What are your "go to" pistol moulds

[beagle]

At one time, I had over 200 moulds. Over the last few years, I've thinned the herd some. I've kept the ones that I use constantly and a few for old times sake but here's how it rolls out:

.32 Long 311252 and 3118HP
.32 Mag 3118HP, 31133, 313631HP
9mm 356402, 356242 (125)HP, 358480HP (in the Blackhawk convertible)
.38 Special 358495, #73 H&G, 358156HPPB, 358477HP, RCBS 38-150-CM HP, 358439, 358429HP
.357 358429HP/.125 cavity, RCBS 35-162-SWCHP PB
.45 Auto 452460HP, 452374HP
.44 Mag 429421, #326 H&G, #328 H&G
.45 Colt 454190HP
23. Moulds. Over the years, these have proven to be shooterrs for me. Of course, I switch back between the .38 and .357 like everyone else does.
These are my preferences and the ones I shoot the most.
Now, I'm not throwing rocks at your choices but these work for me./beagle

 

[obssd1958]

Beagle, I hope to someday arrive at the place you're at. According to the spread sheet that I have (that is still a little behind), I have more than 600 moulds. Suffice to say that I have not cast with most of them. I started collecting them back in 2006, and to say that it got away from me, might be the understatement of the year.
I went shooting today with my wife, and that's the first time I've shot a cast bullet since the two of us went to Winnemucca in June. The plan is to find the "ONE" for each and every firearm in the stable - eventually. At this rate, it's looking pretty daunting.

 

[beagle]

Understand. The urge can get away from you and you get more than you want and things you don't want. My #2 son's like that. He's a caster but has things he'll never cast. I'm still thinning. As a gun goes, some moulds, brass and dies go. Not getting younger. But trying all these out and getting to this point has been fun./beagle

 

[Ian]

Lee 358-125RF
Accurate 135 DE wadcutter
Lee TL452-230TC
Accurate 45-255C
Lyman 452664

Yeah, I only load four handgun chamberings. The other 50 or so custom and production moulds from half a dozen companies just sit.

 

[Winelover]

When first started casting, it was mostly SWC's for revolvers and RN for semi autos, back in the 70's. More recently, I've been purchasing RNFP moulds to complement the matching pistol chambered carbines. Never was heavy into moulds. Couple for each caliber, except for 9mm, which number a half dozen, or so, different designs.

The 70's issue moulds are all RCBS and GC, except for the 45 caliber 250 SWC PB for 45LC. Nowadays, it's multiple (3-4) cavity moulds from our custom makers with half the cavities dropping GCed bullets for the magnums and or the carbines.

 

[RBHarter]

Like Ian I only load 3 cal in pistols as of now . 9/35/38 ,40, and 45 .
The result is ;
358-95 NOE
358-125 Lee
358-158 Lee
A version of the 454424 currently the HP round groove at 245gr and the 250 gr NOE wide square groove cover .
I think the 453-230 SWC is going to be the go to for ACP and AR.
Thats it for 380 ,9×19 , 38 , 357 ,45 ACP,AR,S&W , and Colts .

 

[richhodg66]

This is an interesting thread and I'd like to get down to one design per gun. Might be able to do it for revolvers,.30 caliber rifles? No way.

Personally, though I am not a Lee fan boy, I think I could be satisfied with their six cavity molds for pistols forever. One thing I really like about Lee is their designs are always very orthodox, just good, no nonsense designs that seem to work well. On my list for the Winter to cast a whole bunch of .45 ACY bullets with a Lee six cavity and not have to cast for that caliber again for a very long time. Others will follow at some point.

 

[Rick H]

My "go to" handgun moulds?
38sp ~ Lee 358-125-RF as cast 130 gr. Makes good match to my carry ammo.
45Colt ~ Lee 452-255-RF Accurate, easy on recoil. I also use the RCBS 45-270-SAA (285gr.) when I want a warm load in the Blackhawk. Not as accurate nor as pleasant to shoot as the Lee.
40 S&W ~ Lee 401-175-TC Makes duplicate of my 180gr. carry load.
.380acp ~ My 380 likes the Ranch Dog 95gr RF, my brother's Taurus likes a round nose, either the Lee 102-1R or NOE 94gr.

 

[Bret4207]

45 BD for the 45 ACP/AR, 429421 for the 44's, 358156 for the 357, undecided on the 38 Spec- maybe 358477, 311316 for 32-20-so far, undecided on 32 S+W/Long.

For rifles? Can't do it.

 

[Brad]

MP 200 swc for 45 ACP
Accurate 120 TC for 9mm
Accurate 155K for 38 special
NOE HG 503 for 44 special
NOE 454424 for 45 Colt
NOE 103 swc for 32 HR

I am a die hard one bullet per caliber guy. I find a load and stick with it.

I own roughly 50 moulds and use 6-8 over 90% of the time. I should probably get rid of the rest.

 

[358156 hp]

Currently...
38 Spl- SAECO 382 for SWC, I keep a lot of wadcutter designs on hand. I can't help myself. Favorites are 358091 Lyman, 358063 Lyman (DEWC), and rising quickly through the ranks is a dark horse- B&M 358165. Have you ever taken a serious look at the old Belding & Mulls? The quality is amazing!
357- Prepare to be shocked- 358156 in both solid and HP versions. I do have plenty of other designs, but if I could only have one... I also have versions of 358429, 358429 solid, 358431(HB fun!), 358429HP, and 358439. I still don't have enough samples to validate the supposed difference between the two 38 Keith HP designs.
9mm- NOE SC357-135-RF Ranch Dog- solid. NOE 358-155-TC (HP only)
357 SIG- Same as 9mm, but HPs cast in 1:20 instead of 1:30.
40 S&W- MP 40-165. I also need to get a 180 gr version for this.
44 Mag- MPs "Keith" design, and Ideal 431244 & 429244- All in solid or HP versions.
45 ACP- SAECO 68 & Lyman 452460. in 200 gr. LBT 452-220 LFN, & MP 452374 in solid & HP for 230 gr.

 

[Jeff H]

Funny thing...

The 44 Special has long been my very favorite handgun round and I've shot a lot of different bullets through it. Probably no surprise to anyone here, but none of them ever shot poorly, but some shined more than others. In a decades-long search to find something better than the idolized "Keith bullet," I came full circle and found that no one REALLY ever improved on that one.

Odd thing that happened with the 357 is that I was SURE one of my favored 158s would be the ticket, but as it turns out, one much heavier and one somewhat lighter outshine the middle-ground. Never stop learning in this particular avocation.

I've pared WAY down on the cartridges I shoot, so my list is short.

44 Special - Arsenal 4C copy of the Lyman 429-421
357 Mag - NOE 4C 360-180 WFN and LEE TL358-148WC (3" Revolvers and 18" Carbine, suppressed)
38 Special - Arsenal 4C TL358-158RFN


BLL, 45-45-10, Lee 50/50 ALox/Beeswax or PC, the all work.

 

[Hawk]

MP 124 gr. .356 for 9MM
MP 125 gr. .358 for .38 Spl./357
LBT 150 gr. .359 OWC for .38 Spl./357
LBT 160 gr. .359 WFN for 357
MP 160 gr. .402 for .40 S&W
MP 200 gr. .402 for 10MM
LBT 240 .431 WFN for 44 Mag
LBT 280 .431 WFN for 44 Mag

I have a lot of others, but these are easly the most accurate in all of my hand guns and the ones I've settled on.
I used LBT molds until I bought my first MP mold.
I like the ability to choose Penta, shallow HP, deep HP or flat nose, all with the same mold.
The MP are pretty much all Penta Point, except the 10MM, which is the shallow HP.
I like the look of the penta points. I don't know if the Penta Points are better in a self defense situation than HP or flat nose (there's a real fist fight if you want to open that can of worms), but I really like their looks.
I've tested all of the revolver bullets in scoped hand guns, and the LTBs are just flat-out nail drivers!
The LBT OGW is more accurate than any wad cutter I have ever tried, and I've got 5 or 6 other WC molds
I powder coat everything now, so making lubes tailored to velocity is no longer an issue, and accuracy has improved.

 

[shuz]

I have lots of 44 cal moulds since that is my favorite caliber.
My best for casting ease is an MP 6 cavity clone of the H&G 503.
My most accurate is the 4 cavity Lyman 429215.
Another favorite is the Lee 44-200RNFP in 6 cavity.
I have 4 different MP 4 cavity moulds that are all brass and haven't seen much use since I moved off the ranch 3 years ago.
If anybody is interested in any of them, let me know.
MP 433-423, MP 433-640, MP433-640L, & MP 433-300.

 

[popper]

Just 40-160H and 35-135S, 40 & 9mm

 

[fiver]

RNFP.
even my 9mm mold.
i got others like the SWC's as my something different mold.
but 99% of the time your gonna see something like the 452664,429667,or 358664 sticking out the end of the case.

 

[BudHyett]

I've come to the time of just shooting and no more experimenting. The pistol and revolver molds I now use:

• 45 Caliber: SAECO #954, H&G #68, RCBS 45-230-RN
• .44 Caliber: Lyman 429215, Ohaus 44-245-SWC (429421 copy)
• 38 Caliber: RCBS 38-162-SWC, RCBS 38-150-SWC, RCBS 35-200-FN (.357 Herrett)

There will soon be a bunch of other molds for sale both pistol and rifle.

 

[waco]

32 H&R mag- Clone of RCBS 98gr SWC
38/357- Accurate 36-158-V RNFP
9mm- Arsenal 358-130-RF-PC
44 Mag- Lyman 429421
45 Colt- RCBS 45-270-SA
45 ACP- NOE clone of H&G 68

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Even tho I aint new, as soon as I think I have "the one". Someone shows or I pick up something "better"!!

But there are something in every caliber that's "favored"

Off the top of my head;

22 - MP lil 40g HP. Its a laser in my Bee 'tender & 43 Winchester.

25 - 257420

32 - lymans xxx316 seems ta shoot best consistent. I love my Accurate 32-135 but its heavy for smaller 32's

30 - 311284 & RCBS 30-180.

300aac Accurate 310-247

35 - thats real hard but.. 358429 & MP 358-200

41 -Saeco #41

45 - lymans 454424. RCBS 45-270saa

45 - Ranch Dog 350 & lymans 457122

Theres so many others....

 

[Mainiac]

32mag,327-rcbs98swc
9mm,-mp125hp
38 super-mp 147 rcbs copy
38 special- 358311
357 mag-noe 358429 copy
10mm,-mp 160 hp
45acp- mp 68 copy hp
45colt-mp 270 rcbs copy hp
Marlin 30/30
32 special
35 rem
Standard rcbs ,never looked farther,because they shoot so well.