Old Lyman moulds

A friend called me a couple of days ago saying that a LGS had on sale a few moulds they´ve received from an old customer that does n´t cast anymore.

I went there and after some bargaining I ended up buying 3 Lyman moulds plus a Lyman lead dipper, all for 70 bucks.

Moulds are Lyman #452374 (1c), # 358477(2c) and #358242 (2c).

They are all well used but OK except for #358242 which is somewhat worn from a previous owner smacking it with a steel hammer instead of using a wooden mallet , but the cavities are OK and I hope it will cast just fine.

I have to admit that I bought #358242 believing it was designed for .38 but now I realize it is intended for 9mm.

Will it work for .38 spl anyway? I will also like to try #452374 in .45 Colt. The one I have is the old version of this mould, not the newer with a different (longer) shape. Will it work in .45colt?

Thanks,

Argie.

Attachment 226592

That 358242 at 95 gr. seems kind of light for any purpose in a 38 spl. Of course, it could work but I can't think of a good use for a boolit that light in a 38. I suppose if you loaded them to +p pressures for max velocity, it might make a self-defense load, but I would personally prefer something of 150 gr or better for that purpose. BTW, I can't read the mold number on the top box; too light.
Wayne

Question: Are you actually in Argentina?

I thought the 358242 was a 121 ish Gr mold. The 452374 should work good in a 45 colt, I have the ole ideal mold and I believe it cast out at .455 with mold ingredients.

I've used the 452374 in the .45 Colt though I don't recall the load right now .

Jack

That 452374 will work just fine in the .45 Colt with Unique or 231/HP38.

In the late 70s it was my boolit of choice when I shot IPSC with my 25-5. It speed loaded perfectly.

I have two 4 cav. versions now (late 70's production).

Henry

358242 had two weights. One was 95 grains for the 380 the other 121 for 9mm. It will be a fine shooter but the 358477 should do better with a load of Unique in 38. I am not sure if that is available in Sudamerica or not.

Thank you all for your answers.

The one I bought is the heavier version of # 358242

I have both Unique and ww231 (HP38) so I´ll give it a try with both of them, specially with ww231.

Good to know that #452374 will work in the .45 Colt since I´ll be using it mostly for that caliber.

Thanks,

Argie.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Argentino

Thank you all for your answers.

The one I bought is the heavier version of # 358242

I have both Unique and ww231 (HP38) so I´ll give it a try with both of them, specially with ww231.

Good to know that #452374 will work in the .45 Colt since I´ll be using it mostly for that caliber.

Thanks,

Argie.

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In the .45 Colt I seated the 452374 slightly past the ogive & put a light crimp over the ogive. You may need to experiment with how far past the ogive.

I also use the 452374 in my Ruger BH for 50 yard IHMSA chickens.......it's surprisingly accurate.

Henry

I have a Lyman 2 cavity #358242 I purchased back in the 60's for a 9mm. It's a round nose 120? grain and it shot very well. It also worked well in a 38 Special.

I have used the 121 grain 358242 in 38 special with excellent results. In recent years Lyman changed the 358242 to 356242. I'm not sure whether this new designation also reduced bullet diameter also.

brghp

Is your 358477 the square or rounded nose swc? I've seen that mold in both configurations. Both are just as accurate as the other I just like the sharp edge smacks game a little bit harder. It and the rcbs swc-38-150 (it's close enough that bullets cast from my 358477 will almost fit the cavity s) are my go to molds for my 38s that get shot at game. Both are solid preformers well up into +p area for me. My 358477 is the round edge version and is a shooter in my 38s. Still need to find that mold in a single cavity to hp and scratch an itch I've had to do so.

I was lucky, Dad had a 358242 in both weights and I really liked the 121 in the 9mm. The little one is great in the 380 auto. I had to get my own so when I moved out I could cast my own.

I have the rounded nose version of the Lyman 358477 in a double cavity..this has proved to be the most accurate bullet I have tried in a S&W Mod. 19.

As long as you don’t use 452374 in a tube feed rifle it will work if crimped into the ogive since it doesn’t have a proper crimp groove. All of my Colt manufactured revolvers in 45 colt prefer .454 diameter bullets so if I were using 453374 in a 45 colt, use it as cast and don’t size.

The older Lyman manuals I believe had data for 358242 in 121 grain for 38 special.

Here's what Ideal had to say when they made the 358242 mold ...
Standard bullet for .38 Colt's Automatic Pistol. Cast of 1 part Tin to 15 Lead. Powder charge 4 grains weight Hercules Bullseye powder. No. 10 tool only furnished. Very satisfactory load and much cheaper than factory ammunition. (PB, RN, 121 - TP is 311)
Attachment 227862

I just found my S+W mod 13 loves the old 242 mold with PC and a stiff load of BE-86.

GONRA's pretty sure you really can't go wrong purchasing (cheep) bullet moulds
as long as they are a CALIBER (diameter) you can use.....

I guess it all depends, if the mold is good quality, functions as intended and cheap that's terrific. But if it is poor quality, like a 6 cavity Lee mold I have that drops different size bullets all I can say was it was an expensive mold, because the money I spent was wasted.