New to casting

[rmatchell]

So I finely took the dive into casting my own bullets with mixed results so far from a few lee molds. Last week a guy I work with told me he was getting out of casting and looking to pass his equipment on to somebody who would use it, lucky for me I was the first person he could think of. So here is the list of what I got for 50 bucks

Lee 6 cavity .38/357 150gr SWC
Lyman 2 cavity .38/357 150gr swc
Rcbs 2 cavity .32 98gr swc
Lyman 2 cavity .45 200gr swc
Lyman 2 cavity .31 110gr fn
Lyman 2 cavity .44 205gr fn
Rcbs 2 cavity .44 245gr fn
Lyman 4 cavity .38/357 150gr wc
a lee mold marked 90324 that looks to be miss marked, it looks to be and .358 wc
and a brass mold .54cal with lyman handles
2 rcbs handles
2 lyman handles
and a lee production pot

As you could guess this box made me very happy. Does anybody have any information on a Lyman 311316, im wondering what all i can load with it. I look forward to learning from everybody here.

[RobS]

$50....................For pete's sake that is freakin awesome!!! I don't have any info on your requested mold but welcome aboard.

Two very good reads:
http://www.lasc.us/castbulletnotes.htm

and for the nuts and bolts:

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

[RobS]

And this is a good reference to boolit molds and design as well as other useful info.

http://www.castpics.net/subsite/HistMolds/default.html

http://www.castpics.net/default.html

[rintinglen]

The 311-316 is THE boolit for high speed 32-20 rifle loads. My browning loves them over 5.0 grains of Unique. I have also loaded a lot of them in 30-30's over 17.5 grains of 2400.

[Bret4207]

Yupper!!! The 311316 is great in almost any 30/31 cal. I've used in in everything from the 32 S+W to the '06 and 303. Great plinker in the bigger 30's. Great small game boolit too. That mould is worth twice what you paid for the whole stash!

[H.Callahan]

$50....................For pete's sake that is freakin awesome!!!
No kidding! He shouldn't have to be paying for his own drinks for a while if you are around!

[rmatchell]

great information guys, I tried to pay him more but he wouldn't take it. He also offered me a lyman 450 sizer with all the dies and punches for these molds for a hundred so im going to jump and that as soon as i build up play money. I'm glad to hear that it will work in 30-30 I was wondering what good it would be to me for what i already reload. im going to post a pic tonight of another mold that was in the box I thought it was for a .54 cal black powder but the guy at graffs thinks it might be a shotgun slug. Maybe somebody here will know something about it.

[Moonie]

Dude, have you taken the mask off yet? That was a steal!

[rmatchell]

anybody ever seen these, the only markings on it is 204.

46387

[RobS]

great information guys, I tried to pay him more but he wouldn't take it. He also offered me a lyman 450 sizer with all the dies and punches for these molds for a hundred so im going to jump and that as soon as i build up play money. I'm glad to hear that it will work in 30-30 I was wondering what good it would be to me for what i already reload. im going to post a pic tonight of another mold that was in the box I thought it was for a .54 cal black powder but the guy at graffs thinks it might be a shotgun slug. Maybe somebody here will know something about it.

Heck you better or I'm going to have to fall over here from the chair I'm sitting in. As a caster, my gosh you have walked into a gold mine. I keep hoping that one day I may have the chance/opportunity .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ......Sigh........................................ ................still waiting. :razz:

[David2011]

And you felt no guilt? Cool catch, Mr. rmatchell. We should all be so fortunate. Congrats and welcome!

I had a friend do the same for me. He was in the closing phase of his life and knew it. He sold me his entire gunsmith shop- lathe, milling machine, grinders, buffers, drill press, small tools, 1911 parts, reloading presses, lead furnaces and dozens of molds for a price I could afford. He wanted, as your friend did, to make sure it ended up where it would be used and appreciated. The best gift is that I think of him every time I touch anything that came from him. He was a real patriot and passed away on July 4 three years ago. I hope I can do the same for someone when the time comes.

David

[MikeS]

anybody ever seen these, the only markings on it is 204.

That is a Thompson Center Maxi Ball mould. It's for black powder rifles, not a shotgun slug. I can't tell from the picture, but it's probably 54 caliber, or maybe 50 caliber. The handles are Lyman mould handles, but the blocks are T/C.

[rmatchell]

Thanks for the information MikeS. I figured the handles were lyman but the mold didn't look right. Not sure what ill do with it, never got into black powder.

[rmatchell]

So I got out today and cast 20 or 30 boolits for each mold today out of wheel weights. Everything looks good can't wait to get the #2 ingots out and cast the night away.

[MikeS]

Considering that you got that mould in with a bunch of other stuff for an almost illegal price, you might want to just put it away, you never know when you might want/need it.

Or you might want to check and see if it's 50 cal, or 54 cal, then sell it, either here in the swapping & selling forum (once you meet the requirements for that forum), or on eBay. If in fact it's a 50 cal mould, I've heard of people using that mould in 50 cal pistol loads.

[rmatchell]

ill cast a few to check them out, but I am sure I would trade them for different equipment. I could always use extra shell plates the my lee pro 1000.

[Will]

If I only gave someone $50 for all that I couldn't sleep at night. I'd stay up all night casting.

[rmatchell]

Oh, i did. i'm all out of wheel weights.

[H.Callahan]

Oh, i did. i'm all out of wheel weights.
WHAT??? That deal didn't come with 7 tons of wheel weight ingots?

You got took!:mrgreen:

[500MAG]

Were you holding a gun in you hand at the time this deal was struck?

[rmatchell]

No wheel weight ingots, but he has 1000 pounds of wheel weights that he hasnt decided the price yet.
Im still trying to pull the money together the the 450 sizer, dies, and top punches.

[500MAG]

Well, if he only charged you $50 for the molds & pot The sizer & top punches should be about $25. Need a loan?

[rmatchell]

He wants a hundred for the rest. I also had a different guy I work with wanting me to buy a big box of random stuff from his brother at a good price just not the steal that the molds were. Got to slow down for a bit its to easy to spend.

[rmatchell]

Well I pick up the lyman 450 sizer tomorrow morning. Im thinking it might be a good idea to clean out the old lube and get everything like new again. Anybody know the best way to remove whats left of the old lube? Also what is a good lube to use without a heater?

[popper]

Get the lead too. Get a loan, whatever. Even @ 18% it's cheaper than buying or chasing around.

[rmatchell]

Yeah, im still waiting for him to give a price.

[km101]

There's no use in you buying a lottery ticket! You have used up your luck for a long time to come. :) There are two or three of those molds that are worth more that what you paid him. He is a really good friend and probably a good resource for information.

[rmatchell]

I agree km101. I'm still trying to work out a deal on the lead. Until he decides ill just keep looking of craigslist.

[rmatchell]

Thought I would update. I was able to work out a deal for his wheel weights. He said I could have 300 pounds for 75 bucks, now I have to figure out how and when to get them.

[punkinlobber]

USPS! If it fits, it ships!

[rmatchell]

lol, I'm not sure if I can be that mean, plus my post office wont deliver it. I'm lucky to get my mail as it is.