unknown mold: what is it? lyman 737

[15meter]

I received this mold in a large batch of relatively conventional molds. There are a couple other weird ones I'll ask about later.

186874186875WHAT IS IT?

.530 at base, flat base, .600 on the "flange/belt?" bottoms out my 505 scale.

[MT Gianni]

A three digit number is usually the cherry number used to cut the cavity. Is there anything on the other side?

[15meter]

A three digit number is usually the cherry number used to cut the cavity. Is there anything on the other side?


I understand Lyman's mold nomenclature, unfortunately there is nothing else on the mold. Apparently this is a special of some kind.
I have passed it around my gun club and most are as baffled as I am. Unfortunately I seemed to be getting baffled way more than I used to....

[runfiverun]

your missing the plug for the base.
it's a nose pour.

[PoisonIvyMagnet]

Is it one of the Prot-X-Bore molds that held a zinc washer? Pop in a washer, close the mold, then cast the bullet. Supposed to act like a bore scraper, clean out the lead. Read about them before, but never saw a pic of one of the molds.

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[15meter]

your missing the plug for the base.
it's a nose pour.

Yes, a nose pour, but what is it for? No lube grooves and a massive belt? Along with being just a massive bullet--.530 dia 600-700 grains?

[15meter]

Is it one of the Prot-X-Bore molds that held a zinc washer? Pop in a washer, close the mold, then cast the bullet. Supposed to act like a bore scraper, clean out the lead. Read about them before, but never saw a pic of one of the molds.

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Don't think so, I have read about them, thought most of those were for pistol calibers. I have not seen a Prot-X mold but I don't think this fits.

[runfiverun]

protex had a place for a washer but you poured through the washer and it was at the base with a little nib to lock it in place.

the base plug would have locked in the belt and either been a slight hollow or a flat.
measure just above the belt.
add about .0010 for the paper you'd wrap around the boolit and you'll have a bore diameter.

[Cowboy_Dan]

Do you have the base plug? The wide point may be for indexing an adjustable plug, but it seems that would make casting a bit of a hassle. At that size I'm thinking 54 caliber muzzleloader. Is the ring maybe for filling the grooves at firing? After that the hollow base expandsand gives a better grip on the rifling. Pushing it into the barrel will also scrape out some fouling.

[15meter]

Do you have the base plug? The wide point may be for indexing an adjustable plug, but it seems that would make casting a bit of a hassle. At that size I'm thinking 54 caliber muzzleloader. Is the ring maybe for filling the grooves at firing? After that the hollow base expandsand gives a better grip on the rifling. Pushing it into the barrel will also scrape out some fouling.

.070 difference between minor dia. and "belt" dia? I think it would do a whole lot more than scrape fouling. And need a hand sledge to get it down the bore.

[15meter]

Still looking for help on this mold, still as clueless as I was yesterday.

Help!

[stubert]

Have you contacted Lyman?

[Bent Ramrod]

Lyman and Ideal both offered "Blank" moulds, blocks fitted out but no cavity cut, for those who wanted to try their own designs. Since your mould has only the assembly number on it, I would guess it was one of those originally.

As to the cavity, it's anyone's guess. Maybe for some kind of big bore "combustible" cartridge, though I couldn't find an exact duplicate of your casting in any of my books. You might send the picture to the NRA Q&A site and see what their historians can make of it.

[Harter66]

To me and my limited experience ,it broad but shallow . I would say most likely that it is an adjustable hollow base mould for a paper patched breach loading 54 cal rifle the belt would probably be the retaining groove for the base and pin . Paper cartridge is also a possibility . It is most likely a long range target design .

[runfiverun]

thank you Harter.

[rr2241tx]

It's a paper patch bullet, you are missing the hollow base plug that sits in the groove and forms a slight hollow for the pigtail to fold into. Sides are smooth because you would use a lube cookie or grease wad beneath the patched bullet.

[Czech_too]

I contacted my BP mentor regarding this. He's dealt in some really 'different' stuff during his lifetime.

"That mold looks like it is a ML mold for a rifle or musket that used oiled linen or onion skin wrapped paper projectiles. It’s too large to be a Whitworth mold, (I never heard of a Whitworth over 45 cal.), but it is almost identical to the mold that I bought in England with a Whitworth rifle, also nose fed . I would hazard that it was for a 60 Cal. ML rifle that used oiled paper or linen wrapped slugs. Very interesting. When I was buying in the London auctions I saw many early ML African rifles of this approximate caliber, some side by side doubles."

[15meter]

your missing the plug for the base.
it's a nose pour.

Clean bottom to the mold no place to mount any kind of plate/plug.

[15meter]

It's a paper patch bullet, you are missing the hollow base plug that sits in the groove and forms a slight hollow for the pigtail to fold into. Sides are smooth because you would use a lube cookie or grease wad beneath the patched bullet.

Not convinced that is the solution, this is a smooth bottomed mold, no way to attach a base plug.

A completely separate part that has to held in position in the grooves as you are closing a hot mold does not sound like a fun option.

For fun look @ the Lyman 767 mold I posted, also .530 diameter.

[country gent]

The lyman pin is the base is a shouldered pin that has a cut out to fit over the bolt head and twist to hold it ( like a drill bushing or cam type lock) there appears to be a shoulder bolt on the bottom of the one block. Im thinking it is a hollow base or cupped base paper patched bullet for a 54 caliber rifle.

[15meter]

The lyman pin is the base is a shouldered pin that has a cut out to fit over the bolt head and twist to hold it ( like a drill bushing or cam type lock) there appears to be a shoulder bolt on the bottom of the one block. Im thinking it is a hollow base or cupped base paper patched bullet for a 54 caliber rifle.

The socket head cap screw that you see in the picture is the screw to mount the mold to the handles. The bottom of the mold doesn't look like there are any scuff marks that would indicate that something had be rotated to lock under one of the mounting screws if it had be left proud of the surface. Still have that .070" belt to account for.

Maybe it was designed on April 1st?

[15meter]

The lyman pin is the base is a shouldered pin that has a cut out to fit over the bolt head and twist to hold it ( like a drill bushing or cam type lock) there appears to be a shoulder bolt on the bottom of the one block. Im thinking it is a hollow base or cupped base paper patched bullet for a 54 caliber rifle.

Define NW Ohio, I'm in Carleton.

[runfiverun]

the bottom piece sat in the ring.
the boolit was above it.

it's a simple system.
put the pin in.
pour through the nose.
open the mold.
remove the pin and boolit.
tip the boolit off.
put the pin back in.
repeat.
nothing more nothing less.

[Harter66]

So the bolt and insulated nob are attached to the plug on the tab in this modernized Lee version . The Lee of course has the handles permanently fixed . Note the plug band that fits in the mould groove . This example is of course fixed vs adjustable .

187012

[15meter]

the bottom piece sat in the ring.
the boolit was above it.

it's a simple system.
put the pin in.
pour through the nose.
open the mold.
remove the pin and boolit.
tip the boolit off.
put the pin back in.
repeat.
nothing more nothing less.


I understand what you are saying and have seen the Lee mold.

But after having had the mold in my hand and thinking about how to juggle it and a completely separate part and closing the mold with the base plug with flange aligned in the groove to locate it just sounds more Rube Goldberg than I would want to deal with.

Still hoping for someone with first hand knowledge of this thing.

[ammohead]

Harter nailed it.

[w30wcf]

picture a shorter bottom plug with a ring on the o.d. ...
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/30-30%20bullet%20mold%20perfection.jpg

w30wcf

[15meter]

picture a shorter bottom plug with a ring on the o.d. ...
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/30-30%20bullet%20mold%20perfection.jpg

w30wcf

Is that a completely separate plug? How is it held in the mold, the photo doesn't show. I agree that may be the solution but I still have a hard time imagining juggling a hot mold while trying to close it over a plug with a flange on it. Maybe it's because I never learned how to walk and chew gum at the same time...

[bedbugbilly]

I'm seeing the typical screw on the bottom of the mold that Lyman/Ideal used/uses for base plugs - same as used on minie ball molds - the plug has a groove with a split ring in it for securing with a twist when the base plug is inserted - the ring twists under the screw head on the bottom of the mold.

My guess is that it's for a hollow base paper patch boolit used in aa .54 cal muzzle loader - and I think this would probably cast a very interesting slug to use in a rifle such as a .54 Mississippi Rifle or possibly one of the foreign muskets in that caliber that were produced and imported by both the North & South during the war. Either that or for a picket rifle.

[ascast]

yup! if you want to give it a nice home, hit me a PM. I shoot 54 caliber. I can turn a base plug.

[15meter]

I'm seeing the typical screw on the bottom of the mold that Lyman/Ideal used/uses for base plugs - same as used on minie ball molds - the plug has a groove with a split ring in it for securing with a twist when the base plug is inserted - the ring twists under the screw head on the bottom of the mold.

My guess is that it's for a hollow base paper patch boolit used in aa .54 cal muzzle loader - and I think this would probably cast a very interesting slug to use in a rifle such as a .54 Mississippi Rifle or possibly one of the foreign muskets in that caliber that were produced and imported by both the North & South during the war. Either that or for a picket rifle.

As I stated earlier, the base of the mold is clean, no other holes than the two to mount to the handles. I guess I'll have to take a picture of the base. No indication of a plate or plug ever being mounted from the bottom. I know what you say about the screw that you push the plug past then give it a turn I have a Lyman hollow point mold that works like that.

Still confused, not convinced that it has a separate part that you have to juggle while closing the mold, maybe Rube Goldberg did design a few bullet molds.

[15meter]

Think it's time to beat a dead horse again.

Think this was one of my first posts, still wondering if anyone has seen a mold like this(check the first post).

And I'll reiterate, the bottom of the mold is completely clean, what is shown it the photo is the screw to mount the blocks on the handles.

Has anyone seen a mold that you had to hold the plug in just the right depth in from the bottom of the molds while you closed on the plug to capture it?

Then hold onto the plug while opening and getting the boolit off the plug with out dropping the plug or burning you fingers?

Maybe time to post in S&S and let it confuse somebody else:killingpc