Is there any diameter difference between these two molds? I specifically am interested if the 454-252 mold is actually .454 and not .452.
Intended for an early 20th century Colt.
Thanks!
Is there any diameter difference between these two molds? I specifically am interested if the 454-252 mold is actually .454 and not .452.
Intended for an early 20th century Colt.
Thanks!
LZ
If you want a mold to cast a specific diameter boolit from a specific alloy, order from a custom maker who will guarantee the result. Lee is a good mold, but the often need adjustments to work properly and cast the needed size. Some of this work is easy, some is more intensive.
There is a reason the Lee mold in not expensive.
Kevin
Knowledge I take to my grave is wasted.
I prefer to use cartridges born before I was.
Success doesn't make me happy, being happy is what allows me to be successful.
Lee as cast diameters are sorta like buying a box of chocolates ... you never know exactly what you gonna get until you cast and measure the slug .
To make it larger you can " Beagle" the mould , which isn't hard ... but I don't know if you could get the diameter you want by "Beagling"
Lee no longer makes a 454-252-SWC ... they show only 452-252-SWC so be careful what you order / buy .
As StrawHat suggests , moulds from custom makers are more apt to be the diameter that is on the mould . I can attest NOE moulds arre true to diameter , the number on the mould is going to be the diameter of your cast boolit .
Good luck in your QuesT
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
It is possible that the mold is from an old Group Buy and that is why the third digit is less distinct. There is a listing that shows "Closed Group Buys" that you could search individual items but that is going to be pretty labor intensive.
To answer your question , a Lee mould marked 454-252-SWC should ... repeat should ... cast a boolit .454" in diam. or a little larger like .4545" .
The 452-252-SWC should cast a boolit .452" or just a little larger say .4525"
But with Lee there are no guarantees as to what that exact diameter will be , It's sort of a Crap-Shoot as to what the actual as cast boolit is going to measure .
You Rolls the dice , sometimes you win , sometimes you loose !
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
No matter who made the mold, the finished diameter of a cast bullet is affected by the alloy.
In pursuit of benchrest handgun accuracy I used to chase specific diameters of large and fast cast bullets but I finally realized that handguns are not bench guns nor are cast bullets anywhere close to BR grade projectiles. And, after a lot of range testing, I learned that within reason (couple thou) the diameters were basically pointless anyway; there are more important things about cast bullets that actually matter.
Last edited by 1hole; 09-27-2023 at 05:18 PM.
I won an eBay auction on a 454-252 SWC mold and the bullet does drop at .454. Used wheel weights no pure lead strip weights.
LZ
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |