454190 mould

Springfield Slim · February 01, 2009, 01:54:25 AM

There is a buy going on at www.castboolits.gunloads.com for a LEE 6 cavity mould for the old style(square lube groove) bullet. It would be a good chance to get a mould for the older style as the newer Lyman moulds have the smaller round bottom grooves. This is one of the old traditional bullets used for 45 Colt's. I am not running this Group Buy but I plan on getting at least one of the moulds myself. The bullet on the left in the pic is the old style, the other is the round groove style.

hellgate · February 01, 2009, 05:43:15 PM

I wonder if the design change is because the rounded lube grooves allow the bullets to fall out of the mold more readily.

Springfield Slim · February 01, 2009, 08:40:40 PM

That's the theory but I cast all sorts of bullets and I haven't found that it really makes much difference as long as the temps are right. Plus these are large square lube grooves, it seems to be the smalller ones that can be difficult.

Oldelm · February 02, 2009, 09:54:14 PM

Slim,....if you get one of these molds , will you be selling boolits cast from it?

I figure you will, but just thought I'd ask in case I don't sign up for the group buy.
Thanks.

Springfield Slim · February 03, 2009, 09:35:33 AM

I kinda figured on it. I don't shoot much 45 Colt myself, I do 44-40. Some theorize that this would make a better long range 45 bullet than a Big Lube due to the smaller meplat. Might test that out just for fun. I do have a pair of Opentops in 45 Schofield.

Fairshake · February 03, 2009, 12:12:10 PM

The design of the old style with the square lube grooves will also hold more lube than the shallow round style. I have one of the new style 2 cavity coming on WED. I don't think it will hold enough lube for rifle shooting without some bbl cleaning between stages. What's the take on this?

Springfield Slim · February 03, 2009, 04:08:46 PM

You're probably right, that's why the Big Lube(tm) bullets were invented. Way back when they didin't use 45 Colt in rifles, and didin't usually shoot as many bullets in one sittting as we do.

Fox Creek Kid · February 04, 2009, 02:38:23 AM

On the old Ideal/Lyman Keith style bullet moulds you had to really whack it hard to get it to release the bullet. I mean the TRUE Keith style with the huge square bottomed grooves and not the current one that is rounded and not true to the design.

w44wcf · February 05, 2009, 07:28:07 AM

Not to worry .... according to the drawing, there is a draft in the lube grooves which is necessary for easy bullet removal from the mold. Without the draft, there would be an issue such as FCK mentioned.

The drawing is located in the first post in this thread.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=44760

w44wcf

Springfield Slim · February 05, 2009, 10:59:17 AM

Would you call this a huge square bottom groove? It casts OK. Like I said, get the temp right and most anything will fall out properly. Get it a little too cool and you are beating on your mould.

w44wcf · February 05, 2009, 02:11:07 PM

Springfield Slim,

Yup. Nice looking, square bottom groove in that bullet..... AND a nice draft on either side of the groove which allows the bullet (s) to release AOK.

Years ago a friend acquired a 429303 mold which had 2 deep lube grooves with no draft and it was an awfull mold to cast with. It took a number of "raps" to get the bullets to release from that mold.

w44wcf