Do-it-all 45 mold

[WSM]

I'm looking for a bullet mold that can serve as 45 LC/ACP. Are they mutually exclusive? I'm mostly looking to hunt with the LC loads and range fun with the ACP. I'm leaning towards the 255gr Lee mold but the bullet looks long for ACP. Any 200gr molds that will suffice?

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[Seabee]

Interesting question. With the ACP, 230 gr is normally about max whereas the 45 Colt (there is no long colt) is normally loaded with 250 or more grain bullets. My Lee manual shows loads for the 230 gr in the Colt but does not show loads for the 255 in the ACP. I have the Lee 228 gr RN mould and it shoots very well in my Pistols. I have never tried it in my 45 Colt or 454 Casull but I would imagine it would be fine in the Colt if it were loaded below 1100 fps because it is not a gas check bullet. Hope this helps.

Ken

PS, Ive seen loads somewhere for 250 gr in ACP but cant remember where. It was on the web somewhere.

 

[j8064]

I have several .452 molds and have tried the CB's they produce in both 45 acp and 45 Colt in my guns (1911, revolver and rifle). As Seabee suggests, 45 acp is basically maxed with a 230 gr CB. Although not ideal, 45 Colt loads will shoot the CB's from this Lee TL mold. I crimp the 45 Colt loads just a smidge behind the front driving band.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/5...diameter-230-grain-tumble-lube-2-ogive-radius

 

[WSM]

I have several .452 molds and have tried the CB's they produce in both 45 acp and 45 Colt in my guns (1911, revolver and rifle). As Seabee suggests, 45 acp is basically maxed with a 230 gr CB. Although not ideal, 45 Colt loads will shoot the CB's from this Lee TL mold. I crimp the 45 Colt loads just a smidge behind the front driving band.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/5...diameter-230-grain-tumble-lube-2-ogive-radius

What happens when you push those past 1k fps? I see people say you can't push non gas check bullets faster than that.

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[Blacksmith101]

They sometimes have group buy molds over at the Cast Boolits forum that would work.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?53-Group-Buys-Design-Active-Waiting-and-Archives

For example this is a completed group buy, now closed, 248 gr HP or 277gr solid that might have worked:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?126884-Miha-454640-Group-Buy-Sign-up-Here!

Or this lighter one, 200 gr HP or 210 gr solid, that is a current group buy:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...4-cav-Brass-MP-Molds-re-run-May-SPECIAL-OFFER

There are others either in planning, active, or archives so look around.

 

[Biggfoot44]

RCBS 45-230 C M. .

A rn/fp design.

There is plenty of data for 250-260gr bullets in .45acp cases, its listed under .45 Autorim.

I have used 230 RN in .45 LC. The only potential hitch is depending on exact nose profile , it may exceed SAAMI length in .45 Colt cases. Not a problem in Rugers, might be in others.

 

[John from MD]

Having shot both calibers for over 40 years, I would say that you cannot realize the full potential of the 45 Colt with any compromise you make. The best bullets for the 45 Colt will be too heavy for the 45 ACP.

I do know of one person who has made heavy bullets work for him in IDPA but he shoots them at just enough velocity to make power factor and it took him a long time to find the right powder/bullet combination to work out.

I shoot Lee 200 gr RNFP bullets in both calibers for punching paper and they work fine. For any other use, they are rather useless.

John

 

[303_enfield]

Stop wasting time an buy two or twenty moulds. Look on castboolits for deals or here:
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=41&osCsid=ji0afpeea25ap9uuj5n06h1o10

Now, one do it all could be a heavy with pins. Heavy when you pour round noses an 230 gn HP's when you use the pins. But the simple way is get the mould your gun shoots the best with the given load.

Good luck!

 

[Magnumite]

Basic difference in bullets for those two cartidges is a crimping groove for the revolver. I have used 250 cast RNFP revolver bullets for 45 ACP. Matter of fact, it was developed as a pin killer. No problems, velocity on my loads are about 750 fos. They can be driven faster. I also have used 200 grain cast RNFP quite a bit and it groups well. I taper crimp as usual, concealing the crimp groove. The 250 may or may not chamber well depending on the bullet ogive and rifling throating depth ahead of the chamber.
I used the same bullet in 45 Colt and it works well, as would be expected.

 

[Biggfoot44]

The real answer for the OP is that bullet molds in general, and LEE in particular are inexpensive enough to have two.

If you really want a single mold for some esotetic minimalistic reasons, then a 230gr flat point, with a crimp groove, that can also be taper crimped in an acp . The RCBS above can, but from a pure $$ basis, you could probably buy two LEE molds with included handles for the price of an RCBS plus the handles.

The * full potential* of a .45 Colt can be pretty open ended ( think 5 shot conversion on a Ruger). ( And subject of debate of LBT vs Keith & 250 vs 270 vs 300 vs 320 plus.) Plenty potent enough for most uses including "mere" deer is a lot easier and more pleasant to reach

 

[WSM]

The real answer for the OP is that bullet molds in general, and LEE in particular are inexpensive enough to have two.

If you really want a single mold for some esotetic minimalistic reasons, then a 230gr flat point, with a crimp groove, that can also be taper crimped in an acp . The RCBS above can, but from a pure $$ basis, you could probably buy two LEE molds with included handles for the price of an RCBS plus the handles.

The * full potential* of a .45 Colt can be pretty open ended ( think 5 shot conversion on a Ruger). ( And subject of debate of LBT vs Keith & 250 vs 270 vs 300 vs 320 plus.) Plenty potent enough for most uses including "mere" deer is a lot easier and more pleasant to reach

I think we've gotten to the crux of the issue. Two molds it is! I'm sure that'll turn into twenty molds in no time.

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[Blacksmith101]

I think we've gotten to the crux of the issue. Two molds it is! I'm sure that'll turn into twenty molds in no time.

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If you spend any time in the Cast Boolits Group Buy section you will see your mold count go up and your bank account go down. They dream up some pretty unusual options.

 

[Magnumite]

Nice post, Biggfoot44

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Thread Revival.

Looking at casting .452 bullets for my Ruger revolvers. Thinking the classic Keith 255 gr. SWC is the way to go.

Lee 2 cavity mold is 22 bucks and comes with handles. Lyman 2 cavity mold is 75 bucks and handles are purchased separately. That's a HUGE difference in price. Is there a huge difference in quality?

Thanks.

 

[Art3]

Thread Revival.

Looking at casting .452 bullets for my Ruger revolvers. Thinking the classic Keith 255 gr. SWC is the way to go.

Lee 2 cavity mold is 22 bucks and comes with handles. Lyman 2 cavity mold is 75 bucks and handles are purchased separately. That's a HUGE difference in price. Is there a huge difference in quality?

Thanks.

Most of mine are Lee. The few Lymans I have, I only bought because there was no exact Lee equivalent. Once they get up to temperature, they seem to drop the same quality bullet...to me, anyway. The aluminum Lees heat up quicker and drop keepers sooner, too. The Lyman handles are typically longer, if that makes any difference to you. Personally, the major difference I could see is in longevity. The Lymans are all steel and definitely more solidly built. I have one old Lee that I think is wearing out as it has been cutting sprews kind of wonky lately...but it has probably dropped thousands of balls in its lifetime. If I replace it two more times, I'd be getting close to losing money over a Lyman (assuming that wouldn't have worn out).


Personally, if the bullets are exactly the same (and you aren't planning on massive mass production), I'd gamble on the Lee first. It's cheap enough that you could decide you don't like it and not feel like you lost the farm.