Lee 6 cavity mold, 45acp 1911

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  • rp85

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    baton rouge
    hello;

    anyone casting bullets for the 45acp, 1911 pistol, using a lee 6 cavity mold? if so which design? happy with the mold or do you suggest a

    different mold design. just starting to cast for the 45acp.

    thanks for any input.

    rp
     

    340six

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    The best Ogive is the Lyman 230 rn it is said to be USGI copy.
    I use a iron 2 cavity RCBS I like iron when I can get it. The Ogive is little larger so needs to be loaded shorter. I get lots of bullets with a 2 cavity iron.
    I have a single of the Lyman Custom Hollow Point made by Mihec. It is iron.
    Some Brass HP,s and some Aluminium ones.
    Lots of guys like the Lee for cast and tumble lube.
    I cast and lube with commercial lube and heater with a Lyman 4500.
    K have a collection of molds I had a problem as I could not help myself.
    One of my very best molds is a very old Ideal before Lyman name was used. It is a 358242 9mm 38 round more. Man I can get piles with it fast and is a,single cavity.
    I do polish some of my molds and restore them. I have some strange molds.full wad cutter 45acp for revolver. I got one made like it for 9mm 38spl in 75 grains.
    Only problem I see with Lee is guys need to polish the cavity or smoke them.
    Where are you located?
     

    340six

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    I have used the 6 cavity Trunucated cone mold for several years

    That is a great profile it is the same as my RCBS One like it. It is the preferred bullet profile for 1911
    Lee are A Ok but got my RCBS Lyman new old stock or used cheap here and there do not want to talk them down
     
    Last edited:

    rp85

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    baton rouge
    thanks for input.

    have two different iron molds but casting in this heat and only two bullets at a time = slow productivity. lymen 228 grain rn great bullet.

    have 7 different lee 6 cavity molds very happy with them. it's the bullet design for the 45acp is what got me confused.

    reading to many reviews on internet.

    i'm going to buy a 6 cavity lee mold just don't know which one. need input on mold selection for the 1911.

    have avoided the 45acp for 40+ years, not sure I like this can of worms. thx again for input.

    rp
     

    Gator 45/70

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    thanks for input.

    have two different iron molds but casting in this heat and only two bullets at a time = slow productivity. lymen 228 grain rn great bullet.

    have 7 different lee 6 cavity molds very happy with them. it's the bullet design for the 45acp is what got me confused.

    reading to many reviews on internet.

    i'm going to buy a 6 cavity lee mold just don't know which one. need input on mold selection for the 1911.

    have avoided the 45acp for 40+ years, not sure I like this can of worms. thx again for input.

    rp

    I would use a round nose in an 45 auto,That may be what you have? Got pictures?
     

    340six

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    you never said how you lube them. I would go round nose
    If tumble the Lee.
    I may be picky but rather 2 or 4 great bullets vs 6 ok ones.
    Lots of guys like the Lee.
     

    rp85

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    baton rouge
    thx for input.

    use alox, Johnson liquid wax tumble mixture for lube (bll) works very well, does smoke a lot.

    considering the lee #68 clone, a 200 grain rn (which one ?) or the 230 rn (which one?).

    can tell you a lyman 228 grain cast, 5.1 grains of ww231, 10 shots at 7 yards will go into a one hole group, if I do my part. it is all about casting a lot of bullets in

    a short amount of time with a bullet that provides good accuracy. have considered getting another lyman 228 grain rn mold and using both when casting.

    side note, bought the 1911 because it fit my hand and it has a left hand safety. the 1911 is a big change from a heavy barrel s&w revolver in 38spl shooting min loads of bullseye.

    like I said above, have avoided the 45acp/1911 for 40+ years, not sure I like this can of worms.

    thx again.

    rp
     
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    340six

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    A 230 RCBS Copy as HP made by Mihec
    An Old 452389 Lyman Iron 45 Wad-Cutter I restored.
    Polishing molds make them drop very well. Lots of guys spin cast bullets in a mold and polish them with Lee Molds on Castboolits.
    Again some SWC will not work in some guns even some will not do HP's if you want 100% trouble free get a Round Nose.
    If crazy work I got the Full Wads to work in my 1911 but were for wheel gun.
    I use these rules on new molds
    http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index.php/topic,2.0.html
     

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    noylj

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    452-200-SWC.
    Never had an issue with ANY 1911 feeding SWC bullets and they give the best accuracy.
    Follow Lee instructions to the letter. Aluminum molds must be HOT and they cool down real fast, so you may have to insert a corner in the melt to get it hot.
     
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    340six

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    On the NOE and Mihec I have in aluminium I do a,few hot cold cycles before use.
    And never overheat them.
    He has the info on his site.
    I would do the same with all brands.
     

    DBMJR1

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    I have the Lee 6 Cavity TL .452 SWC mold. It casts well for me. I just did a run of 1K of these.

    I powder coat mine.

    I have no problems with these feeding in three different 1911's and they're very accurate out of my .45 cal Blackhawk revolver as well.

    20190519_100047.jpg

    Here they are fresh cast, and cooling under a fan.





    20190519_111052.jpg

    Here they are after powder coating.

    I use a mixture of Harbor Freight White, and Harbor Freight Red to get that pink color.
    It's not really about the color. I find that the red goes on too heavy, and causes clumping, while the white goes on too thin. Combined, I get the coating I want.

    It works for me.
     
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