Author Topic: 45 BP bullet mold? (Read 7610 times)

Will52100 · « **on:** October 24, 2004, 09:59:55 PM »

I'm just getting into casting and I've got a six cavity 250 grain that works well for smokless, but it has two shallow lube groves and with black powder quikly leaves the bore fowled and inacurate.

I need a mold(preferably a six cavity because you can turn some bullets out fast!) that will cast a 250 grainer out of WW with one or two BIG lube groves.

What'll yall use?

Thanks

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2004, 02:07:13 AM »

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=15283
This bullet holds a small tub of lube. The Lyman cowboy bullet does pretty well also.

Bad Flynch · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2004, 02:09:49 PM »

If you are new to casting, there are some things you should know:

First is that big molds are more difficult to manage and often need bigger dippers and a rest upon which to rest the mold while you cast. It is slightly harder to get them up to working temperature and working well. Once there, however, they tend to work decently with the right equipment. My recommendation is to start with a 2-cavity and work up to a 4-cavity as a learning experience.

Big molds can be really expensive.

The previously supplied link to the PRS bullet is a good one and the bullet is great. Lots of lube and when you use the proper soft lube, it improves things. Soft BP lube keeps the fouling soft and really helps accuracy and extends the time between when the guns quit from fouling.

It is normal to get a fouled bore with black powder. What you don't want is leading. If your revolver is set up right and the bullets fit the cylinder throats properly, you won't get leading. Hard bullets are a no-no here, so cast bullets of 1:20 or straight wheel weights.

Will52100 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:39:45 PM »

Using straight WW for bullets, and recovered round balls for pure lead round balls for the cap and ball six guns.

I've got one 6 cavity mold and with a bottom pour furnace it works great, only a few rejects.

My Ruger didn't lead, but the fouling was extreamly heavy and acuracy went south fast.

In my converted 51' navies I use a 165 grain hollow base lead bullet and the only fouling trouble I have is cylinder binding, and an ocasion dab of bore butter on the cylinder mouth takes care of that.

The bullet looks interesting Butler, I'll have to see if the mold is still avalible.

Will52100 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:57:15 PM »

any idea's where I can get the PRS- .454-250-RF black powder .45 Colt bullet mold, or if it's still even avalible?

Thanks,

Will

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2004, 06:16:43 PM »

I'll have to check around and get back to you about the current availability. It was rumored a while back that Lee was going to put it into their lineup, but I don't know if that happened. There is a group buy fairly often if you can get in on one of them.
I'll see what I can find.

Will52100 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2004, 02:16:14 AM »

Thanks Butler, I apreciate it.

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2004, 02:57:49 AM »

Will,

Donno iffin Lee has added the PRS to thier regular line up yet or not. (mayhap they never will but there's a story behind that) But you CAN order the mold as a custom item from Lee. You'll have to call them, and speak with the feller who does thier custom work. Tell him you want the .45 BP mold. (They don't list it as the "PRS" . They have thier own numerical designation and I don't have that number :oops: ) Unfortunately the pards that got these molds designed and produced have burned out on the difficulty of getting group orders together to cut costs. Perhaps if you keep checking on some of the other CAS board you may find another pard trying to get a batch order going again.

It's pricey compared to thier regular molds!!! But not nearly as much as a custom mold from most other outfits! In fact the custom 6 cavity costs about the same as a regular six cavity, non custom, from the other companies that make them. Warning: The "lead time" time for making and shipping them is several months.

Bottom line: They are the best thing that's ever come down the pipe fer BP shooters. But they ain't cheap and ya gotta wait a while to get em.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2004, 06:24:16 AM »

Cuts, thanks for the help.
Will, They are worth the cost, effort and wait if you're going to shoot BP.
If you care to PM me a mailing address, I'd be happy to send you a few so you can judge for yourself.

Will52100 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2004, 05:10:41 PM »

Thanks Guys, I'll give them a call and see

Will52100 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2004, 05:19:04 AM »

Well today was the first test of the PRS- .454-250-RF, some of the bullets I got from ButlerFord45. I shot about 40 rounds(all I had loaded) through a 1860 Henry with 24" barrel. They were unsized and panlubed with bee's wax, mutton tallow and parfin wax. Nice little lube star on end of barrel and after that the barrel was sooty, but clean. Load was a case full of Swiss 3F powder, 250 grain PRS- .454-250-RF bullet, thin fiber wad, magnum CCI primer. The cases came out with almost no blowby, just a little discoloration about half the length of the case, very little got into the action.

I just got the Henry Friday and still need to do some sight ajustments, namely filing down the front sight blade, it shoots about 5" low at 30 yards.

I am very happy with this bullet and load, though on future loads I think I'll switch to Graf's black powder, it's a bit cheaper than Swiss and still a very good black powder. The bullets mike out to just a hair over .454, I think I'll size them down to 452, and see how they shot, if that doesn't work, I'll size to .454.

Thanks for the help everyone,

Will

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2004, 09:08:21 AM »

Glad to hear you're back Will.
It is my understanding from your post that you had adequate lube in those bullets?

Will52100 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2004, 06:06:01 PM »

Oh yes, it defiantly held enough lube! :-D I think I need a little better lube though, there was none left on the recovered rounds. I'll play around and see what I can come up with, hopefully somthing that won't melt in the sun.

Thanks for everything Butler

Fightin Creek Slim · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2005, 10:06:54 PM »

Thanks Cuts ya beat me to it pard.
I've got one of those PRS molds and I've got to say that its the best Blackpowder mold that I've found for the .45 Colt Accurate and carry's a whole bunch of lube. All that fouling stays softened up and the guns clean up real easy.

Mason Stillwell · « **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2005, 02:52:36 PM »

Just thought I'd post this here

Mason

This from Dick Dastardly. One fine pard

Re: Big Lube Boolits, after action report
« Reply #15 on: Today at 07:43:20 PM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, here's the palaver on the Big Lube(tm) set of Black Powder bullet designs. . . .

PRS (Pigeon Roost Slim) designed the PRS 45-250 RNFP. Mav Dutchman designed the Mav Dutchman 44-200 RNFP. Snakebite designed the Snakebite 38-158 with the looong ogive and flat nose. These were the first. Then, along comes Dick Dastardly and designes the DD/ROA and DD/PRS 38-40 180 RNFP. Also the DD/PRS twin lube grove 45-385 RNFP boolit for the 45-70 and the DD/PRS 45-400 RN for 45-70 single rifles. It was gettin' to be a family.

I started using the words "Big Lube" to refer to these designs because of the common design feature of the biggest lube capacity of any design caliber for caliber. I went to the State of Wisconsin and got a trademark for the Big Lube name. Then, I contacted all the designers and got permission to use their designs under this umbrella and promised to always give full design credit to the original designers. Every Big Lube(tm) bullet mold I've sold since has shipped with the history of the mold design in the words of the original designer. I know this makes more work, but I feel that it adds to the enjoyment of ownership when this letter is included.

Big Lube(tm) bullet molds are ALL CUSTOM ORDER ONLY. LEE Precision of Hartford, WI. makes them. I purchase batches of 25 each and place them in invintory. Now, pards can get the Big Lube(tm) bullet molds they want without having to wait forever for a group purchase to come together. It tore up my 401K some, but I've done a brisk business with pards from all around the globe.

Now, there's a Big Lube Bullitin newsletter that I publish three times a year to bring the latest developments, tips, letters to the editor (myself) and articles by pards using these molds. Drop me an emule or a PM if you would like a FREE one year subscription. rrhody@spwl.net is my emule address.

There are several new Big Lube(tm) designs on the drafting board as I type. Also, there is a new Mark II DD 45-500 RN comming very soon. The Mark I had to be seated too deep in the case to get in enough Holy Black under it for true long range work.

Hope this helps pards that want to know the origin of Big Lube(tm) in many posts.

Will52100 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 26, 2005, 09:07:27 PM »

Any chance you've got a 357-358 snake bite big lube?

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2005, 10:32:21 AM »

Will,

I 'magine he does, contact the link above to ask.

Will52100 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2005, 04:45:35 PM »

Got one coming, thanks

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2005, 12:35:50 PM »

BTW,

Quote

I think I need a little better lube though, there was none left on the recovered rounds. I'll play around and see what I can come up with,

Nope! These slugs are designed to shed their lube immediately upon exiting the muzzle. That's part of why they are so stabil in spite of the radical look. :lol:

Will52100 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2005, 04:23:49 PM »

never thought of that, but it sure is accurate. With 38 grains Graf's BP and the PRS bullet I was able to hit the 200 meter steel target with no problem other than the flip up sight keep slidding up and down.

reloader4410 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2006, 01:05:37 PM »

I use D D"s roa mould lubed & sized 454 in my 45colt & 45 scholfield loads big lube groove.

howdy doody · « **Reply #21 on:** January 11, 2007, 07:42:01 PM »

I can vouch for the molds that Dick Dastardly brokers from Lee. They are special and Lee makes them up a hundred at a time under their special order deal. They do not sell the molds themselves even though by now they must have a clue that they work really well with BP.
Let's see I have the Snakebite .358, the Mav Dutchman 44, the ROA for the Ruger Old Army, the PRS 45, the 400gr 458 45-70 and the new EPP 45lc 150gr. Keeps me more than busy. They all shoot great. I make my lube from equal parts of mutton tallow and beeswax, with a dash of thompsons bore butter, cuz I like the smell of it and olive oil which I add more or less to depending on the season.
That 400gr 45-70 mold could have been a two holer, it does suck up some lead in a hurry, but once I got to casting, I couldn't stop a couple years ago and I have yet to use it since. 6 at a time sure gives you a pile of bullets in hurry........and it keeps you looking for buckets of wheel weights too.

Mike Weber · « **Reply #22 on:** August 29, 2007, 06:21:45 AM »

I've been using one of the PRS molds now for about three years, and I've been happy with the results from my pistols and my rifles in .45 Colt. The mold is also pretty durable I've cast thousands of bullets with it and its still going strong.

jjamna · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2008, 08:33:56 PM »

Check out Ranch Dog Molds

StrawHat · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2008, 07:40:36 AM »

Another bullet, and one that is original to the late 1800's is the Lyman 457130 or collar button bullet.

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

(Follow the above link to the bullet)

It cast a 145 grain bullet with a large grease groove.

Originally designed to be used in the 45-70 for gallery loads it can be sized down to fit in the various 45 caliber cartridges. I've even sized it down to fit in a 44 Colt but you may consider that a bit much. It worked fine.

Good luck

sgtzim · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2008, 04:59:35 PM »

I got one of the first PRS 454-250 molds, back in '02 or '03. With just normal care, it's still cranking out beautiful bullets, literally thousands of rounds later.

I size to .452 and lube in an RCBS LAM; lubed with SPG or my homemade crisco/beeswax mixture (exact composition varies with the weather, more wax for our 100+ degree summer days), I've shot 9 stages without needing to stop down to clean, pistols or my 24" Marlin.

The only thing I've considered changing bullets for is to go to something lighter; I'm a card-carrying Warthog, but I do regret the couple of targets that I've broken ... For lighter, DD's 456-200 is looking interesting.

In short, in my experience, before the PRS, I was never able to find a bullet that held enough lube; I was forever making grease cookies for my rifle rounds, using the cap and ball trick of greasing my revolver chambers (but for a different reason), and cleaning every few stages. Are there other bullets that hold enough lube? Probably, but I'm happy with what I have, especially for the price...

Good luck, have fun and keep yer powder dry!

StrawHat · « **Reply #26 on:** February 01, 2008, 07:41:06 AM »

I was finally able to copy a photo of the collar button bullet, 457130