Ideal Mfg. Reloading Tool

[chuckcook]

Last week I bought an antique Ideal Mfg. reloading tool in 38-56. It arrived in the mail with a cast bullet still in the mould. After a little research, I learned the tool could transform 45-70 brass to 38-56 bottleneck. Today, I gave the ole hand loader a try using 45-70 brass. It worked like a champ!

[TNsailorman]

First of all--welcome to our cast boolit family. Your tool is a win-win situation. You rescued an old tool and put it to use again. Thanks for the pictures, I love to look at old equipment and wonder what history it has seen and stories it could tell if it could tell if it could talk. james

[Soundguy]

Wow! very nice. more pictures please!

[Char-Gar]

Warms my heart to see this great old tool, put back into service. Good on you!

[Soundguy]

looks like it mades a decent boolit too.

[Chill Wills]

That round in the picture does not look like the 38-56. The body is too long and the sharp neck is much too far forward. Is it made from 45-70 brass - Maybe it chambers? If it does it surly will reform to look like a 38-56 after it is fired in an 1886 38-56 Winchester rifle.

Maybe it is just the picture making it look sharp shouldered - a version with the shoulder too far forward.

[chuckcook]

Thanks for the welcome! I totally agree, it was nice to see an old tool perform like it did 100 years ago. I bet it could tell some interesting stories and adventures.

[jrmartin1964]

I'm always glad to see another old Ideal being put to good use!