45 Colt SAA Moulds

Hey Folks:

New to this site. I have been reloading all my life. I just picked up a 4 3/4" 3rd Generation SAA. I am looking for a good mould. I bought a box of hornady 255 grain casts, but I don't really know what I really ought to use. I am looking for something to be able to do a lot of shooting, but I am not looking for the hot loads I use in my 44 magnum. As a matter of fact, a good mould for the 44 would be appreciated too.

I don't know if I should go lighter, stay at the 255 or what. Like I said, I just don't know. Right now I have the RCBS dies, my old RCBS press, plenty of lead, and a melter.

Thanks,
Jamie

in the 45 colt i like the lyman 452664 which is a 250 rnfp and a good all around boolit for the 45 even works excellent in leverguns.
the 454 [or2] 429 is good in revolvers and is a classic keith type boolit.
the 429421 is the 44 equivelant.
the lee makes a 310 rnfp that is excellent in the 44 however it needs a gas check.
and revolvers do not need a gas check except at the very top end loads i don't use a gas check till i get into the super mag realm or rifles.

The RCBS 270 SAA mold is a great one for the .45 Colt, and the above mentioned Lee mold works really well in my SRH.

Most SAA-style and pressure guns shoot to POA with 255-ish boolits. You can go heavier or lighter if you monkey with powder burn rate (use HS6 if it shoots low, Titegroup or Clays if it shoots high), but he Lyman 452664 and Lee 452-255-RF is really hard to beat. I use the Lee boolit crimped in the top lube groove, clears all my cylinders and feeds in toggle-link rifles too.

Gear

I'm very fond of a square groove Ideal 454424 for a heavy, I size it to fit my gun, or for a slightly lighter one I like 452423, same design just slightly lighter. Good solid SWC designs by Keith, I am lead to believe.

I use a LBT SWC in 260 & 315 grains in all my Colts. Just, don't use the Ruger only loads. Stay about 1000-1100 fps. Check on John Linebaugh's website for more info. These should work fine also http://handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12
Steve