Mold Cheat sheet for buyers

[ktw]

[updated list in post 20]


-ktw

[Tom Herman]

Just what I'm looking for...

Happy Shootin'! -Tom

[copdills]

Thanks this will help alot

[timkelley]

Should this thread be a sticky?

[mold maker]

A stickey YES!

[floodgate]

45 Nut:

Can you add this (from a response to "Pitman" yesterday) to this "sticky":

Just about every mould maker has a different "code". Lyman/Ideal moulds are marked with three digits indicating the "size-to" diameter followed by three more that are just a more-or-less chronological sequence number (though these have in some cases been re-used from discontinued moulds); another group of numbers appearing on both blocks are a "match number" to keep the pair together. Some makers use a pretty logical diameter + weight number; some others, like Hensley & Gibbs just use a sequence number, and you have to have a chart to decode them - some of these are posted on CASTPICS. One weird one was used on the old Modern-Bond moulds (which originated the separate blocks and interchangeable handles back in the '20's, soon copied by Lyman). They used, for example, "D-311-955", meaning the fourth (A, B, C, D, ..get it? ) design in 0.311" diameter (with a new sequence for each caliber), 0.955" long (150 grs.); a double-cavity mould I have with two different weights/lengths of the same bullet is stamped "D-311-955-1145", with 150- and 180-gr. bullets, the latter 1.145"long.

It would be nice if they were all the same and logical, but.....

Floodgate

EDIT - PS: Lee's code is perhaps the most useful, as it gives diameter, weight and an indication of the nose profile, with a prefix indcating a tumble-lube ("TL...") or gas-check ("C...") design. (No prefix indicates a plain base bullet with standard grease grooves.)

[fivegunner]

Thank you !! :D:lovebooli

[gifford]

These links are tremendous, thanks for taking the time to post it here. I'm a rookie ghof (grey haired old...) Lots to pick up on. Thanks. G

[unclebill]

this is a life saver for guys like me.
the nonsensical strings of imaginary numbers that the mold makers use
have always confused me.:mrgreen:

[dromia]

Welcome aboard Gifford. :drinks:

[Suo Gan]

Now this I can use! Thanks a bunch, SG

[unclebill]

this is a life saver for guys like me.
the nonsensical strings of imaginary numbers that the mold makers use
have always confused me.:mrgreen:

whenever i am reading a post and someone mentions a mold and it's name looks like this 94983748599479375937820
i have to google it to see what it is.

[Ben]

SAECO links are " dead ends " for me ? ? ?

[ktw]

SAECO links are " dead ends " for me ? ? ?

Redding appears to have changed their domain name since my original post. the following links appear to work now instead.

Standard Molds: http://www.reddingreloading.com/PDF%20files/bulletchart.pdf
Traditional Molds: http://www.reddingreloading.com/PDF%20files/tradbullets.pdf
Roundball/Buckshot/Maxiballs: http://www.reddingreloading.com/pages/roundmaxiballs.html
Obsolete Calibers: http://www.reddingreloading.com/pages/obsoletecals.html
BPCR: http://www.reddingreloading.com/pages/blackpowder.html


-ktw

[ktw]

Lyman's sight has been reorganized.
New link to current catalog molds is:
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-blocks.php

A more direct link to Magma's mold designs is here:
http://www.magmaengineering.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=7&Treeid=2&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

-ktw

[flounderman]

I have a 4 cavity henslley and gibbs mould that only says 65 BB. I think it is a 45 caliber, semi wadcutter. do the numbers mean anything to anybody?
flounderman

[45nut]

http://hgmould.gunloads.com/molds/65.jpg

the #65 refers to a 32 S&W Long .312 100gr Pb 65 RGG;OCG;LM;SWS;BB
per this page:

http://hgmould.gunloads.com/casting/hgmoldchart.htm

If it is a 45 cal it is likely a #68,can you double check?

[ktw]

Redding appears to have changed their domain name again.
The following links appear to work now instead.

Standard Molds: http://www.redding-reloading.com/PDFfiles/bulletchart.pdf
Traditional Molds: http://www.redding-reloading.com/PDFfiles/tradbullets.pdf
Roundball/Buckshot/Maxiballs: http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/roundmaxiballs.html
Obsolete Calibers: http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/obsoletecals.html
BPCR: http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/blackpowder.html

-ktw

[justingrosche]

Does any one have any Modern-Bond material that they could add to this list?

[ktw]

Does any one have any Modern-Bond material that they could add to this list?

There is a Bond reference on Castpics but it's not something I can provide a direct link to. You will have to go to http://www.castpics.net/ and look under Mould References/Bond Moulds. This same location has good historical references for a number of other mold makers.

The following is a reworking of the original list with updated links and a few new vendors added.



Lyman designs
Historical: http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm
Current catalog - handgun molds (http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/index-pistols.php)
Current catalog - rifle molds (http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/index-rifles.php)
Current catalog - blackpowder molds (http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/select-mould-blackpowder.php)
Current catalog - roundball molds (http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/round-ball-moulds.php)

RCBS designs
Don't know of a good single reference sheet. Look on the RCBS site (I don't like how it's organized) or one of the online retail outlets like Midsouth
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...=RCBS%20MOULDS

Lee designs
Catridge: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1293235246.1127=/html/catalog/bullmol2.html
Blackpowder & Shotgun: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1293235246.1127=/html/catalog/blackpow.html

NEI designs
http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html

Saeco designs
standard(.22-.41 caliber): http://www.redding-reloading.com/images/stories/bulletmoulds3.jpg
standard(.41-.45 caliber): http://www.redding-reloading.com/images/stories/bulletmoulds2.jpg
traditional: http://www.redding-reloading.com/images/stories/bulletmoulds1.jpg

Ballisti-cast designs
http://www.ballisti-cast.com/Bullet%20Designs.htm

Magma Engineering designs
Bevel Base designs : http://www.magmaengineering.com/PDF/BBOct132008b.pdf
Flat base designs : http://www.magmaengineering.com/PDF/FBOct132008b.pdf

Hensley & Gibbs designs
http://hgmould.gunloads.com/casting/hgmoldchart.htm

Cast Bullet Engineering (CBE) designs
http://www.castbulletengineering.com/page003.html

LBT designs
http://www.lbtmoulds.com/moulds.shtml

Paul Jones designs
http://www.pauljonesmolds.com/

Ranch Dog designs
Marlin Levergun: http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_5
SemiAuto Pistol: http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_6

KAL Tool & Die designs
http://kal.castpics.net/Molds.html

BRP Products designs [Shop is closed, link no longer available]

NOE designs
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=65575

Dick Dastardly Big Lube designs
http://www.biglube.com/

MP Mold (Mihec) designs
http://www.mp-molds.com/index.php?pr=Gallery

Accurate Molds designs
http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=all



-ktw

[armed_partisan]

I also feel this should be sticky.

[justingrosche]

Thank you KTW. There are a couple of molds for sale on the CBA site and I wasn't familiar with Modern- Bond.

[square butte]

Sticky it.

[gefiltephish]

You might want to remove the BRP link since it doesn't work and Bruce is no longer producing molds (that's the last I've read anyway).

[rsrocket1]

Lee references lead to a dead link.

This is the page for 6 cavity molds, but it has pictures of all cartridge molds
http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Bullet-Mold-6-Cavity/

This is the launch page for the black powder molds (conical, minie, REAL and ball)
http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Black-Powder-Molds/

[Scramjet]

I really like the Mihek molds and am thinking about doing an order although they list almost everything out of stock.

Tom

[ShooterOnTheLine]

Now this is something I an use.

[jixxerbill]

ranch dog link is no good.. says store closed ?

[NMLRA Guy]

Sigh: I learned some of this the hard way but never recorded it for myself, let alone for others. Thanks for a useful thread.

[Chad G]

Thanks for the link, castpics.com came in very handy.

[Hondo 60]

The links to Lee in post 20 & 25 are not valid.
But it'll get you to Lee's site.

Not sure how long these will be valid, but they work today.

http://leeprecision.com/bullet-casting/hand-gun-bullet-molds/

http://leeprecision.com/bullet-casting/rifle-bullet-molds/