Ideal 308291

[bruce drake]

Does anyone know if this mold is the same as the 311291 mold? Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook refers to the 311291 as a 170gr GC RN design but doesn''t refer to a 308291 in the chart of Lyman/Ideal molds.

Thanks for any help you can.

[crazy mark]

Basically the same. Bear in mind however I don't think any 3 311291's or 308291's are twins. I have several of each and they all have some difference wether it is diameter or nose shape. Mark

[floodgate]

Does anyone know if this mold is the same as the 311291 mold? Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook refers to the 311291 as a 170gr GC RN design but doesn''t refer to a 308291 in the chart of Lyman/Ideal molds.

Thanks for any help you can.

Bruce:

The "size-to" number which constitutes the first three digits of the Lyman / Ideal mould numbers (the remaining digits are the "cherry number", maintained in more-or-less - often less - chronological sequence since they were first introduced in Ideal Handbook #9, 1897) has varied over the years, according to fashions in sizing vs. groove diameter, bullet metal alloy, etc. Originally the "308's" were intended for the .30-30, .30-40, .30-'03 and -'06, etc., and the "311's" for the .303 British, the 7.65 Mauser, etc. Since the mid-1900's, most of the "308's" have been simply re-labeled as "311's". We also see .38's variously listed with prefixes running from "355" through "360" - most are now listed as "358's", but there are a couple of "357's"; and the .45 Colts have moved back and forth between "454" and "452" - now mostly the latter as groove diameter has been standardized at the .45 ACP's 0.452". The only REAL change is seen in the recent #314299, an oversized version of the old #311299. But, as Mark says, there is more variation in both shape and diameter as old cherries wear and new ones are cut - seemingly by eye - than any due to changes in sizing fashions or barrel boring specs.

floodgate

[bruce drake]

Recieved the mold today in the mail. In good shape considering it's obvious age (mold is integral to the handles and not screwed on).

Fired up the pot out in the garage after the wife and kids went to bed and quickly cast up 100 rounds.

The bullets are averaging 172.5gr and the average measurements are very interesting:

.302 nose
.311 first driving band
.314 middle driving band
.316 last driving band.

It seems this mold is a loose .308 but it works out well so far in that I think I'll be able to use it for my Arisakas, Enfields, Mosin-Nagants and my 30-06s.

It all depends on which sizing die I set in the system it seems.

Bruce

[C1PNR]

Good Heavens, Bruce, what a deal, if that's the mould that was on eBay a while ago.

I looked at that and figured I'd have to "Beagle" that one so far I'd end up using side cutters to "trim" the fins before I could size it.

Glad to see it's working out for you!

[bruce drake]

I got a small amount of flashing around the bullet tips in the beginning but if I did my part and held the mold firmly the bullets dropped nicely without any major flashing.

I'll size some today to see how they come through and perhaps a load report later this weekend.

Bruce

[9.3X62AL]

Bruce--

That nominal 30 caliber mold sounds like a "one mold to do all 30/31 calibers" arrangement. Its "tapered" band diameters aren't much different than the front end of Buckshot's 8mm Heavy mold, to accomodate a whole raftload of chamber profiles.

Good luck with that critter.

[bruce drake]

Deputy Al,

Yeah, I thought my measurements were off when I did my first bullet but after calipering 10 of the bullets they average the numbers above. We'll see how they shoot this weekend. I've got an Arisaka rechambered to 30-06 (310-06) that I intend that this mold will be for. I intend to size them to .311 first but I may size a few to .312 to test as well.

Bruc