Best mold for heavy 45 LC rifle load

[sixshot]

A 250-260 gr bullet at 1100 fps will pretty much handle anything in north america with ease. The heavier bullets are just added insurance. That 325 gr bullet at 1325 fps that Greg S. mentions is what I used a few months ago to take a Cape Buffalo in Africa. The first shot was complete penetration (water quenched) dropped it straight down, the second shot really wasn't needed but it stood back up & a second shot put it back down on all fours.
Heavy bullets have there place on really big stuff but I've rarely recovered a 260 gr bullet on elk or bears in 50 years.



Dick

[rickt300]

I just happen to have this particular mold which I want to try before I buy another. I have the 255 gr. Lee flat nose bullet mold which I will try powder coated soon but I think I will end up with the RCBS 270 gr. SAA mold before all is said and done. Gotta have toys to play with.

[smkummer]

I have been reading this post from the beginning and eagerly looking for rickt300 updates as I am a 45 colt shooter in both rifle and handgun. My neighbor uses a Win. 94 45 colt with factory win. or rem. 255 grain handgun ammo and maybe gets 1050-1100 fps out of his 20” barrel. It drops Indiana deer dead in it’s tracks. Rickt300 load would be a bonus with its big flat point. No doubt if the range is far enough, that after the bang, you could actually hear the bullet make a “whop” sound as it punches through the hog. I am going to experiment a bit more with Lyman’s 255 SWC but 454190 RF feeds so good in my lever rifle I just keep using it.

[cwlongshot]

I have really really been liking the LEE 45-255-rf bullet. Very nice meplat and seats deep for use in levers without issue.

The 6cav just rains bullets!

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010210353



CW

[sixshot]

Ha! you better have a lot of ingots ready when you use that mold! The bullets are going to pile up in a hurry.

Dick

[rickt300]

Thought I would update this a bit. The 457191 powder coated and sized to .452 is great in my lever gun and my muzzleloaders. With the lever gun I stuck with 13 gr. of Blue Dot. Just guessing I figure a bit more than 1200fps. I picked up a LEE 255 gr. mold and cast both bullets at the same time alternating molds and giving them both the .452 sizing. Out of the Muzzleloader I have shot them both with as little as 60 grs. of 3F to as much as 100grains. My Muzzleloaders in particular are a Firehawk and an Encore. Both shoot a bit better than the Rossi. Interesting that in both rifles the 255 and 300 gr. bullets shoot close enough that I have no reason to resight either to use them. The Firehawk has a very slow twist of 1-38 but still runs the 300 grain bullet very nicely. The Encore likes the Black smooth sabot and the Firehawk like the Harvester black crush rib sabot. The LEE bullet gives a bit less recoil with full loads. Was hoping to use it deer hunting already but cracked a couple ribs and walking is too painful. Finally went to the doctor today got tired of the wife whining about it. Got Xrays but no diagnosis yet, hoping for the best.

[versa-06]

Rickt300; Prayers going up for your quick recovery. -06

[pls1911]

All the suggestions above are very good.
I have both the RCBS 270 and the Lee 300. I can't refer to target accuracy, but can guarantee great results from Marlins and Ruger Blackhawks/Redhawks.
Nine grains of Unique probably isn't optimal, but it does the job wonderfully, putting pigs down from about any angle due to superb penetration.

[cwlongshot]

I have a new favorite...

MP 454/308 with various HP Pins.

Casts beautifully as expected. Shoots magnificently! I havent played with many alloys yet sticking with a BHN equlivent to COWW thats more malleable.

But loaded so far in 454 but two guns is shooting and preforming very well. Taking for deer later this month so hope ta see what the small HP does. Dont expect to recover one.

CW

I did do a video on the mold.

https://youtu.be/MGAa0ouPNFs?si=QsRYVREtQldNQdgA

[versa-06]

Deer season will be starting here soon & I'll be using the LEE 452-255 RF through one of my 454's. From what I'm understanding is that full penetration is a definite & the meplat is plenty for tissue damage. Boy my 38-55's are gonna be mad cause I didn't use them first. -06

[Castaway]

I’ve used the Lee 255 RNFP on many deer and pigs without any complaints about penetration or performance. I really like the large meplat and the round nose reliably feeds in my lever actions

[cwlongshot]

That LEE 452-255 rf bullet has long been a favorite for my traditional sa pistols. It seats deeply and offers far better meplat then traditional RF bullet yet is no longer. The 454424 is great but is long for some cyl this lee offers darn close meplat dims.
That RCBS saa270 is another dandy & this MP 454/308 is very close in dims and look.

I compared 300s in my new 454 Rossi choosing the RCBS 45-300 swc, the mp 454-308 W/small hp, LEE 452-300 & Lyman 452651. All shot very well about 2.5" average @ 50 yards. RCBS eas least accurste & 651 & 308 most accurate. The LEE was solid 2" Lyman & MP often shot touching 1.25". I tried H110, 4227 & 2400. Finally choosing 2400. Velocities for all ran 1550-1600 fps. Drop out @ 100 was 4 -4.5" siting 1" high @ 50 made 100 under 3" lo.

This gun will be back up/ rain gun this season.

CW

[quilbilly]

The Lee mold you have is the one I use for my Henry 45. It shoots very well and feeds beautifully. I have also used the Lee 200 gr. RF and it also shoots and feed well. Using my alloy, the 255 gr mold actually drops boolits at 265 and the 200 at 215 gr. The loads are 5.8 gr of Bullseye (mv1045) for the 215's and 8.0 gr of Red Dot with the 265's (mv1070). No speed records set but very pleasant in both the revolver and the rifle.

[rickt300]

I have a new favorite...

MP 454/308 with various HP Pins.

Casts beautifully as expected. Shoots magnificently! I havent played with many alloys yet sticking with a BHN equlivent to COWW thats more malleable.

But loaded so far in 454 but two guns is shooting and preforming very well. Taking for deer later this month so hope ta see what the small HP does. Dont expect to recover one.

CW

I did do a video on the mold.

https://youtu.be/MGAa0ouPNFs?si=QsRYVREtQldNQdgA

Geez I really don't need another mold but I like that one. They removed your video for some reason.

[rickt300]

While looking at that mold I spotted this one. Hmmmmm

https://www.mp-molds.com/product/45-...-multi-choice/

[cwlongshot]

NOE BLK Friday Sale got me using Full Lead Taco's code I got 25% off...

I ordered a 2 cav 454-360 mold.

Its a long bullet @ .900. Very very remicent of my MP 454-297 Ruger Only Mold. But heavier.

CW

[Outpost75]

Bullet Larry pressure tested for me is Accurate 45-290H.

[rickt300]

NOE BLK Friday Sale got me using Full Lead Taco's code I got 25% off...

I ordered a 2 cav 454-360 mold.

Its a long bullet @ .900. Very very remicent of my MP 454-297 Ruger Only Mold. But heavier.

CW

Looked into my 45 mold collection and found a almost new Keith style 260 grain Arsenal mold. Never cast any bullets from it myself.

[cwlongshot]

Looked into my 45 mold collection and found a almost new Keith style 260 grain Arsenal mold. Never cast any bullets from it myself.

Hahahaha. Yup!

My NOE Mold was just dropped on my doorstep!!

CW

[rickt300]

Getting cool enough to do some casting. Actually shot up most of what I cast last year.