Favorite 45ACP mold

C

ColKurtz

Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2022
Messages
7
Hi all, I’m looking for a suitable mold for 45ACP.

These will be fired in 1911 pattern pistols for target practice at 25+ yards. I intend to powder coat then size. The Lee 452-230-TC 6 cavity is interesting, and my top choice at the moment. I was interested in the 230 RN but see that others have had issues with the shape of the ogive necessitating increased seating depth. I’ve never had much luck with the tumble lube designs, so I haven’t considered those.

What is your preferred mold for 45ACP?

Thanks!
 
I had really good success with the RCBS 45-201-SWC out of a Springfield Armory Milspec. It was accurate and fed in all magazines.

I have used a lot of the Lee TL452-230-TC, but I had stoppages with some magazines. With magazines it liked, it worked flawlessly. It was however, a bit heavier than listed, at 238 grains, and I had to dial back the powder charges I used a little to compensate. I worked loads up with WSF and W231, and can offer that data if you choose to go this route.
 
My hands down favorite is the old Lyman design # 452460 ... a 200 gr. SWC ... just the Ticket for Target shooting .
I've tried many designs in the last 50 years but the 452460 keeps rising to the top ...
I haven't found a 1911 it will not perform in even a AMT Hardbballer and a Star Model PS 45 acp ...

The one that doesn't work is the Lee 230 grain Round Nose #452-228-1R ... that 1R nose just isn't shaped right for proper feeding ... it needs to be a 2R to work like the old hardball nose profile ...
Leave that one alone unless you have a revolver !
Gary
 
gwpercle said:
My hands down favorite is the old Lyman design # 452460 ... a 200 gr. SWC ... just the Ticket for Target shooting .
I've tried many designs in the last 50 years but the 452460 keeps rising to the top ...
I haven't found a 1911 it will not perform in even a AMT Hardbballer and a Star Model PS 45 acp ...

The one that doesn't work is the Lee 230 grain Round Nose #452-228-1R ... that 1R nose just isn't shaped right for proper feeding ... it needs to be a 2R to work like the old hardball nose profile ...
Leave that one alone unless you have a revolver !
Gary
Click to expand...
Thanks! High praise indeed. $130+ $60 for handles is kind of hard for this cheapskate to swallow. Lee doesn’t seem to have a similar design. I guess it’s time to scour eBay.
 
I don’t cast my own but I like the MBC 185 grain SWC Button it is the old H&G # 130 mold it is my favorite bullet for 45 auto/auto rimmed with American Select powder.
 
ColKurtz said:
Hi all, I’m looking for a suitable mold for 45ACP.

These will be fired in 1911 pattern pistols for target practice at 25+ yards. I intend to powder coat then size. The Lee 452-230-TC 6 cavity is interesting, and my top choice at the moment. I was interested in the 230 RN but see that others have had issues with the shape of the ogive necessitating increased seating depth. I’ve never had much luck with the tumble lube designs, so I haven’t considered those.

What is your preferred mold for 45ACP?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The one I use MOST is the 230 RN 6 cavity, tumble lube Lee. I probably couldn't even guess with in a thousand how many of those I've made, loaded and shot.
 
Bazoo said:
I had really good success with the RCBS 45-201-SWC ......... It was accurate and fed in all magazines.
Click to expand...
Same here....Lyman's 452460 is also equally good or, if you're really lucky, find the original H&G #68...the be all and end all of target .45 ACP bullets. The RCBS and Lyman offerings are close copies of the justly famous H&G #68. Too, it you don't mind using handloads for CC, any of these make dandy carry loads. My load: any of the above over 5.2 gr of Win 231 for ~800 fps for tgt use. And 5.5 for carry. YMMv so work up your own for YOUR gun. Best regards, Rod
 
I own the Lee 45-225 LRN 6-Cavity Mold, the Lee 45-200 SWC 6-Cavity Mold, and the MP 45-200 HP/FN 2-Cavity Mold. First, the 6-Cavity molds cast a lot of bullets for the cost of them. My groups are pretty decent at 25 yards with them. I use jacketed range scrap tested at 5 bhn and powder coated with the molds. Here are my initial groups. The LRN is extended to OAL= 1.270" where the cartridges will still fit in the magazine. The others are 1.250". 5gr BE for the 225gr, 4.6gr BE for the LHP, and 3.6gr BE for the SWC. I can't find my photo using the MP mold at the moment. The printed groups are not bad as I recall.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8347.JPG
    IMG_8347.JPG
    106.9 KB · Views: 2
  • IMG_8351.JPG
    IMG_8351.JPG
    100.6 KB · Views: 2
The 452630 is most accurate . Lyman molds drop bullets undersize, if using ww or less then #2.

index.php
 
Those look awfully familiar...but these are the Hensley Gibbs versions #130-185gr, #68- 200gr, and #78- 215gr.
index.php


For numbers shot it would be the 68 noted above middle, followed by the 78. I do shoot a lot of the lighter one but not nearly as many as the others.

I would also add that I shoot quite a bit of the MP-452-200 HP's as well. Mehic makes awesome molds.
index.php


Even though I have those HG molds I also added the MP cloned version of the 68, (previous post by Shak3s) due to it being a 6 cavity aluminum. It throws a 20# pot really quick, is a whole lot lighter, and there is very little if any difference in the two bullets. I certainly cannot tell a difference in groups. He also makes it in a non-grooved version as well for PC. Me personally, I just go with the standard type lube grooved molds and usually use as much or more conventional lube as PC. It just makes it easier if I want to load up 50 or so rounds, I can have them lubed and sized quicker than setting up to PC.

The SWC's, once you find the sweet spot in seating depth feed and shoot just fine in 5 of our ACP's. Most all of them are seated with just a smidge of the top band exposed, and usually loaded over around 4.2gr of Bullseye. The below are 10shot groups with the 68's over BE.
index.php
index.php


The HP's are usually loaded over a bit more spice using Unique or AA-5, lubed with Carnuba Red they shoot ALMOST as good as the 68's.. They do actually shoot very well using the same load, it's just the added recoil from the stiffer loads usually opens up the groups a little more.
 
Last edited:
gwpercle said:
The one that doesn't work is the Lee 230 grain Round Nose #452-228-1R ... that 1R nose just isn't shaped right for proper feeding ... it needs to be a 2R to work like the old hardball nose profile ...
Leave that one alone unless you have a revolver !
Gary
Click to expand...
I have good luck with Lee 452-228-1R bullets in my 1911's. They function without issue.

Truncated cone bullets are hit and mss in my 1911's.

I recently got a Colt Gold Cup and it feeds and functions with SWC bullets well. The standard Gov't Models tend to be hit and miss with SWC bullets. I'm sure the feed ramp could be massaged to feed SWC bullets reliably.

My Gov't Models feed round nose bullets exceptionally well so I don't mess with success.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
  • Locked
Lee Tumble lube bullet molds
Replies
23
Views
4K
Seafarer12
S
68Dave
  • Locked
Which 9mm mold?
Replies
8
Views
299
brewer12345
B
Armored farmer
  • Locked
First attempt at reloading .45acp
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
Wreck-n-Crew
Wreck-n-Crew
JCSC
  • Locked
New to casting questions
2
Replies
40
Views
1K
JCSC
JCSC
S
  • Locked
45ACP Lead 200 Grain TC pet loads
Replies
3
Views
938
GooseGestapo
GooseGestapo
Back
Top