MP .452″ Bullet Mold review

I received a two-cavity .45 caliber mold from MP Molds as a test sample. It came packaged with a top punch for the bullet as well as two different inserts to cast different style cavities for the hollow point.

MP Mold-1

The two different inserts for forming the cavity on the bullet.

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MP Mold-2

The mold is machined in a CNC machine from a solid piece of brass with a steel sprue plate. The alignment pins are made from hardened steel.   The brass heated up a little quicker than iron, was not as heavy, and it held the heat in over time for consistent bullet casting.

MP Mold-1-2

The inserts are reversible depending on which bullet you wish to cast. The inserts are held in place with small steel clips during usage.

MP Mold-3

This mold did not ship with handles as I had some Lee six-cavity mold handles on hand. Mold handles can be had from MP if you don’t have any Lee 6 cavity molds on hand.

 

MP Mold-5

MP Mold-6

This particular mold throws two styles of a 200-grain hollow point bullet, one with a smooth cavity and the other was had more sharp sides in the cavity.  The other a flat point round nose bullet

Using wheel weights rendered into one-pound ingots I cast over 200 bullets using the two different inserts. The first hollow point with the smooth cavity averaged 200.9 grains while the second hollow point averaged 202.6 grains. One feature of this mold that I particularly liked is you can invert the insert that forms the cavity in the bullet and it will act as the bottom of the mold allowing you to cast a round nose flat point bullet that averaged 213 grains (before it is sized).

MP Mold-7

After casting I spent the next couple of hours resizing and lubing the bullets in prep for loading. Once all were finished I loaded them using 5.6 grains of Unique and Winchester primers. Cases were mostly Winchester but mixed headstamps were included.

After some experimenting with the seater die I settled on a measurement of 1.250” for the overall length. That measurement agreed with my go-no-go gauge.

MP Mold-4
The loaded bullets with my 200gr LSWC on the far left for comparison.

Waking up in of anticipation a nice day at the range trying out this new bullet I was disappointed it was pouring rain. I had to wait another two weeks to try them out.

MP Mold-8

For testing I used my Colt 1991A1 and Gold Cup Trophy, both of which are mostly factory original (the changes to the 1991A1 are a reduced-radius firing pin stop, Colt steel trigger, Colt arched mainspring housing, and iridium front sight. The Gold Cup Trophy has a one piece full length guide rod and a TechWellUSA magazine well.) None of the changes affect reliability. Magazines used were Check-Mate seven round dimpled follower hybrid lip, Tripp Research Cobra mag, and a few old GI style magazines.

Reliability was 100% with no failures. All three styles of the cast bullet fed smoothly and averaged two inch groups shot offhand at thirty to forty feet. From a rest at twenty-five yards three shot groups averaged two inches.

As a base line I had loaded about 100 200grain lead semi-wadcutters cast from Lyman mold 452630, review here, my go to load for range/match use). Both bullets performed the same out of both pistols so that tells me that the new MP bullet performed as well as my favorite bullet.
I also ran a few through my Ruger New Model Blackhawk with the .45 automatic cylinder in place.

All bullet styles performed well as far as feed and function goes.

I will admit casting is not for everyone as it does require time set aside to produce a number of bullets for reloading.
The benefit is great reduction in bullet cost in this case (as well as being able to produce bullets that are not readily available).

For an overview of bullet casting please see this link

This and many more styles of quality bullet molds are available from MP Molds as well as custom molds can be machined from brass or aluminum.

MSRP is $104

Thank you Miha at MP Molds for giving me the chance to review this fine mold.

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

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