Lee 459-405-HB Mold

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Last Post 04 February 2026

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Aaron posted this 01 February 2026

I really don't know why I purchased this mold years ago since it is really designed to be used in the Trapdoor Springfield rifles of vintage, no, antique age with larger and possible corroded bores with degraded rifling.

Regardless, I have cast and loaded some of these for use in the Marlin (Ruger) 1895 rifle. I cast them in Lyman #2 and put them over a minimum charge of Buffalo Rifle powder to see how they shoot in that rifle.

Have any of you used this bullet before or currently do, and can provide some feedback on their performance, the alloy you have used, and the charges of powder either with black powder or smokeless?

I look forward to hearing about your results.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

lee 459-405-hb

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delmarskid posted this 01 February 2026

I use it in my Danish rolling block. Mine casts at about .460”. This fits pretty nicely. I put a little Never Seize on the raised rim of the base forming plug. This helps the blocks close without sticking. I need to cast slow . It’s not a beginner’s mold but it has it’s place.

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Aaron posted this 01 February 2026

I saw your post Larry dated July 2021 about the duplex loads. Good info there. Also read the post(s) by ONONDAGA from 2015. Again, good info. Saw nothing later than Larry's post in 2021.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Aaron posted this 01 February 2026

I use it in my Danish rolling block. Mine casts at about .460”. This fits pretty nicely. I put a little Never Seize on the raised rim of the base forming plug. This helps the blocks close without sticking. I need to cast slow . It’s not a beginner’s mold but it has it’s place.

I rub the spud with a carpenters pencil and it releases perfectly. I forget where I read about that but it works on all my HP and HB molds like a champ. Seriously, it actually works. Go figure.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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RicinYakima posted this 01 February 2026

I set a 100 five shot group agg record with that bullet. Cast of linotype, over 24 grains of A2400. It stood up for about 8 years before being bettered. (No, the HB never expanded on firing.)

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oscarflytyer posted this 01 February 2026

The first Marlin 1895 I had loved it. With a 3031 trapdoor load. Also used in my custom RB. And killed two deer with it. It was the first cast bullet deer ever for me, with the 1895. As long as it hits shoulder bone, it is done. Same bullet I used in first trapdoor and will continue to use it in the latest one. I am currently loading a BP lever 5744 load. Only ever cast it with WW+2%, or scrap.

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beagle6 posted this 01 February 2026

I shot that bullet cast in the Lee Mould in a trapdoor and it shot very well. I cast it soft 30 to 1 and 40 to 1. I think the load was 12 grains of 2400 but verify that. I no longer have the rifle or mould and I gave all the data to the new owner.

Beagle 6

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RicinYakima posted this 01 February 2026

12.0 grains of Unique is another old standard trapdoor load.

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delmarskid posted this 02 February 2026

Graphite from a pencil, I like that

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delmarskid posted this 02 February 2026

I have a faster twist 45 muzzleloader. I mean to size some softer ones to .452” when I think of it.

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trapdoor4570 posted this 02 February 2026

I have that mold. Used it in my Springfields and a Sharps replica, as cast. Cast out of PURE lead the accuracy was on a par with the Lyman 457124. I have better accuracy with 500 grain slugs. BUT if for hunting the expansion was great when hitting soft loose Florida sand, recovered slugs were showing .8 to over .9 inch. Would do a number on a deer or elk. The load was 25.5 gr. 5744 AKA Buffalo Rifle Powder, this is my go-to charge for the 500 gr. slugs. Have fired in 2 trapdoors and the Sharps. Will make a good hunting load. For hunting in my opinion, I would prefer the Lyman 457483 or the Gould bullet out of pure or very soft lead. Prefer having a gas check, one of my trapdoors has a diameter of around .463” the other 2 are .458” & .460”. There was NO trace of leading in any of the rifles using NRA 50/50 2138F lube.

I am thinking of moving further south. Live in lower SW Florida, Ft Myers / Cape Coral. Too cold for this cracker. Was 35 last night and again tonight. Reports of some unidentified flakes of some white stuff falling to the ground last night.

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Aaron posted this 02 February 2026

There was NO trace of leading in any of the rifles using NRA 50/50 2138F lube.

I am thinking of moving further south. Live in lower SW Florida, Ft Myers / Cape Coral. Too cold for this cracker. Was 35 last night and again tonight. Reports of some unidentified flakes of some white stuff falling to the ground last night.

Those lube grooves are massive. It almost like shooting a lube slug with a little lead around it to hold it together!

One year when I brought 40 folks to Crystal River FL in January for our Manatee/Dive trip, my lead shot scuba weights froze together into a solid chunk of ice. Yup, it can get pretty cold in Florida. It was much warmer in the water. The springs stay at 72 degrees year round. The trip customers thought I was insane telling them to get in the water to warm up. hahahha

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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trapdoor4570 posted this 02 February 2026

It is easy at his time of the year to spot the natives.

You see people at the beach sunbathing or frolicking in the water. While you see people bundled up in their parkas, a dozen shirts on, an a knit cap covering their ears.

Than again during the summer you see EMS responding to another call of another dead body found on the beach broiled to a bright red while some one wearing flip flops, cutoffs, lose fitting shirt and a straw hat walks by saying “Just wait till summer gets here”