New RCBS mold equalls happy

Hi there everybody, a few weeks ago I asked y'all if new RCBS molds produced full diameter boolits using straight COWW. The reply's were just about unanimous in yes, yes they will. Today I received my new RCBS .45 cal. 255gr SWC mold that is stated to throw .454". Well I fired up the Pro Melt, cleaned the mold and had at it. Cast some with straight COWW at 650, some at 680 and some at 710 degrees. Waited for them to cool to room temp and measured and weighed them. Diameters ranged from .456" to .457" and weight was surprisingly heavy between 276-278 grains, was expecting 260 to 263 grains . I tried sizing some at .452 dia. with good results and some at .454 with the expected good results. This same batch of alloy using a RCBS .38-150 SWC KT throws em at .360 dia. at 157 grains and have run them at 1,100 fps out of a .357 mag revolver with good accuracy and almost zero leading. Anyhoo I am happy with this result and for the moment I think I'm done with new Lyman mold's till I get smart enough to get good results with them. Once again thanks for all the help I have received here!

all the old lyman/ideal molds i have in .358 usually throw .359 .360.
i recently splurged and bought a new lyman dc .358 665 and the biggest i get out of it is .356
sorta just passes through my .358 sizer. not too happy

kartooo

Sorry to hear of the poor results with your new Lyman Mold, however, that is typical for Lyman right now.

Ben

I would send it right on back to Lyman. I just can't bring myself to buy a new Lyman mold, even though there are a couple I would like to have. I have a few of the older ones and they're great. Mike

I saw Elvis at 1000 feet. John Force

i tend to stick with lee not as fancy but i have not had one problem between all my 7 lee molds.

RCBS are top quality molds.

38-150 SWC or KT is a really great one. Top notch.

Sorry about Lyman, they design for #2 alloy and not too many are actually
using it, so they often get undersized.

Bill

If it was easy, anybody could do it.

now if someone would just design a gun for their 429 series of molds.

it's all an educated guess,,,, till the trigger is pulled.

the more i find out about shootin boolits, the more it contradicts everything i ever learned about shooting jaxketed.

I'm with Bill, you won't go wrong with an RCBS mold ( or RCBS anything for that matter ).

Well I'm sorta glad that my reentry noob status opinions of the new Lyman molds were not too far out of line. Bought three of em a few months ago and have had fits with them. Casting way undersized, ragged sprue plate drop holes and having to reduce my new hickory hammer handle to splinters tapping bullets out of the molds. Fussed with them, polished em out with a Flitz covered bullet and cleaned up the ragged drop holes and got two out of the three useable. The 454190 at least drops at .452 and can use it in most of my .45 Colts as a .452 bullet (bought it for my Colt SAA's that can use a .454). The 429421 drops a half a thousand under .430 but will lube up without squirting lube up around them and shoots fairly well. The 452424 is a lost cause even with a number two alloy the best I can get out of it is .451 at ten grains lite and I'm going to just set it aside for the moment. Thanks again for the advise all and my future molds will be RBCS's.

RCBS is far and away the best quality off the shelf mold available at any cost. You need to go full custom such as MP or Accurate to do any better. Also doesn't hurt that RCBS has so many outstanding bullet designs.

Rick

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RCBS is far and away the best quality off the shelf mold available at any cost. You need to go full custom such as MP or Accurate to do any better. Also doesn't hurt that RCBS has so many outstanding bullet designs.

Rick

Hi,
Couldn't of said it better myself! The only thing that threatens the status of my RCBS molds is the NOE and MIHEC brass 4-cavitys!!!

Always looking for Dillon RL-300's!.

Wish my 429421 that was purchased about 6 months ago would at least drop 'em that big! Mine on a good day will only do .428. That is entirely unacceptable!
John

Boolit Mold Join DateApr 2012Locationkalispell mtPosts11

my 429421 also drops small. have to beagle to get 430 after sizing

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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