Bullet Mold for ROA?

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ottsm

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I know this isn't the first time this has been brought up. We have the Lee conical mold which is a great design. The Kaido bullet design is another option. Both are good for hunting but waste a lot of lead for range shooting. I did like the Buffalo 190 grain swagged bullets, somewhat expensive compared to round balls and casting your own. They are also not making them anymore. I have a special Rapine hollow base mold (454160). I can get them to cast larger then 454 but it's not easy, temperature regulation, distance from the pot spout, etc all come into play. It also has the necessary notched base to get the bullet started, as most of the molds above do have. This type of base is a must to get any accuracy out of a conical in the ROA.

What would be ideal is a bullet mold that cast similar bullets to the Buffalo swagged design. Instead of having the swagged crisscross hatching to hold the lube, we could have a couple of grease grooves. Of course their are those that would say "just shoot round balls". But I must admit to being a victim of wanting a conical bullet but one that is lighter then the current offerings. Anyone know if NEI or some other off brand name makes such a mold?
 
Thanks, your link had an issue but I believe I found a few molds that are rather interesting. I had heard of them before but had forgotten all about them. I see a 150 and a 210 as options. I can see the 210 has the notched base to get the bullet started. Looks like the 150 may or may not?
 
The picture is a little hard to read but it does appear that the El Paso Pete Ultra Gamer 45 Caliber 150 grain does have a starting base of .450 then notches up to .455. This would be a good option for economy.
 
I edited the link in my first post, hope it works now.

I have several of Dick's molds. They work beautifully. He can be contacted by phone from the listing in his website. He knows his stuff about molds for black powder guns.

I have no financial or other interest in his business. I am just a satisfied customer.
 
Appears he does offer 5 samples for $15.00. Don't know if that includes shipping but might be worth it before investing the money. I currently have all dual and single cavity molds, 6 cavity molds will be a new experience for me. I would also need handles.
 
http://www.accuratemolds.com/

These guys make several weights that should work. I've been using some of the 180 grn bullets in mine. But I prefer a heavier bullet with a more defined FN.

They'll also make a custom mold for you.

Not that it's a large lead savings, but you can use Kaido's 240 grn version well. It's what I've been using.
 
I do see the 45-180R, are you using them in a ROA? If so what diameter did you order (.457 or something else)? Also are you casting in pure LEAD?
Thanks
 
You could also order the double cavity LEE R.E.A.L. mold in 45cal. It's outermost ring I believe, is .457. There's a lot of room for grease and the bullet will center well due to the graduated sizes of the drivieng bands. One caveat: be sure the driving bands/rings fill out well or the bullet can creep forward under recoil. Don't ask me how I know (I have a 44cal R.E.A.L. for my Remingtons).
 
I'm ordering those cast. I asked for them sized to .454", and they usually load well s long as I'm not making paper cartridges with them. I think the paper interferers with the base diameter.

I am using them in a ROA. And my understanding is that they are pure lead.

My chamber mouths seem to measure ~.453 with dial calipers.
 
My ROA is the most accurate handgun that I own in an extensive handgun arsenal.
Don't want to bust anyone's bubble but my most accurate load is a home cast .451 round ball over 30 grains of FFFg. I call the pistol my "Mini Squirrel Rife" as it is so accurate. I shot a huge doe a few years back with the said "ball load".
Conicals? It's your call but at a range of 50 yds or so I'll stick to to balls.
 
I just received the 200 gr. REAL mold from Lee and cast 45 bullets in it this morning. I checked them for tightness in my ROA cylinder and they slipped in to the 2nd band where they got real tight. I didn't load any all the way but believe the 2nd and last band should shave lead and be fairly tight.
I can't wait to load them up and try them in my ROA and Patriot pistols.
 
Zeke/PA said:
My ROA is the most accurate handgun that I own in an extensive handgun arsenal.
Don't want to bust anyone's bubble but my most accurate load is a home cast .451 round ball over 30 grains of FFFg. I call the pistol my "Mini Squirrel Rife" as it is so accurate. I shot a huge doe a few years back with the said "ball load".
Conicals? It's your call but at a range of 50 yds or so I'll stick to to balls.
Click to expand...
.451 round balls would be too loose in either of my ROA cylinders unless they were patched. Are your accurate RB loads patched??
 
Patocazador said:
.451 round balls would be too loose in either of my ROA cylinders unless they were patched. Are your accurate RB loads patched??
Click to expand...
Not patched but I seat the ball just inside the chamber mouth making up the over powder space with cormeal. Grease over the seated balls also
 
Using a caliper I measured my cylinder chambers at about .452, although not as accurate a slugging but it's close enough (quick google states .453 chamber for the ROA). I would think recoil would cause a .451 ball to move around some. Suppose some chambers could be different.

Thanks for all the good information,
 
As I said previously I have no trouble shooting a home cast .457 lead ball from a Lee double cavity mold. The balls, measured 90 Degrees from sprue facing me measure .456 to .458 .
I just .using Starret Small hole gauge, measured the hole size in the chamber mouth of my ROA. Results? .453 to .454 and with a powder/ cornmeal combo ,a TIGHTLY seated ball is just about an eighth of an inch below the chamber mouth.
I'm very happy with this powder/ball combo.
EXCEPTIONALLY accurate to the point where a conical would not be an improvement
 
Last edited:
Zeke/PA said:
My ROA is the most accurate handgun that I own in an extensive handgun arsenal.
Don't want to bust anyone's bubble but my most accurate load is a home cast .451 round ball over 30 grains of FFFg. I call the pistol my "Mini Squirrel Rife" as it is so accurate. I shot a huge doe a few years back with the said "ball load".
Conicals? It's your call but at a range of 50 yds or so I'll stick to to balls.
Click to expand...
:banghead:

Unfortunately, you typed it as .451 not .457.
 
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