Lee Loader

I asked about powder coating bullets several months ago and received some great instructions on "how to" (thread is a couple lines down). I haven't done any as yet, haven't done any casting period but cooler weather is coming on fast so it's time to start. However I need to buy a couple bullet molds, 9mm and 45acp, and will use Lee molds for a start. My question is two fold, favorite molds in these calibers...and...do you prefer a tumble lube design or regular lube groove style for powder coating? Was thinking 125gr for 9mm but haven't decided between a 200 or 230gr 45 acp. I have never cast for either of these calibers. The 45 has a bore of .452 (slugged) not sure of the nine, It's a Ruger SR9c and my experience with Ruger is they make their barrels "tight". Thanks for any advise.

I have a 200 and a 230 for 45 AUTO. I have a 115 that drops close to 120 for 9X19. I don't need super high velocity from either of these so I use tumble lube groove bullets. For .357 and rifle cartridges I use some of each...generally gas checked and traditional lube groove for higher velocities.

GasGuzzler wrote:I have a 200 and a 230 for 45 AUTO. I have a 115 that drops close to 120 for 9X19. I don't need super high velocity from either of these so I use tumble lube groove bullets. For .357 and rifle cartridges I use some of each...generally gas checked and traditional lube groove for higher velocities.

My limited experience agrees.

Just my experience, but I have PCed both the T/L bullets and traditional lube bullets and couldn't tell any difference. My Lee 45 ACP PCed bullets are the 200 gr 452-SWC, TL452-230 2R, and the 452-230-TC. All have been cast and traditionally lubed, and all have been PCed. Perhaps I'm not a good enough marksman to see any accuracy difference, but the performance between T/L design and lube groove design is negligible, in my experience.

My favorite 9mm cast bullet, either lubed or PCed is the Lee 358-125-RF. I use this bullet in 4, 9mms, 2, 38 Specials, and one 357 Magnum...

Several makers , NOE , Accurate and Arsenal off the top make slick sides specific for PC . I think I would choose a tumble lube is I were going to PC .

Thanks for the replies men. Think I'll look at the 125gr. .358 mold and a 200gr. TL for the 45acp. Start small and work up as I get into this powder coating stuff. Goin' shopping Monday.

Any style cast lead bullet will work with powder coating. I have bullets of the tumble lube, standard grease groove as well as slick sided / no lube groove design and they all take PC just fine.

Favorite 9 mm molds

Lee six cavity .356 120 gr. TC, cast closer to .358, PC and size to .357"


NOE 130 gr. HP, cast at .358", PC and size to .357"


Favorite 45 ACP molds. All bullets powder coated and sized to .452"
Lee TL .452 - 230 gr. TC.


Lee TL 230 gr. RN


Lee .452 - 200 gr. SWC


NOE TL .452" - 220 gr. HP

by mikld » Oct 3rd, '20, 11:58 "My favorite 9mm cast bullet, either lubed or PCed is the Lee 358-125-RF. I use this bullet in 4, 9mms, 2, 38 Specials, and one 357 Magnum..."

It will also work in a 380 and 357 Max.
I use 2 of the 6 cavity molds at the same time to speed up output.