I finally got my hands on my own cast hollow points after waiting months for the group buy mold tailor made for the 450BM by NOE. For my first casting session, I decided on straight wheel weight alloy with at least 2% tin added. They weighed about 290 for the HP and 305 for the cup point.
Bullets were then sized to .452 and checked with tall aluminum gas checks from Sages outdoors. Finally bullets were powder coated.
I used previous load data experience to load to about 1850fps with H110 so I could test expansion/weight retention. This was the focal point of my initial testing. I'll be doing accuracy later.
Bullets were shot into water jugs with a series of variables including age, cooling method, and cup or hollow point.
The best expansion and retention came with air cooled cup points that were aged at least 3 weeks. The velocity seemed too fast across the board for the hollow points, I'm not sure what alloy would be best for those. Fresh cast bullets were too soft as well.
Hopefully the accuracy testing goes well.