Lee REAL mould

[goon]

OK...
So I'm wanting a Remington 1858 .44 these days and I have the money to buy one.
But I also have a bunch of scrap sheet lead at my disposal. I got it way cheaper than I should have, something like $20 for about 150 pounds total. It is soft stuff and I originally worried I'd have to add something to it to cast bullets for .357 out of it. I have no doubt it would work OK for BP.
Anyway, I have read about the Lee REAL moulds for .45 caliber and how they make a good projectile for a C&B revolver.
Anyone use one for that? And Midway lists them as a .467 diameter, which is pretty damn big. Is that accurate or are they actually .457?

 

[kanook]

while you wait for more responses, do a search on "real" for some reading using the search function for THR

 

[dwave]

I have a mold for the REAL bullet in .45. I have found that they are extremely hard to load in an 1858 Remmy clone. They are hard to line up because they are big, and the are almost too tall to fit under the loading lever. I don't really recommend them for that. They are great out of a Pedersoli .45 Frontier rifle.

 

[Hellgate]

Goon,
The only R.E.A.L. mold that will work in the 58 Remimgtons is the 44cal (not 45) that is no longer made. I have one and they load just fine. What I would suggest is getting the LEE double cavity 200gr conical ball mold and you'll be happy. They load easily and are nice "thumpers". 30grs FFFg and the 200gr conical knocks over the big poppers just fine. Sheet lead is perfect for round balls and conicals. You will need to add wheel weights or linotype for the 357.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

ditto hellgate. that load data he posts definitely has some 'whack' to it.
not recommended for brass frames however - stick with round ball.

 

[realtordoug]

Are these the ones being discussed? Look like they may be worth a try...
http://possibleshop.com/reload-cap-ball-mold.html

 

[goon]

Yeah when I get mine it is either gonna be a steel frame Uberti or Pietta. I am planning to buy pretty soon but I'm still making my mind up.

 

[fineredmist]

.457 round ball is the way to go. They are easier to cast, easier to load and accurate to boot. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[Hellgate]

The .456 mold is for Ruger Old Armys, the .450 for the various Remingtons, I have no clue what gun the .429 mold is for. I highly recommend the double cavity molds as they are literally twice as fast to cast up each 100 rounds.

 

[Voodoochile]

I have these Lee Molds:

.457 142gr. Double Ball
.456 220gr. Single
.450 200gr. Single
.495 182gr. Double Ball
.512 320gr. R.E.A.L. Single

Now granted the double molds really speed things up but once I get going I'm nearly as fast with the singles as I am with the Doubles.

 

[robhof]

robhof

If you don't mind paying a little more check out LBT molds, Veral makes a flat nose half round conical for the ROA that is as accurate as the round ball and is heavier. The flat nose imparts a larger wound for game too. I have a few of his molds and they are head and shoulders above anything else I've tried.

 

[kanook]

robhof

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If you don't mind paying a little more check out LBT molds, Veral makes a flat nose half round conical for the ROA that is as accurate as the round ball and is heavier. The flat nose imparts a larger wound for game too. I have a few of his molds and they are head and shoulders above anything else I've tried.

The next time you make a batch, could you pour a couple extra (about 20) and send me a pm with how much to send ya?

Also all the specks on the mold. I'm getting my cylinders deepened and am trying to get the most I can from the Ruger that I can. I've got the Lee HP and it works, but not as good as the round ball.

Thanks