleloaders and a few 38 SWCs. I would like to begin casting for my Llama 45 ACP which seems a bit finicky about nose profile for proper feeding (no luck with SWC).
Which of the following Lee molds could be expected to give the least feeding problems in an unmodified 1911 style 45:
452-228-1R, 452-230-2R or 452-230-TC.
Financial considerations restrict the choices to Lee molds. Would the flat nose of the TC give a better effect on targets other than paper
Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

hedgehorn

03-09-2009, 08:09 PM

Whisler,
I would go for the 452-230 TC. I have one and use it in my Kimber compact and love it.

cohutt

03-09-2009, 08:14 PM

Good experience with TC in Kimber and MAC10 but feed issues in a g30
kimber gobbles up swc, MAC won't feed swc (never tried g30)
Go figure

Just Call Me...G

03-09-2009, 08:31 PM

Hi Kisler,

The Lee TL452-230-TC was one of my first mold purchases...I have a few hungry .45s and the boolits I have cast have functioned perfectly in both my Colt 1911s (one stock series 70, one modified "reliability package" series 80), both my XDs and my Glock 21 (this pistol does sport a KKM barrel...a wise investment for any Glock owner).

I purchased the "TL" model because I thought I'd be using LLA, but found out what a pain it is...I pan lube now.

Also, I did prep the mould by boiling it, cleaning with Dawn detergent, boiling again, then "beagling" it (basically polishing the mould...there are references to this procedure in this site) and lastly boiling it again.

That mould drops some REAL nice boolits...all of my testing has been at 10" & 15" at a steel reactionary target I had welded up for me. No probs with accuracy (duh!...it's 10 feet!) smacks that steel good! Loads are with Blue Dot, Bullseye and Universal, just using standard recipes. Velocities around the 850 to 900 fps.

You'll be happy with it...but I strongly recommend that you prep it as above.

Happy Casting!

Giovanni

Shiloh

03-09-2009, 08:39 PM

Whisler,
I would go for the 452-230 TC. I have one and use it in my Kimber compact and love it.

Good to know!!

I received mine from Midway about a month ago. What weight do your boolits
drop at?? Mine are 238. They just barely touch a LEE 452 sizing die, and some weren't big enough to stay in the red plastic trap. They would stay on the ram.

This is with range lead, pretty high purity and soft. I will try again with some wheel weights or sweeten the range lead with lino. This should make em drop a slightly lighter and larger.

Shiloh

JDFuchs

03-09-2009, 08:41 PM

The 452-230-TC In a 6 cavity mold is the first cast load I ever made that feed well and still is more accurate then I am.

Ive never broken in a lee mold by anything but deburing it, and casting with it for 15-30min till it starts to drop consistently well.

hedgehorn

03-09-2009, 08:51 PM

Good to know!!

I received mine from Midway about a month ago. What weight do your boolits
drop at?? Mine are 238. They just barely touch a LEE 452 sizing die, and some weren't big enough to stay in the red plastic trap. They would stay on the ram.

This is with range lead, pretty high purity and soft. I will try again with some wheel weights or sweeten the range lead with lino. This should make em drop a slightly lighter and larger.

Shiloh

I am dropping them at about the same weight as you but .453. I shoot them as cast with LLA.

Kawfeegod

03-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Whisler,

I too have tried the SWC in my Llama, and it was pretty much like a trip to the dentist. I have the Lee 228gr 1og RN mold, I have not run any through my llama yet, but I am sure it will work just fine. My Llama seems to only like hardball. You want to buy another Llama?

azcoyhunter

03-09-2009, 09:12 PM

I have casted alot for my Glock 30, I have the Lee 200 gr TL mould and my Glock loves it.
I LLA all my boolits.

REMBER TO CRIMP VERY WELL, I have a heck of a time until I figured out the crimp issue, now it works great, I use TiteGroup, nice groups but very dirty!!!

TC66

03-09-2009, 09:18 PM

I use the 452-230 TC 452-230 RN and 452-200 RNFP. All feed excellent in my 45. I do have a SWC mold I do not use because it will not feed worth a crap.

whisler

03-09-2009, 09:37 PM

Thank you all for good info. Consensus seems to be TC: think that is what I will try.

Kawfeegod: I already have another Llama, but it is a .380. Thanks but no thanks, my next 45 will probably be a Taurus or, if God is really good to me, a Kimber.

Anyone have any opinions on effect on targets other than paper with the TC. How about a drilled HP on the TC?

Gee_Wizz01

03-09-2009, 10:30 PM

Anyone have any opinions on effect on targets other than paper with the TC. How about a drilled HP on the TC?

The 230 TC has a good sized meplat and will transfer energy well. I shot an armadillo with one and it nearly blew him in half. I wouldn't bother with any hollow pointing, I don't think its worth the effort, the .45 has plenty of thump when it hits and I like max penetration.

G

Kawfeegod

03-10-2009, 01:23 AM

Whisler,

I hear ya. I'm pining for a springfield 1911. The Llama is a good truck gun or whatever. I pull the trigger and it goes bang, so I really can't complain. Happy shootin.

Ricochet

03-10-2009, 08:00 AM

The TL452-230-TC works fine in my Series 70 Colt and standard Rock Island 1911, both unmodified.

Elk Country

03-10-2009, 08:21 AM

EMC45

03-10-2009, 05:28 PM

Lee TC 230gr.

Shiloh

03-10-2009, 06:09 PM

I have the LEE 230-TC. I milled .068 off of the top of the mold (bottom of the bullet) and ended up with what I think is the perfect plinking bullet. Bullets from my modified mold weigh between 201gr. and 203gr. They feed flawlessly in my Springfield XD. I also have a Magma 200gr. RN mold, but I find myself reaching for the modified LEE more and more!

Elk Country

I thought about doing this when I purchased the mold. Did you do it or have someone on the forum do it for you?? My boolits drop at 238 currently. My estimation is that I would get around 210-215 grains.

What did yours drop at originally??

SHiloh

Curly James

03-10-2009, 10:48 PM

One of my favorites in a 45 ACP. I have a S&W 1911 that eats them like candy.

NSP64

03-11-2009, 12:33 AM

Whistler, It may be your magazine (with the SWC feed issues) I have a High Standard and the stock mag won't feed any swc designs( only TC or RN). I bought some Colt mags at a gun show (2 for $15) and they have shorter feed lips. Now all I shoot are lee 200swc's.

Elk Country

03-11-2009, 10:11 AM

Shiloh,

I work for a large company that has a complete prototyping maching shop. One of my good friends in the shop is also a gun nut and is more than willing to do little G-jobs for me. We have stayed late into the evening doing other experiments that haven't been as successfull. It only took him about 10 mins to do the setup and finish fly cutting. I had to add a couple of washers under the sprue plate screw to make for the space we cut off. If I get a chance I will post a few pics of the mold and some of the bullets it drops. I'm thinking about ordering another LEE 230gr. TC mold and trimming it so I can have two molds to use and increase the output a bit. I wish LEE would make the lube grooves deeper.

Elk Country

Shiloh

03-11-2009, 10:25 AM

A guy like that needs a nice ribeye every twice in a while to let him know its appreciated.
This has worked for me. Now I never hesitate to ask those fellows who help me out.
You are fortunate to have a buddy with access to machine tools and the knowledge on using them!!

Shiloh

Elk Country

03-11-2009, 11:48 AM

His work does not go without some sort of repayment. My friend also live in my neighborhood and I have been known to drop off a six pack of his favorite brew. I have also taken him out for a burger a time or two for lunch. He always tells me that it's not necessary, but it makes me feel better.

Happy casting,
Elk Country

whisler

03-11-2009, 08:40 PM

NPS64: I have several aftermarket mags but don't remember if I tried anything but the factory mag. I still have the SWCs around so I will load some up and see if any of my mags will help feeding. Thanks for the suggestion.

Rem700

03-12-2009, 10:47 AM

Any opinion on the differences between the Lee 200 rnfp and the 230TC ?
I would prefer the lighter 200gr but feed reliability is more important overall.
The 200gr RNFP appears to be made for 45Colt with the crimp groove and all so I am suspect of feed issue.

Ricochet

03-12-2009, 05:17 PM

Don't have a mould for the 200 gr. RNFP, so I can't compare. I've always considered 230 grains the standard weight for the .45 ACP, and the TC feeds fine. But the 200 grain Ideal SWCs I have a mould for (forgot the number) feed OK, too.

35remington

03-12-2009, 07:40 PM

Rem, you are wise to be wary of feeding issues. Some guns may feed them fine, but the 200 RNFP produces a round of non standard overall length, decidedly to the short side.

At least with the TC bullet a round of 1.220" can be produced, which is more like it and closer to the 1911's design parameters regarding bullet shape and overall length.

Regarding the original poster's question........

Actually, of Lee's bullets, the 230-2R roundnose is the most likely to feed of any offered and would be superior in feeding reliability to anything else sold by them or mentioned in this thread. It produces a round that duplicates the length of factory FMJ with the same ogive shape.

Since this is the 1911's "original" bullet and shape as well as overall length, this is the most likely to feed of any of Lee's offerings.

Rem700

03-13-2009, 12:29 AM

I have heard of several people loading the 200gr rn to oal of 1.250 and crimping on the front driving band.

Is the Lee 230gr 2r your referring to this one TL452-230-2R I dont see any other one listed and this one is a TL design.

Would it be best to measure a factory FMJ and use that OAL for a OAL when loading the TL452-230-2R ?

Thanks

cb4017

03-13-2009, 01:01 PM

Just loaded a box of Lee 230 TC to an oal of 1.120. Heading out to try them in a S&W 1911, S&W 457 and a .45 USP Compact.

I'll let ya know how they run.

35remington

03-13-2009, 02:48 PM

cb4017

03-13-2009, 04:04 PM

"Is the Lee 230gr 2r your referring to this one TL452-230-2R I dont see any other one listed and this one is a TL design.

Would it be best to measure a factory FMJ and use that OAL for a OAL when loading the TL452-230-2R ?"

Yes to both.

"Just loaded a box of Lee 230 TC to an oal of 1.120."

Good Lord. That's way too short. Transposed the 1 and 2, I hope?

Opps! Should be 1.200":oops:
No it's not a TL mould. It is a truncated cone 230 gr. with one lube groove.

Anyway, shot them through a S&W 1911, S&W 457 and the USP compact. Perfect feeding in all three guns.

hoosierlogger

03-13-2009, 05:09 PM

whisler, I have the .452 230 grain TC lee mold. If you want to shoot me a PM with your address Ill throw a few of the bullets in the mail for you to load up and see if they feed OK for you.

Greg

whisler

03-13-2009, 09:16 PM

Hoosierlogger: Thanks much. PM sent

hoosierlogger

03-14-2009, 10:52 AM

they are in the mail. Ive got 50 of em coming water quenched and lightly rolled in LLA to keep em from corroding. Let us know how they work for ya.

hedgehorn

03-14-2009, 11:00 AM

The TL452-230-TC works fine in my Series 70 Colt and standard Rock Island 1911, both unmodified.

Richo
How to you like that Rock Island 1911?

Ricochet

03-14-2009, 09:32 PM

It's quite nice.

Ricochet

03-14-2009, 09:34 PM

hedgehorn

03-14-2009, 09:44 PM

Wonderful! I looked at Sarcoinc and they still have some. One 1911 is never enough.

zxcvbob

03-14-2009, 09:52 PM

The TL-452-230-2R, BTW, is the one shaped pretty much like the military "hardball" bullet. The 2R refers to a nose radius twice that of the cross sectional radius of the bullet. The TL-452-230-TC is the tumble lubed truncated cone design.

I have a TL452-230-TC mold, and they work great in .45 Colt.

The TL358-158-2R is a good one in .38 Special.