I cast some bullets for the first time using the Lee mold. 230 gr LRN. I am having trouble with the seating depth for 45 acp. I have to seat these bullets to at least 1.200" to keep the bullet from touching the lands. The bullets I used from Missouri Bullet Co were seated at 1.260 to run well in my RIA and my sons H&K. I am afraid that 1.200" might be a problem. I was going to try one at the starting load with 231, 4.0 grs with a 1.200" col, but thought I would check with the people here first.
Anyone use Lee 230 LRN mold?
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243winxb
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Looks like 1.200" is ok if your just off the rifling. The diameter of the bullet would also come into play. .451" diameter could be set longer than a .452" bullet. I cast/shot the Lyman 225 LRN #452374 but didn't write down data because the accuracy just was not there. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=425322
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Which Lee mold do you have?
Something isn't adding up to me. Is the mold 230g or 228g? Is it a current production mold or an oldie-but-goodie?
Assuming you are loading 45acp, Lee only has one current production 230g mold, it's the one with Tumble Lube grooves. This bullet can only be seated at about 1.255" because it is a stepped shoulder design. It only has one tiny band for your case mouth. The case mouth must hide the TL grooves, but due to the stepped shoulder the bullet cannot seat any deeper. Due to that same stepped shoulder, it really cannot contact the rifling lands unless you load it ridiculously long (like 1.300").
Lee also makes a 228g double-groove bullet. This one can contact the lands if you're not careful. Is this the mold you have? This one you can load anywhere from 1.195" to about 1.250" overall length, but never shorter than your data table. The data tables indicate minimum overall length, you can always go longer but never shorter.
Look here on the Lee web site http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1248387735.2612=/html/catalog/bullmol2.html for your mold.
Something isn't adding up to me. Is the mold 230g or 228g? Is it a current production mold or an oldie-but-goodie?
Assuming you are loading 45acp, Lee only has one current production 230g mold, it's the one with Tumble Lube grooves. This bullet can only be seated at about 1.255" because it is a stepped shoulder design. It only has one tiny band for your case mouth. The case mouth must hide the TL grooves, but due to the stepped shoulder the bullet cannot seat any deeper. Due to that same stepped shoulder, it really cannot contact the rifling lands unless you load it ridiculously long (like 1.300").
Lee also makes a 228g double-groove bullet. This one can contact the lands if you're not careful. Is this the mold you have? This one you can load anywhere from 1.195" to about 1.250" overall length, but never shorter than your data table. The data tables indicate minimum overall length, you can always go longer but never shorter.
Look here on the Lee web site http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1248387735.2612=/html/catalog/bullmol2.html for your mold.
If you think the Hodgdon web site is wrong, call them and talk to a technician. I have several load books that show minimum OAL at 1.200" for 230g ball. To me, this is ridiculously short. But that's where they tested the load and printed the data, whether I agree with it or not. Once again, this is a minimum length, not a recommended nor a maximum length.
Ants, your right, I have a 228 gr double groove mold, 452-228-1R. I sized the bullets to .452". What data tables, I thought that the col in my Lyman reloading manual was for maximum col. If 1.200" is a safe min, then I should be able to work up a load. It seemed way to short to me, and I was going by the reloading manual col and prior loads with other bullets.
The OAL in published loads is a minimum length. You can go longer. As long as you use a published load and stay below max load, use the longest length that fits the magazine and feeds easily into the chamber.
For Win 231, go here http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp to the Hodgdon web site (distributors for Winchester powders) and look it up. 4.3 grains is listed as starting load for 231 at minimum 1.200 for a lead round nose 230g bullet. Once you choose the powder and bullet weight, press the Print button on that page and it will give you more information.
For Win 231, go here http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp to the Hodgdon web site (distributors for Winchester powders) and look it up. 4.3 grains is listed as starting load for 231 at minimum 1.200 for a lead round nose 230g bullet. Once you choose the powder and bullet weight, press the Print button on that page and it will give you more information.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Lee skipped the part about matching GI FMJ-RN bullet profile on all their .45 ACP molds.
All have to be seated deeper then optimum for best feeding to keep them out of the rifling leade.
I have the 230 TC mold, and it is too short too.
rc
All have to be seated deeper then optimum for best feeding to keep them out of the rifling leade.
I have the 230 TC mold, and it is too short too.
rc
I think I jumped the gun on the H&K. What do they say about,"never assume?" They in fact do not fit in my sons H&K USP. I would have to load shorter than 1.200" to make them chamber. This seems ridiculous on Lee's part. I contacted them about the problem, we will see what happens. Will the SWC mold solve this problem.
Hi, Bugudy.
My Lee book (which reprints other manufacturers' loads, they don't make up their own) lists 230g LRN data for min OAL = 1.190". Some loads are Winchester powder, some are Alliant powder. That should give you some options.
"Will the SWC mold solve this problem?" I haven't used every SWC mold nor loaded every commercial caster's SWC bullet, but when seated with the shoulder of the bullet just above case mouth (like 0.030" of the shoulder showing) this clears the rifling lands in many, many pistols. Unfortunately you'll have to try it yourself to test your own pistols. Maybe find someone who owns that mold, and send them 5 bucks to cast a dozen for you???
My Lee book (which reprints other manufacturers' loads, they don't make up their own) lists 230g LRN data for min OAL = 1.190". Some loads are Winchester powder, some are Alliant powder. That should give you some options.
"Will the SWC mold solve this problem?" I haven't used every SWC mold nor loaded every commercial caster's SWC bullet, but when seated with the shoulder of the bullet just above case mouth (like 0.030" of the shoulder showing) this clears the rifling lands in many, many pistols. Unfortunately you'll have to try it yourself to test your own pistols. Maybe find someone who owns that mold, and send them 5 bucks to cast a dozen for you???
If Lee would have put a shoulder on there bullet. that would have solved the problem. Maybe that is why they are 20.00 bucks. Seating to 1.190 seems very short, but I am not that experienced, but comparing to alot of other 230 LRN bullets, it seems they seat alot shorter. I am just worrying about pressure problems. Thanks for the help Ants.
I'm not worried about the 1.190. The bullet has a big round ogive, which is why you're getting interference. But that big round ogive puts lots of lead up front, which means there is less lead at the base. Thus,the case still has plenty of capacity with the OAL that short. Another way of saying it: The OAL is short because the nose is blunter with the base seated properly in the case. Give it a try. I have some excellent loads in a dozen different calibers that seem too short, but they work great. And use less powder for the same pressure and velocity.
ohioshooter
Member
This may not pertain but I'm going to throw my 2 cents in and take it at that cause I'm new to reloading and I use Universal at 5.2 gr in my .45 ACP using 230 gr LRN and I shot mine tonight with the OAL between 1.207 and 1.225 and all cycled through 4 pistols just fine (H&K USP, Caspian .45, Springfield XD, and Glock 21) and I used those various OAL's to see what would and wouldn't cycle through. Plus the XD was a new gun with no other loads run though it yet. Just my 2 cents as stated before.
Plus all reloads were done using Lee dies.
Plus all reloads were done using Lee dies.
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