Need To Ask The Casters

2.3K Views
Last Post 11 December 2009

Standard Member

Jeep Thing posted this 06 December 2009

Hi everyone, this is my first time talking to bullet casters. Would a guy cast a bullet = to .457 dia. and 255 (ish) gr.? If this is a common Q, fine. If this is a nuts Q, I can explain. My Taurus throat slugs at .456-.4565. Lands and groove are .445 and .4525., normal. I'm loading Horn .454 dia. @ 255 gr. lead and they work REAL well. But, that big throat ? Would a .457 dia. cast bullet ( if thats even possible ) be “better” or worth the effort ? Like I said it's shootin real fine now but I am just so curious about what you guys think. Thanks.

Attached Files

13 Comments

Order By: Standard | Newest | Votes

Standard Member

shastaboat posted this 06 December 2009

What type Taurus and caliber?

Because I said so!

Attached Files

Standard Member

454PB posted this 06 December 2009

Normally that combination of measurements would cause leading and accuracy problems.

Since you report good results with .454 commercial boolits, it should also shoot home cast boolits of the same diameter or larger.

It's time to do some experimenting!

Attached Files

Standard Member

Michael K posted this 06 December 2009

Hi Brent,

The throat being larger than groove dia. is better than the other way around. The barrel will swag them down to size. If the throat was .4525 and barrel .4565 you would end with a slug .004 undersize and likely a pattern vs a group. I picked up a TC barrel in 45LC years ago, .457 groove dia., loaded up some .457 dia slugs. Wouldn't chamber. Needless to say the barrel found yet another new home. Michael.

Attached Files

Standard Member

Jeep Thing posted this 07 December 2009

I read an artical about reaming a small throat open and it works fine. But in my case it's bigger bullets or live with it. I will spend time out back this afternoon with the 45 and some paper targets from a bench. I'll know before dark if I have anything to be concern about or not. BTW Taurus Gaucho 45 Long Colt SA.

Attached Files

Standard Member

shastaboat posted this 07 December 2009

Not my original post. I was asking what Taurus he had. I presume a 1911 clone as I'm not aware of any other Taurus 45 cal handgun. By the way I size my 45 acp to .452. I never measured the throat of my Colt Commander but they shoot well and on a machine rest can hold 2.5 inches at 50 yards. I'm satisfied. I wish I could shoot that good myself.

Because I said so!

Attached Files

Standard Member

Michael K posted this 07 December 2009

That's the nice thing about forums. Everyone gets to benefit as well sift through the fluff. Michael

Attached Files

Standard Member

hunterspistol posted this 07 December 2009

It would appear to me that the commercial bullets you're using are already .02” larger that the groove diameter. That should be about optimum, or sized down a touch smaller. It should be a good fit however, a caster could experiment with the range using just sizing dies ($15 a pop to change sizes) for 2 or 3 thousandths.

Attached Files

Standard Member

Jeep Thing posted this 07 December 2009

I'm back, had to do some snow plowing after shooting. I know of a guy one town south of me that cast's. Don't know him but I think I will find time to meet him. In the mean time I'm OK with the .454's. Anyhow 95% of the time shooting this gun is from the hip. But the original question was if .457 dia. could be made ? If I want to go deeper into this, if not I won't try to get in touch with the guy. And thanks for your input.

Attached Files

Standard Member

runfiverun posted this 07 December 2009

if you cast your own you can open up a mold a couple of thou by putting 3m flue tape in the mold to open the mold a bit they might be a bit out of round but they will be bigger.

Attached Files

Standard Member

amb1935 posted this 07 December 2009

runfiverun wrote: if you cast your own you can open up a mold a couple of thou by putting 3m flue tape in the mold to open the mold a bit they might be a bit out of round but they will be bigger. How does that work?

Attached Files

CBA Member

tturner53 posted this 08 December 2009

It's known as 'beagling' the mold, named after a guy on boolits forum. Lots of info there, I've done it to boost the diameter on a lot of molds. It works. The short version is the flue tape acts as a shim between the mold blocks. Sounds crazy, but works good. I have a Lee 309-200 that casts useless bullets(undersized) unless I beagle it. There is no serious damage to accuracy potential, actually just the opposite in my experience. It will add at least a couple thousandths or more.

Attached Files

CBA Member

Clod Hopper posted this 09 December 2009

If the Hornadas shoot good at .455, don't fix it. If you plan to cast your own get a mold that will cast at least .454. Soft lead like you have with hornada is probably bumping up to fit. You can order molds oversize, or have Lee for instance open them up for you. There are ways to doing it yourself that I have not tried. I don't size my .45 bullets unless they will not chamber. Bigger is better. Pure lead cast is smaller in diameter, but heavier, harder mixes cast slightly larger, but lighter.

Dale M. Lock

Attached Files