Classic .45acp mold

[BobCat]

Congratulations! I recall your asking about .45 SWC dimensions and your tribulations with the Lee mold.

The same Lee mold is on my Midway wish list, and I'll have to give serious consideration to whether or not to proceed with it, of try to find a mold closer to the traditional shape.

[BobCat]

Thanks for the 230 grain RN suggestion, I'll look at it.

Somehow I'm stuck on the 200 grain SWC. Midway has molds from "better" manufacturers than Lee (more expensive). I've looked at Lyman http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=583831" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and Saeco http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=619736" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but am not ready to do anything yet. Been reloading for the AR for years but am about to start loading for the Garand, and want to focus so as not to mess anything up.

[BobCat]

Don't know. That's the attraction of the Lee, tumble lube.

Thanks for the heads up about eBay. Got my Dillon 450 presses there - three old ones (over time) for less than the price of one new 550.

[BobCat]

Yes there are, and that was certainly one of them!

Tumble lube does not appeal to me on any grounds but cheapness.

Still need to look around and get oriented before I start seriously accumulating tools for casting. Just thought your OP about the H&G #68 deserved a "way to go, dude!"

[Jumping Frog]

Congratulations!

I also had horrible feeding problems with a Lee 200 gr LSWC design. After discussing extensively on castboolits.gunload.com, I had generous members there that mailed me 100 bullet samples each of the Lyman, RCBS, and SAECO versions of the mold. The Lyman fed the best of those three in my gun, so I bought a 4-banger Lyman mold.

I was really disappointed in the Lyman mold, however, because it dropped undersized bullets that severely leaded my pistol. I sent it back to Lyman and they returned it dropping larger bullets, but it was still on the edge of usability (.4512" to .4515") with wheelweights. They claimed it was "within specs" using Lyman #2, so I simply enlarged it myself.

Anyway, that is a long-winded story to introduce another picture of mine showing the difference between the Lee SWC design and other manufacturers (this is my picture, so no copyright issues):

[BobCat]

Thank you - both for the tip about new-production Lyman molds, and especially for the link.

[Jumping Frog]

Here's the reproduction 6-cavity mold which I want once it's available again - it's highly-acclaimed: http://mp-molds.com/shopping/pgm-more_i ... ?id=4&=SID" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is a great looking mold. I'll be interested in getting one if it is ever available as well.

[saltydog452]

There is a gent whose work appears occasionally on a castbullets forum whose name is MIHEC. He is in Austria or some such place.

He makes, among other sizes, an exact copy of the H&G 68, but in brass blocks. Mine are plain base.

salty

[saltydog452]

Yep, thats the guy.

His web site has lots of handy information. I got a kick of watching the CNC milling operation.

salty