I've had very good luck with Lee bullet molds. I plan to start casting for 45 acp. I'm leaning towards a 200 grainer, maybe a semi-wad. Anyone here have any experience;recommendations with Lee 45s? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeff
I have one of there six cavity 185 gr swc molds they cast very nice but my alloy was hard and they cast .458 " . I use them for plinking loads for my 45-70 . I also sized some to .452 and they shot fine in my pistol .
I've had better luck with their six cavity molds then the two bangers. I have a two hole .44 310 RNFP which casts great, and a .45 200 grain RNFP which doesn't cast worth a dang. As to designs, that would depend on what your going to use the bullets for. BD
Posts: 163 | Location: Greenville, Maine | Registered: 25 December 2002
My 45 autos don't function well with short OALs. I think the 185 is too short. I've had good luck with cast bullets from NBC. SWCs. Loaded to about 1".250. These bullets are the long nose design. Thanks for the ideas. Jeff BTW, these bullets are for target and plinking.
I've got the 200swc lee mold and it produces great bullets. I have shot thousands of them through my Kimber and always had good results. If your gun will feed swc bullets them I highly recomend the mold to you.
Posts: 414 | Location: Missouri | Registered: 28 February 2002
Hay heaver, wich mold do you have? Micro-band, or the H+G copy? My pistols like that long nose of the H+G 68? Some of my best groups have been with the micro-band 158 gr .358 swc. Does your kimber feed the short 185s?? If so, how long do you load them? Sorry to be a pest, its just my nature. TIA Jeff BTW, .358s are for my Ruger revolver.
I just bought a couple of the Lee micro groove 2 hole"rs off a fellow on the net. 200 swc 45 acp and with straight w/w am getting around 200 to 202.3 weight wise which is not a concern to mee in pistol bullet. You have to seat them a bit shorter around 1.200 for my colt. The nose are a bit shorter than the tradional H@G 68. Had a heck of a time when I seated them at 1.250 the first outing. Seated them shorter and they function great in my pistol. Not really an accruccy test yet as I was watching my pistol to much lol. So far I am very pleased with them. Boon
Posts: 647 | Location: Pa | Registered: 05 January 2003
Since I'm looking to get a 45 ACP, for cc, how does the Lee 230's work out. I've been thinking about this one for a while. the different weights that is. thanks
I think that the price is the attractive part of the Lee molds. If a couple of molds look interesting, then get them all. They are cheap. I like that they heatup quick and start casting without wrinkles on just a couple of pours. I'm waiting for the BD45 6holer to come out. lar.
Posts: 2924 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 23 December 2002
Thanks for your comments guys. Gonna go to Cabelas today. Dangerously low on powder. Maybe they have the mold I'm looking for.If not, its Midway.A lot of you here and in other posts, feel the six holer is better made. With handles its almost 3x the price. I only cast huge quantitys when my mothers good son comes for a visit. Twice a year. So for now, its a duce, 200 gr. long nose swc. Thanks again, Jeff
halfbreed / 54JEFF I use the 230 TC design and it works!! Also makes a great plinker/Small game loads in my Win 94 .45 LC . My Ruger P90 just eats them up. They cast easy. For the price you can't go wrong.
54Jeff, If you don't find a suitable mold, I have a pair of the Lee six cavities I'd sell reasonable. Fully "Lee-mented" and well used. They are not the tumble lube design and I'd want to keep the handles. If you're interested email me at bdallam@NOSPAMime.net (remove the NOSPAM of course)
Posts: 163 | Location: Greenville, Maine | Registered: 25 December 2002
Oops, I suppose I should have mentioned in the post above that the two six cavity molds I'd be willing to part with are the 230 grain truncated cone design. BD
Posts: 163 | Location: Greenville, Maine | Registered: 25 December 2002