For 45 Colt bullet casters/shooters

[PRSearls]

I'll be ordering a bullet mold soon. What are your thoughts and suggestions for a 250 grain bullet. Lyman has several; the two I'm considering are the 452424 and the 452664 designs. Is their an advantage of one over the other? I'm primarily interested in target shooting. Any others I should consider? My revolver throats are .4525 (pin gauge measurement).

I also need a lubricator/resizer. Any comments on the Lyman, RCBS and Saeco units?

Thanks!

 

[colt_saa]

This is a custom mold that basically duplicates the RCBS 45-270. This difference is the three availble hollow point styles. One great thing about this mold maker is that the same blocks can drop solids, HPs or a combination.

Here is an image of the Solid only mold

Here is his website.

Mp-molds

Often they overrun the group buys from Castboolits Forum and he has extras available fro sale for a while.

 

[358156hp]

Either of your original choices would work fine. I'm nostalgic about the Keith designs, so my personal choice would be the 453424. RCBS has some neat offerings too.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

With the Lyman molds size and weight depend on the alloy you use. I recently bought the Lyman 452424, 454190 and 429421. I cast with straight wheel weight alloy and they all cast too small in diameter. I'm told by Lyman that they are set for use with the Lyman #2 alloy. Now I have bought three new manufacture RCBS molds that drop with wheel weight alloy just fine allowing me to properly size them for my use. I can only comment on the RCBS sizer lubricator, it works fine for me. As for the sizer dies I like the Lyman's, (you can use them in both the Lyman and RCBS Sizer lubricators) as they have a convex top allowing for a sprue cut dimple to sit flat and not let lube under the bullet base. Good luck and have fun!

 

[GBertolet]

I have both molds in 4 cavities. I originally purchased the 452424, which is a Keith design SWC, for a Colt SSA that I used to have. I later purchased a lever action cowboy rifle, and had feeding issues with that bullet. The shoulder of the bullet would catch on the mouth of the chamber, causing a hitch on the feeding cycle. I then purchased the 452644 RNFP, which is the traditional 45 Colt bullet, and the feeding problem was solved.

Both bullets are good designs, and are capable of producing excellent accuracy. For hunting I would prefer the 452424. as it has a sharp shoulder, which tends to leave a larger wound channel, as Elmer Keith realized. For target shooting I would go with the 452644, as it's the traditional RNFP design, loads in the cylinder more smoothly than the SWC designs, just as I found in the lever action rifles.

I have both the Lyman and RCBS lube sizers. Both are of fine quality, but I feel the RCBS is of a more robust design. Both my molds cast between .453 and .454. using wheel weights. Different alloys will give slightly different diameters. Harder alloys will give a slightly bigger diameter bullet. A .453 die would be the ideal size, but it is not a normal production size. A .452 or a .454 die would be your most likely choices. The .452 sized bullets cast of a soft alloy, say 50% lead and 50% wheel weights, should slug up to your cylinder size easily without leading. Of course you could tumble lube the bullets as cast with Lee Liquid Alox, and just shoot them. That way you wouldn't have to buy a lube sizer, die and top punch. It will save you $200.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

RCBS and Lyman sizers both use the same style of sizing dies and are completely interchangeable. Readings are different and also cost more money. All 3 use top punches, again Lyman and RCBS are interchangeable. Often I use a SWC 45 cal top punch on all flat nosed bullets this saves on the quantity you'll need to have on hand- there are hundreds of them. If you find a Star sizer, they push all the way through something like Lee and I use wadcutter punches on all diameters and push from the base of the bullet. Lastly, Lee sizer sets are OK, but you have to lube the bullets separately before sizing. And "Tumble Lubing" isn't always the correct option and pan lubing can be a pain on large quantities. Old lube-ra-sizers can be found at gun shows and rebuild kits are available from RCBS and Lyman. I have 2-RCBS, 2-Lyman, 1-Star and several Lee's. I won't get the Star out of storage for less than 2500 castings to be sized and I have a Lyman 4500 on the bench at all times set up with SPG black powder lube (It is good for smokeless also) usually with a .458 sizer in it. You'll find the you will need 2 or 3 sizers (dies) for most diameter bullets, 45 being the most .451, .452, .454, .455, .457, .458, and a few old guns want .459. 9mm/38 is almost as bad at .355, .356, .357 & .358.

Lube type or brand is important, so do a little research and testing. It can make a huge difference on the smokiness of your loads (which gets important indoors).

Years ago (in the 70's) Lee made a sizing kit of a pan and a die (you used a hammer to drive the bullet through) and a stick of lube I buy all of them I don't have, they are great for special projects.

When you cast you own, you control everything important: Alloy, size,and lube quality and quantity. When you figure it out it makes many areas of shooting go better. hope this helped. Ivan

 

[rockquarry]

I use a #454424 mould that's probably from the 60s; it casts oversize which is what many prefer. Don't know about the newer Lyman moulds.

I have not used the Star lubricator/sizer, but if I were to start all over, I would give this one a serious look, particularly if I was going to do a lot of casting & shooting. I've used the RCBS, Lyman, and the SAECO. They all work well, but of the three, I prefer the SAECO.

After trying tumble lubing, I would not recommend the messy process or the greasy finished product. However, it's inexpensive and the bullets are probably fine.

 

[PRSearls]

Thanks for the good information. This makes my selection process easier. Paul

 

[Nframecollector]

I'd go with the Lyman 4500 lubrisizer and the RCBS version of the Keith 454424 bullet. The Lyman company altered the grease groove from Elmer's original design and RCBS got it right!