Too small of a bullet? - Handgun cartridge reloading - Metallic cartridge reloading

The Handloaders Bench > Metallic cartridge reloading > Handgun cartridge reloading > Too small of a bullet?

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Too small of a bullet?

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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 05:32 AM

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Box13
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I sold my pos Hawes 45 and bought a colt cowboy 45 last week.I am glad I got rid of the hawes but my colt has consistent throats of .454.The only .45 mold I have casts a ww alloy at .452 even without sizing.This in turn gives me a lot of blow-by leaving lube and lead around the throat area under the strap and on the top of the cylinder.Not much in the bore but I dont want that to become a problem.Am I better off finding a bigger mold or is there someway to make a bigger bullet in this same mold?Can I cast a bullet .002-.003 larger just by changing the alloy?Am I heading down the right road?...Robin

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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 05:43 AM

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wheezengeezer
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i think more antimony will drop out larger.try a softer bullet from that mould and see if it will bump up enough to seal better.

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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 09:44 PM

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Charley
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You can lap your mold to a larger size. Either cast a bullet with a metal rod in it (placed thru the sprueplate), or drill a bullet and insert a shaft (easy on a lathe, tougher on a drill press, really hard freehand!). Coat the bullets with valve grinding compound, or laping compound, and carefully turn it between the mold blocks. Aluminum molds open up pretty easily, iron molds take longer. Stop and check mold diameter often, easier to take it off than put it back.

Or buy another mold, one that will drop at .454 or .455.

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Posted: Tue Nov 18th, 2008 01:04 AM

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runfiverun
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you can put a piece of flue tape in your mold on the sides and between the cavities.

this will get you a couple of thou and sizing will help round them out.

this is called beagling and not my idea however it does work.

Posted: Tue Nov 18th, 2008 05:14 AM

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Box13
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Thanks for the ideas guys.I think I will first try casting a few out of soft lead and see if they expand at 45lc pressures enough to fit the throat.If not I'll try that beagling thing because it sounds fun and might just work enough to see if the accuracy improves.Id try to enlarge the mold like charley said but the mold I was using works just fine like it is so I probably will just find a .454 mold.I think I found a lyman 454424 ...its a little rough but if I can get it for the right price...supposed to be just the thing for .45 colts.Otherwise I will find an rcbs 45-255-swc...supposed to be the second best thing for 45 colts with .454 throats...Robin

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