.36 Cal Maxi Mold

[jjarrell]

I'm kind of stoked! I just picked up a steel Lyman maxi mold for my .36 Seneca for $31. Now I don't have to get them from TOTW. Goes to show you that sometimes its the little things in life that make you happy. LOL

[54bore]

NICE find jjarrell! I had the TC Version, i ended up selling it without ever trying it. The 'character' that bought my TC mold collection was gonna have them duplicated in steel, they were suppose to be ready over a month ago? at least he was ready to take my money for a steel copy then, I keep thinking they will show up on here anyday? I would love to buy one in steel! I didnt know that Lyman did a .36 Maxi? I will have to look into it. This is the one i had, mine had the rounded lube grooves (which i prefer, they fill out better)

190694

[jjarrell]

Well I think its steel. I haven't received it yet. I found it on an auction. I thought all Lyman molds were steel. The Lyman part# is 364615 for the mold. I'd be fine with aluminum as well. My Lee aluminum molds do a good job for me. I have no complaints with them.

[54bore]

Well I think its steel. I haven't received it yet. I found it on an auction. I thought all Lyman molds were steel. The Lyman part# is 364615 for the mold. I'd be fine with aluminum as well. My Lee aluminum molds do a good job for me. I have no complaints with them.

I just ran those Lyman numbers and its a Steel mold, I think all of Lyman's molds are Steel. I MUCH prefer a steel mold over Aluminum. I will have to keep my eyes open for one of those!

[John Allen]

Man let me know how it works out. I would love to find one of them.

[bob208]

I have to get to the shop over the mountain from me they have a lyman .36 maxi for sale it is new. they have $28 on it.

[54bore]

I have to get to the shop over the mountain from me they have a lyman .36 maxi for sale it is new. they have $28 on it.

You better grab it, that's a good deal!!

[jjarrell]

I have to get to the shop over the mountain from me they have a lyman .36 maxi for sale it is new. they have $28 on it.

Yeah, I second what 54bore said. You had better snatch that one up. Maxi molds in .36 caliber go for between $60-$120 on eBay. I've seen .32 Caliber maxi molds go for over $250 on there.

[54bore]

Yeah, I second what 54bore said. You had better snatch that one up. Maxi molds in .36 caliber go for between $60-$120 on eBay. I've seen .32 Caliber maxi molds go for over $250 on there.

32 Cal TC Maxi Ball Molds are worth their weight in gold! They can have them! I am not a big fan of Aluminum Mold blocks, i MUCH prefer the rugged durability of a good Steel mold.

[jjarrell]

191000
I got the Lyman Maxi-Ball mold blocks for my .36 cal Seneca in the mail today and they are steel 54bore. I figured I'd see how they cast, so I cast 50 .36 cal maxi-balls and they all measured .364 diameter, but they weighed in a little light. The lightest was 120gr even, and the heaviest was 121.2gr, so it seems to be a pretty consistent mold. I was under the impression that a .36 cal maxi weighed 128gr though. I know my lead is pure because I also cast some .535 balls and they weighed in at a perfect 230gr. I'm not concerned about this small weight difference because the little maxis are very consistent, but I am curious as to whether any of you have experienced this.

[54bore]

191000
I got the Lyman Maxi-Ball mold blocks for my .36 cal Seneca in the mail today and they are steel 54bore. I figured I'd see how they cast, so I cast 50 .36 cal maxi-balls and they all measured .364 diameter, but they weighed in a little light. The lightest was 120gr even, and the heaviest was 121.2gr, so it seems to be a pretty consistent mold. I was under the impression that a .36 cal maxi weighed 128gr though. I know my lead is pure because I also cast some .535 balls and they weighed in at a perfect 230gr. I'm not concerned about this small weight difference because the little maxis are very consistent, but I am curious as to whether any of you have experienced this.

Nothing uncommon there, 8 grains is nothing, if you had several .36 Cal Molds side by side they will all likely throw different weights

[jjarrell]

Nothing uncommon there, 8 grains is nothing, if you had several .36 Cal Molds side by side they will all likely throw different weights

I sorta figured that. It looks like that is just what the mold will throw. I know the lead is pure, first because it's from RotoMetal, and second the .535 balls throw at 230gr. Which is what that size ball is supposed to weigh with pure lead. Also, like I said. I'm perfectly fine with the slightly lighter maxi ball. I doubt the little piggies or coyotes will notice 7-8 grains. :drinks:

[jjarrell]

At least they say its 99.9% pure.

[bob208]

well I got over the mountain today. that .36 mold is mine. it is new never been on handles. it was 29.99. now I have a maxi mold in .36,.45,50 and .54.

[jjarrell]

Bob208 you're loaded for everything from mice to moose now!

I figured out why my Lyman maxi balls are lighter than the TC maxi balls. The one on the left is from TOTW and weighs 128gr on the nose. The one on the right is from my Lyman mold and weighs 120.6gr. Notice the lower land is thinner on my maxi than the one from TOTW. My maxi from the Lyman mold is also .010" shorter overall than the one from TOTW. I don't mind that they are a few grains lighter now that I know why. The Lyman mold is still very consistent with only a 1.2gr standard deviation in 50 hand cast maxi balls. Close to half of the 50 cast were the exact same weight too. So I can cull and get them all exactly the same weight. I can live with that. The top bearing land is dead on at .364", with the two lower lands that line it up in the bore are both .358". Now lets see how they do at the range.
191463

[Squeeze]

191500The one on the right is my .36 'maxi' :smile: 270 grains, and clovers at 100...in a 14 twist. Next i'm going to start stretching longer. Thats a .50 .45 .36 L-R in the pic

[jjarrell]

191500The one on the right is my .36 'maxi' :smile: 270 grains, and clovers at 100...in a 14 twist. Next i'm going to start stretching longer. Thats a .50 .45 .36 L-R in the pic

Two different rifles for two different purposes I would imagine. Not much use for a 270gr bullet when small game hunting. I'm glad you've got a shooter though.

[Squeeze]

Thats just a test/ R&D gun I plan on using for groundhog and coyote. It IS really a whole different animal, and nowhere near a typical .36. I do have several slower twist .36 But for some reason, I dont have a lot of luck with a maxi in .36. Fine in .32, and a cant remember how they did in .45. The only thing I really use a maxi in is a .32

[jjarrell]

I'm getting about 1 1/4" groups at 50 yards with the TOTW maxi balls out of my .36 Seneca. Roughly the same as my round ball loads out of it. Try 20-25 grains of cream of wheat over the powder charge. It tightened up my groups from about 4-5". I haven't had a chance to shoot any of what I have cast yet, but they are more consistent in weight than what I get from TOTW. We will see.

[bob208]

I have a barrel that was made for .45-70. I am thinking of breaching it and using it on a underhammer action. try it with the .45 maxi. will have to make a false muzzle for it too.

[bedbugbilly]

These 36 molds seem to be on the scarce side and when I've seen them, they demand a pretty hefty price as compared to other used Lyman molds . . not as frequently run across as other calibers I should say.

I've never used them in my .36 but would certainly try them if I could. With the interest there is in them, I'm really surprised that someone hasn't contacted a good mold company like Al at NOE or Accurate to see if they would be interested in possibly machining them and then a "group buy" put together on them.

[shdwlkr]

If enough folks are interested in 36 maxi I would be willing to honcho if NOE is willing to make it. I will drop Al an email if enough interest, say 10-15 people PM me your interest

What if we can get 32, 45, 50, 54, and maybe even 58 caliber maxi molds made? Just asking so I know how to write email to AL again each one would need maybe 7 who want maybe more

[bob208]

.32 is easier to get then .36.i would like to see a .40 maxi mold. although I have shot .38-40 bullets in my .40 after I made a false muzzle to load them.

[triggerhappy243]

there is actually a lot of maxi interest. it is just not on this forum.... but else where. I would like to see this design done in 45, 50 and 54

[54bore]

there is actually a lot of maxi interest. it is just not on this forum.... but else where. I would like to see this design done in 45, 50 and 54

I agree trigger! This one with the rounded lube grooves is the most accurate Maxi ball i have shot, and this design is easier to pour, fills the mold out way better than the sharp edge Maxi's

[54bore]

My old .36 TC Maxi mold With rounded lube grooves

191786

[triggerhappy243]

I think a 2 cavity mold would be too cool

[bedbugbilly]

shdwlkr - I'd be interested in a .36.

Just off the cuff remark and thoughts - the group buys I've been in on with NOE I think usually require about 15 or so - but a conversation with Al would verify if he was even interested and what he would need to make it a viable thing of him to do. The problem is that everyone has their own "thoughts" on what it "ought to be" - both in design and caliber. Before the thought get's too over blown - Lee makes a number of REAL molds now and most folks would probably pay the $20 or whatever they are for one of those rather than the higher cost of a good NOE mold. To use a "shotgun approach" and start getting too many calibers, etc. . . . if he was interested in doing it, I think it needs to be limited to one size/style and even then, there may not be enough sign up to make it fly.

It's too bad that someone doesn't climb on board and make a 3 or 4 cavity old with a variety of sizes - i.e. a four hole mold that was .32, .36, .40 & .45 then a .50, 54, 58 or some such thing. Then you run in to those who don't want a single cavity per caliber but want a multiple cavity so they can make quick work of it.

A lot of things to consider but before anything else, a call to Al at NOE or Tom at Accurate, etc. would answer the basic questions of if it was anything they might be interested in and what would be involved. I really don't have the time to get involved as we are headed back to MI this coming week and are moving this summer to a new place and I have to get the house sold, etc. But, I'd be interested in knowing if it were possible to do.