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The Lee .445 Round Ball Mould is built for folks who shoot .45 caliber muzzleloaders and would rather roll their own projectiles than keep buying them. Each pour drops two nominal .445 diameter balls at roughly 132.28 grains, which puts you right in the sweet spot for patched round ball loads in a .45 rifle. That .440 to .445 range is what most .45 caliber barrels want when paired with a lubed patch, giving you an easy start down the bore and a tight seal for consistent groups.
Lee machines the mould blocks from aluminum, and that choice pays off at the casting bench. Aluminum won't rust, lead doesn't like to stick to it, and it heats up and cools down far quicker than iron or steel, so you're dropping good balls after just a few throwaway castings. It's also a fraction of the weight of steel blocks, which means less hand fatigue when you're settling in for a long session. The block halves are CNC machined for roundness and size control, and the tangential sprue cut-off helps keep that ugly nib off your finished balls.
A couple of things worth knowing before your first melt. Lee steers you away from spray-on mould releases since they can build up in the cavity and shrink your ball diameter over time. Instead, smoke the cavities lightly with a wooden match, a butane lighter, or a beeswax candle before you start pouring. Keep in mind the 132.28-grain figure is Lee's number using their suggested alloy, so your actual weight will shift a little depending on what you're melting down. Pure lead is the traditional pick for muzzleloader round balls.
Lee has earned a loyal following among casters who've run pricier steel moulds for decades and find these do the job just as well. Folks new to casting regularly report clean, usable balls right out of the gate, and the two-cavity design lets you build up a stash of range and hunting balls in a hurry. It ships with the handles attached, so once you've got a pot of lead going you're ready to fill your ball bag.
These .445 balls are sized for patched round ball loads in .45 caliber muzzleloading rifles. Most .45 caliber barrels run best with a ball in the .440 to .445 range paired with a lubed cloth patch. Keep in mind that .451 to .457 balls are the ones meant for .44 caliber cap and ball revolvers, not this size.
Yes, it's worth prepping the cavities first. Lee recommends smoking the cavities with a wooden match, butane lighter, or beeswax candle rather than using spray-on mould releases, which can build up and reduce your ball diameter. After a few throwaway castings to bring the aluminum up to temperature, you'll start dropping clean, well-formed balls.
The 132.28-grain figure is Lee's stated weight using their suggested alloy. Your actual weight will vary a little depending on the alloy you melt down, with pure lead being the traditional choice for muzzleloader round balls. Small variations are normal and won't hurt accuracy for typical patched ball shooting.
Aluminum won't rust, lead doesn't adhere to it, and it heats and cools much faster than iron or steel, so you reach good balls sooner and finish quicker. It's also about a third the weight of steel blocks, which cuts down on hand fatigue during long casting sessions. The trade-off is that aluminum is softer, so gentle handling keeps the mould in good shape for years.
| UPC | 734307904388 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 90438 |
| Bullet Weight (Grains) | 132.28 |
| Shipping Weight | 0.8313 |
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