I have recently received an Encore barrel in 450 400 NE and I'm wanting to start casting for it. I'm looking at suitable molds at Accurate Molds but I keep going back and forth between 40 caliber molds and 41 caliber molds. I plan to paper patch for this grand old cartridge and I do have some experience paper patching from many years ago (in the mid '90's). Looking at molds around 400gr but wonder if I should patch up .400-.402 molds or patch and size down .410-.412 molds. Also should I go with the slick sided molds or grooved molds. I used full diameter regular molds to paper patch back when I did previously. I'm looking at the following molds:
40-400b
40-390C
40-400P
41-400C
41-400G
41-400L
41-400P
They are on pages 12 and 13 of his catalog. I can provide direct links if needed.
The thoughts on the 41 caliber molds rather than the 40 caliber molds is that I could also powder coat them or lube them in addition to paper patching.
Any idea's or thoughts would be much appreciated, velocities will be around 2,100-2,300fps for these 400gr loads. If I decide on some lighter boolits later that could go up.