New Lee 200gr RNFP mold.

[kmw1954]

Just received this mold and already have some casted from it and made up a dummy test sample. My question to you all is there anyone else casting this bullet and loading it in the 45acp? If so to what length are you getting? I ask because the dummy round is seated pretty deep in order to pass the plunk test in my Witness.

This bullet profile looks like it will work much better in my guns than the LSWC I had previously tried. I was able to get this to fall in and out like a factory jacketed round does! Now hoping for good things!

Oh and BTW this was accomplished with an unsized bullet!

 

[Muddydogs]

Are you seating to the crimp groove? If so it doesn't look any longer from the crimp groove to the bottom of the bullet then any other Lee bullet assuming that your talking about the Lee 452 200 RF mold.

Whats unsized diameter? How does it compare to the LSWC bullet? What is the LSWC anyway?

 

[kcofohio]

A thread over at Cast Boolits has mixed reviews on it.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?120968-Lee-452-200-RF
I'm curious of results members here may have, as I'm looking into start casting for 45 cal. and this is one of the molds I was looking at.

 

[kmw1954]

Are you seating to the crimp groove? If so it doesn't look any longer from the crimp groove to the bottom of the bullet then any other Lee bullet assuming that your talking about the Lee 452 200 RF mold.

Whats unsized diameter? How does it compare to the LSWC bullet? What is the LSWC anyway?

Seating past the crimp grove and yes that is the bullet.
Unsized these are .452" - .4535". Over all the FP bullet is .118" shorter than the old bullet. Inside case volume after seating, the new bullet seems to be seated .005" deeper.
LSWC = Lead Semi Wad Cutter. as opposed to a plated SWC.

kcofohio I have this question posed also over at Cast Boolits and so far the responses have been all encouraging except for one. My only concern is the cast finished weight I'm getting with using clip on wheel weight alloy. 10% heavier! leave me to think where would the weight be with the 230gr RN mold.

 

[LiveLife]

If the Lee mold produces similar profile bullet as MBC 200 gr RNFP, you could taper crimp right to the crimp groove with same amount of taper crimp for reliable feeding.

 

[Lundude]

I recently started using this mold. I had to seat to 1.154 in order for it to cycle in my 1911. Also with clip on ww, they are coming out at 208 grains.And with the lee 230rn mold they drop at 234g

 

[kmw1954]

Sized and lubed those bullets again and after inspecting them after the sizing with the .452 die I didn't see any sign of swaging. Now that they are dry from the tumble lube I may have overdone it on the lube. In general these are weighing 211.5gr with my COWW and sizing didn't change anything and loaded 20 of these with 5.0gr of AA#2 at 1.110"..

As it was snowing again today I emptied the Lee pot of the COWW and filled it with the range scrap I just ingoted and cast up a pot of those. These came out looking very good and the weight was consistent and right around 213gr... After I test shoot those first 20 in the 2 guns we have and everything functions well I will load up some samples of the range scrap to compare.

 

[LiveLife]

Great.

I love happy endings.

 

[kmw1954]

Well folks here we are a full glossy photo for those needing gun porn. The two RNFP are dummy test rounds. The SWC is the one that won't feed or chamber in my pistols.

 

[Blue68f100]

The SWC looks long to me, too much shoulder showing. And the mouth has not been run through a TC die to remove the flaring. But his may be just a illusion of the angle taken.

 

[whughett]

I cast and shoot that bullet in 45C. Lee places all of their cast bullet by caliber rather that cartridge specific. With its crimping groove it’s designed for the 45C. It will work of course it just wasn’t designed for use in a straight wall case with no crimp. I use the SWC for 45ACP and have for decades.

 

[kmw1954]

I cast and shoot that bullet in 45C. Lee places all of their cast bullet by caliber rather that cartridge specific. With its crimping groove it’s designed for the 45C. It will work of course it just wasn’t designed for use in a straight wall case with no crimp. I use the SWC for 45ACP and have for decades.

Recently I have done a good amount of reading/research on this particular bullet and there seems to be a good number of people casting and using this bullet in the 45acp with outstanding results. Hoping I can add to that number.

I'm thrilled for you that you are able to use the SWC design in your guns, wish I could, but I guess you haven't been following along to know that the 2 guns I use will not run them. No matter what I've tried. Not even closely will they function.

 

[whughett]

I can’t see any reason they wouldn’t. 45ACP shoots well with most bullets from 180 thru 230 grain. Some folks even load the heavier 250 or 255 grainers.
Happy shooting.

 

[kmw1954]

Happy shooting.

At least that's what I'm hoping for.
From what I'm finding many of the Springfield XD shooters have gone to this bullet.

 

[AJC1]

I bought that mold for my 45 acp but also have 45 colt so I'd I dont like it in one I can use it in the other.... looking for a pot now

 

[kmw1954]

I bought that mold for my 45 acp but also have 45 colt so I'd I dont like it in one I can use it in the other.... looking for a pot now

So what are you looking at for a pot? I started with a hot plate and a small SS sauce PAN and a ladle. Wasn't very fast to get started each season but once to temp it worked well. I now also have a Lee Pro IV and there is no way I would feel comfortable ladle pouring from it. It's just too narrow but it does heat up fast.

 

[AJC1]

So what are you looking at for a pot? I started with a hot plate and a small SS sauce PAN and a ladle. Wasn't very fast to get started each season but once to temp it worked well. I now also have a Lee Pro IV and there is no way I would feel comfortable ladle pouring from it. It's just too narrow but it does heat up fast.

When I was casting at my dads house we were low tech as there is with a propane stove cast iron pot and the lyman ladle. We were making rifle bullets mostly and other than spending time with dad the process kinda sucked. I am checking out the lyman mag pot with controller or going with a lee and building a controller.

 

[kcofohio]

Sized and lubed those bullets again and after inspecting them after the sizing with the .452 die I didn't see any sign of swaging. Now that they are dry from the tumble lube I may have overdone it on the lube. In general these are weighing 211.5gr with my COWW and sizing didn't change anything and loaded 20 of these with 5.0gr of AA#2 at 1.110"..

As it was snowing again today I emptied the Lee pot of the COWW and filled it with the range scrap I just ingoted and cast up a pot of those. These came out looking very good and the weight was consistent and right around 213gr... After I test shoot those first 20 in the 2 guns we have and everything functions well I will load up some samples of the range scrap to compare.

Have you had a chance to take your loads to the range? I'm curious how they worked for you.
I just started casting with the Lee 200 gr. 2 bullet mold. I'm using a 95-3-2 mix, and the bullets are dropping at 207-209 gr.
Compared to the MBC 200 gr. I have, the Lee's have a bigger radius for the ogave, and the meplat on the Lee is noticeably wider. The MBC's OAL is .035" longer. I believe I seat the MBC bullets at 1.190"-1.200". I ended up setting the depth of the Lee's at 1.125". I think I'm going to work up a few loads with WST and AA#5.

 

[kmw1954]

Have you had a chance to take your loads to the range? I'm curious how they worked for you..

Actually yes I have and I thought I posted a range report but I guess not.

Shot these in both the Witness and the XD Mod2. The Witness loves them and the XD not so much. I made a couple adjustments that I still haven't been able to test. Because of the extra short length the 5.0gr of AA#2 was pretty stout and is probably getting close to the max load and also because of the short length I think that effected the accuracy in the XD. So back at the bench I reduced the load to 4.6gr and was able to increase the length for the XD out to 1.215" and loaded up 10 of these to test then out to 1.20" on the Witness. Now I really need to test these so I can cast up a bunch and get them loaded.

 

[kcofohio]

Good, hopefully that will be an improvement for you. The fun part of reloading, getting the results we like, and the trip getting there.

I now have 5 separate loads ready for a range trip.

 

[kmw1954]

OOOps need to make a correction.The adjusted OAL for the XD is now1.125" and the Witness is 1.120". sorry, dyslexia strikes again.

Also just received an email that the one indoor range I shoot at is staying open so I may get out this week!

 

[kcofohio]

That's good news! We're allowed and encouraged for outdoor activities last I seen of Ohio.

 

[kcofohio]

OOOps need to make a correction.The adjusted OAL for the XD is now1.125" and the Witness is 1.120". sorry, dyslexia strikes again

That makes better sense.