Lee conical (456-220-1R) for the Ruger old Army

[viperchannel]

Hey there!
I will pick up a ruger old army in a couple of days and while searching for information about that gun, I came across the Lee 456-220-1R 90384 mold.
It seems Lee used to make 2 molds especially for that revolver. Today, only one is still avalible, the 90384.

Did anyone ever use that mold? How is your expirience? I found an very old post where some people reported bad accuracy using that mold, but great sucess for hunting. Since I only want to use it for target shooting (just precision) I am unsure if I should get the mold. Also they are quite pricy over here where I live, so I would love to get some information to decide if I should order one.

I never shot conical bullets out of a revolver, just roundballs. Casting conical ones is a little bit more effort, and I would imagine I have to size and lube them also, since they have a lube groove If so, which diameter should the be sized? They get sized again when loaded in the drum so is this necessary?
If the accuracy is worse, where is the advantage in taking those extra steps? The only advantage would propably be to use them in paper cartridges for faster reloading.

Am I wrong here or is the information in the other post just wrong?

[gunther]

Check Lee Precision's web site for a discussion of the 90384. A bullet sized to .452 is a snug fit in a ROA chamber, and any cast 45 auto bullet will work. If you want to look for a real unicorn, Lyman made a 175 grain 45468 hollow base mold a long time ago. A .457 round ball will shoot as accurately as anything, and a mold should be easy to find. Don't know if your local laws allow it, but a ROA, loaded with all the black powder it will hold, and a round ball, will take deer if you can shoot into a 3 pound coffee can at 25 yards. The guns themselves are capable of 1-2 inch groups at 25 yards.

[viperchannel]

Thank you, I did not know that Lee has its own forum. I will check it out.
But if I get you right, I can just stick to round balls, if I am only going for precision?