Another Lee mold question

I was asking earlier about the .358 molds and got good answers.
I'm getting ready to order the 358-125 to go along with my 358-200.
My wife wants me to order a mold for her 1911.
I'm leaning toward the 452-255 so I can cast for my muzzleloader also. It likes 250-300 grain bullets.
I did research and read of people using it. But they were back and forth about using a heavier recoil spring vs not using one.
Will using this bullet beat up a 1911 if it's loaded to eject the cases the same as factory ammo?
I usually load handguns for reliable function and stop well before max.

If it's a no go. I'll get the 200 SWC because that's what I load now.

BJung said:

You can't beat Lee molds for the price. I recommend you purchase a hot plate. Before using one, the best place to put my mold was on the top. Even then, the mold could cool and throw off my casting. The hot plate instead maintains a constant cast temperature for my 6 cavity without worry about it cooling.

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Thanks for the tip.
I'm already set up for casting and powder coating. I've been at it with 30 cal for a few years. Handguns were a priority 2. Because I had a huge stash of plated and commercial cast that I was working through.

P Flados said:

I like the way the 200 SWC has worked in a couple of guns. I do not size them. I just cast them, tumble lube them, load them and they work great.

Getting a good 45 ACP bullet "for the wife" sounds like a priority mission that you do not want to mess up. I would say to get the 200 SWC for the 1911.

Later get a heavy specifically for the ML.

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I'm kicking that around also. She wants me to be able to carry for everything we have. the money is less of an issue than having an extreme number if molds.
I'm already at 6 and I have only been at it for a couple years.

Y-T71 said:

If you can get both, that would be great.

The 200gr swc make a very nice, accurate bullet (as you're already aware) but I'm also interested in any examples of folks using the 255 rnfp in the ACP since I recently started casting that bullet for .45 colt and have a bunch on hand.

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There are threads about it over on cast boolits. Search it on Google and they will show up.
My biggest holdup is fear of beating the gun up.
Hopefully one of the 1911 gurus will chime in.

AJC1 said:

My favorite Lee 45 mold is the 230 cone. If I were to try and bridge the gap to a rifle that bullet shape should do well. I prefer the regular lube grove design over the tumble lube.

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Everything I load for has a bullet that could be used for taking game if needed.
I got excellent accuracy from a TCFP. But they didn't do well on game except in 40S&W. Because it has a larger Metplat.
I'm going to stick with either a RNFP or SWC if it has a decent Metplat.

FROGO207 said:

I have never felt under protected using a LSWC in anything. Might not open up like a HP but will still produce plenty of shock and a big hole. My vote for bullets and propellant is to get whatever works best for each caliber. Two molds might just give you some crossover if needed and each will work best to what you are trying to do.

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That's true. For now I picked up the 255 gr. If it doesn't pan out the way I want. I'll order the 200. I still have about 150 200s left to load. So I don't have to worry about her running out while I'm testing.

AJC1 said:

I don't understand because the heavy hitters from Buffalo bore are basically an oversized wadcutter. The meplat is full diameter and they are loaded hot. The 451 tc has a half ish diameter meplat and should have plenty of frontal area to hit hard and give decent splash/shock. I'm not trying to convince you but I'm not understanding the meplat statement.View attachment 1119422

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I suppose tc bullets are like SWC where some have a larger metplat than others.
The one I used was a 300 gr for silhouette shooting. It looked like you took a half inch drill bit to the deer. It did die and I had just enough blood trail to track it. But it was not what I consider great.

Shooterbob said:

Bfh auto I have several lee molds . But take a look at Noe bullet molds they have nice molds and quite a few styles.Also look at accurate molds

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I have a couple .310 NOE molds. They are definitely well made. I started with them and tried a Lee 358-200 when everything else was out of stock. I can cast the same quality with the Lee as I do with the NOE. But like you said. They do have a much better selection.
If the 255 gr doesn't pan out I will look at theirs.

nofendertom said:

My concern with that bullet (255gr with big meplat) would be if it would feed reliably in a 1911.

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That is a possibility. I found threads on cast boolits where people were using it. If it doesn't work. I'll just go to a different bullet.

AJC1 said:

That was the huge seller when Lee molds were 20 bucks, try them all till you get a good fit. At 20 bucks for a lee and 120 for an noe, that was my plan when first casting. Now at almost 50% of the cost of a high end mold more research and less trial seems prudent.

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The trick is. Put it in your cart on Midway for a while. Suddenly it will be on sale
I bought 4 Lee molds between 17 and 21 dollars a piece recently.
This one was 37 though. But I know it will work on my muzzleloader using sabots.

Barbaroja said:

I’m also I big fan of the Lee 230gn truncated cone for 45acp. Love the big meplat, standard weight bullet, feeds smoothly I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot game with it.

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You and @AJC1 have me curious now. What diameter is the Metplat? I'd like to compare it to the 255. It should be in today.
It would be nice to run a common bullet weight for data purposes.