Ordered a couple of NOE molds

[Glaciers]

Well I pulled the trigger on a couple of 45 caliber 2 cavity molds I’ve wanted. Can’t really afford them right now but NOE has a 15% off sale and combined with Al’s $1000 dollar club discount gets the price down pretty well. Well actually Karyn put them on her card for and early Father’s Day gift. I must’ve been whining just enough. Or it might have been her Mother’s Day gift of a pair of shoes she’s wanted for last couple of years. If I didn’t get them she would never splurge for herself. Makes me feel guilty sometimes. But…

Little light weight for the 45-70 and 458x2


And a heavy for the ACP revolver’s and for the 45 Colt Red Hawk I’m working on acquiring.

 

[Ben]

You have good taste in moulds ! !

When placing that 292 gr. into a 45 ACP case, I know that
you'll be conservative with that powder charge.

Ben

 

[hporter]

Congrats!

My wife just bought me that same Ranch Dog mold for my birthday present! I keep pestering her to see if I can cast with it, even though my birthday is still a week away.... I picked the 1 PB and 1 GC Mold to play with in my new 450 Bushmaster Ruger American Ranch.

I've been meaning to buy that Collar Button mold too. I ordered some online and they shot great in my 1882 Trapdoor rifle with a little bit of Bullseye behind them. What a great design.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah HP that RD design looks like it could be a winner. I like the weight as well.
The collar button should be deadly on beer cans. Big bore light recoil is certainly of interest.

 

[hporter]

You got me thinking (always a dangerous thing) and I went ahead and ordered a collar button mold too. Didn't want to pass up the 15% off sale plus the 10% off for the club membership. That more than paid for the tax and shipping. Great minds think alike!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have watched for a Collar Button mold for some years. Not a strong desire just a want one day.

I saw the sale too and resisting so far. Pretty easy nothing ta spend now.

HP I also have a RA in 450 and love the 457122 over 5744 @ 1500 fps. Shoots into a ragged hole.

A heady 450 Ranch Dog over unique is also allot of fun @ 1200 fps. (Slowed any dosen't stabilize well) Pleasing thumps on paper and steel. Im gonna take one of our deer with this one cast dead soft.

CW

 

[hporter]

CW,

I started by buying 100 Collar Buttons from Western Bullet for $14. They shot great. Truth be told, I probably didn't need a mold. But I like to be self sufficient and have my own means to produce them.

I have read your threads on the 450 BM. I just picked mine up and haven't shot it yet. Looking forward to it though.

But I am really interested in John shooting that big Ranch Dog in the Ruger Redhawk. I've got the 4" Redhawk in 45 Colt - so I may have to give that a try too.

 

[Glaciers]

Truth be told, I probably didn't need a mold. But I like to be self sufficient and have my own means to produce them.

Now that’s a good excuse to buy another mold. I’m more of a collector of molds than a shooter which I am hoping will change this summer.

But I am really interested in John shooting that big Ranch Dog in the Ruger Redhawk. I've got the 4" Redhawk in 45 Colt - so I may have to give that a try too

Sadly I don’t have that Redhawk yet, but, I’m working a trade that I know can happen I’m just not sure how much I’ve got to kick in yet. But it will certainly get some use in my 625 and 22-4 ACP. I have a 304 grain that’s working well with the limited testing I’ve been able to do so far, but the 292 I think will be a better fit for those two pistols.

 

[Intel6]

I really enjoy the NOE collar button in my 45-70 lever gun. 10 grs. of Unique gets it just over 1,000 fps and it is a good shooter and lots of fun.

 

[MW65]

...
Sadly I don’t have that Redhawk yet, but, I’m working a trade that I know can happen I’m just not sure how much I’ve got to kick in yet. But it will certainly get some use in my 625 and 22-4 ACP. I have a 304 grain that’s working well with the limited testing I’ve been able to do so far, but the 292 I think will be a better fit for those two pistols.

I'm sure you've tried a 452423 in the ACP's... good little extra thumper, but still functional in autoloaders...

 

[Glaciers]

Don’t have any Lyman 45 pistol molds anymore as they got purged years ago when my frustration reached its limits with 1911’s. All went down the road. Besides my interest were mainly with 44’s
I do have some Lyman 45 rifle molds yet.
My first 45 that I liked was a 625 model 1989 5” which in a moment of stupidity I sold in 1991. Regretted it ever since.
But cured that problem with a model 4” 1950 22-4 about 7 or 8 years ago. And 3 years ago I lucked into a 625 1989 4”. Since then I’ve picked up maybe 6 molds ranging from 160 grains to 304 grains. I’m not a fan of swc designs I prefer the round flat nose designs. Further I will not own a 1911 again as I just can’t shoot them.
I know that’s unusual but my mileage varies.
I’m sure I will like the Redhawk but I’d love a Smith model 25, 45 LC preferably in 4”

 

[hporter]

But it will certainly get some use in my 625 and 22-4 ACP. I have a 304 grain that’s working well with the limited testing I’ve been able to do so far, but the 292 I think will be a better fit for those two pistols.

Out of curiosity, are you shooting them in ACP brass or Auto Rim? I haven't shot anything that heavy in my 625, but I suspect it would be good to be able to put a good crimp on projectiles in that weight range.

 

[Glaciers]

I’ve been using the 304 in ACP brass but since I’ve picked up a fair quantity of new Remington AR brass from a member here.
I haven’t had any problems with bullets backing out as I’ve kept neck tension pretty tight and just kiss it with a very very light crimp. The 304 does not have a crimp groove so keeping an eye on that on. The 292 RD does have a crimp groove which is another reason for going to this mold. I do like a crimp.
One thing I’ve been doing is seating the bullet out well beyond what would cycle or chamber in a semi auto. This works well so far as the bullet is already resting in the throat.

Use the lube groove for a light crimp


Compared to a factory ball round. The COL is 1.385 with the 304 which actually weighs out a 310. So far I have it moving at 750 fps and have a few loaded for further test which I think will be right at 800 fps. Life inserted itself in the testing so not sure.
More testing will include unique, 2400, power pistol, and maybe 231. I think 2400 could be interesting.

 

[hporter]

Thank you for sharing that. That aught to put the smack on anything it connects with!

 

[Glaciers]

I’m thinking the 22-4 will end up with end up with a 230 to 250 grain because of the fixed sights, which will be about right as it’s a fairly light gun.
The 304 or the 292 at 800 be potent in the 625

 

[hporter]

Bryan Pearce wrote an article a couple months ago in Handloader magazine on the 22-4. Gave me the wants. Supposedly S&W is talking about doing another run of them. I have a 21-4 in 44 special that I love, I think it needs a 22-4 companion.....

Fixed sights are a blessing and a pain. Once you get a load zeroed with them, there is nothing better. But getting there is sometimes an adventure.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Thats a big bullet for the 45 Auto. But I see that your technically not loading a 45 Auto. Still wicked heavy. I have loaded 325's in my Long Colt & 450's in my Bush master Bolt gun. But my heaviest in a 45 AR was the dandy lil 452423. I have t tried it in my Camp Carbine but I should.

CW

 

[Ben]

One thing I’ve been doing is seating the bullet out well beyond what would cycle or chamber in a semi auto. This works well so far as the bullet is already resting in the throat.

WISE ! !

 

[Glaciers]

Bryan Pearce wrote an article maybe 10 years ago about Auto Rim / ACP in revolvers that gave pages of loads for the different strengths of revolvers.
The 304 is of interest as critter repellent but I’m sure that both pistols will get a main diet of 250’s and 200’s. I also have the Lee 160 that Ben wrote up a year or so ago.

 

[david s]

Handloader issue 306 February-March 2017 page 38. I've used it to load the RCBS 45-270-SAA in auto rim cases. This mould cast at about 285 grains with my mix for use in a S&W 625 revolver.