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Thread: What size balls do these Lyamn molds make?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy ronniet's Avatar
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    What size balls do these Lyamn molds make?

    Am curious if any member have these round ball molds and know what diameter and weight these molds throw?
    Ideal 389405 827
    Lyman 2665400
    and
    Lyman 389295
    Looking for a correct diameter for my bore.
    Hard to swage a round ball
    Ron

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    Typically..........
    The first 3 digits on a Lyman or Ideal will be the diameter -.001+.003 for Lyman #2 alloy . The 2nd 3 digits are a form designation . From the top mould on your list that is probably the block pairing number in the 3rd set of 3 digits. The 7th digit may be for custom or special run .
    The 389s will be probably for a 40cal BP with patches maybe . Speculation as I can't at the moment think of a cartridge between 35/8 and 40 cal , 9.3 maybe like the 9.3x63 or 57 . Got the juices flowing now there may be a 9.3 Vetterili also........My mind is like lightning 1 brilliant flash and it over .

    The 266540 is most likely a 6.5mm rifle bullet . 6.5 Mann, x55 , 260 Rem etc .

    I don't know enough of the Lyman's​ to offer a guess about the bullet shape and I'm sure there is a logical key to them I don't see it in the few I have .
    In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.

    I was young and stupid then I'm older now. Me 1992 .

    Richard Lee Hart 6/29/39-7/25/18


    Without trial we cannot learn and grow . It is through our stuggles that we become stronger .
    Brother I'm going to be Pythagerus , DiVinci , and Atlas all rolled into one soon .

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy ronniet's Avatar
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    They are all round ball molds,
    The 2665400 is the part number label on the Lyman box which also says on that label it is a Black powder 40 cal, round ball mold.
    There is a .375 round ball mold and a .380 round ball mold in between the 38 and 40 cal.
    I am just wandering how they fall out the mold of how close they are?
    trying to get as close to .387 round ball as I can
    Ron

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    On the mould itself is the best bet for an accurate number .
    The first 3 digits will be the diameter . The RB seem to be accurate with pure , add tin they grow a little bit .
    A refresher for me , the 2nd 3 digits are a cherry number .
    My 358066 is a RB , pure casts at .359 , WW is at .360 1-20 is in the middle.

    The 389405 is going to be .387+ to .391 cut with the 405th cherry design .
    The 389295 is the same deal , but 295th design .
    The 300 and less numbers aren't necessarily in order and numbers have been recycled so 2 moulds with the same numbers could be completely different and 2 different mould numbers that seem completely different might be GC and PB of the same bullet . There are also a few that share numbers that are different weights a 358 WC comes to mind at 148 and 161gr .

    The number on the box may be a stocking or part number for a vendor but the numbers on the mould will rule .
    A search for the 2665400 does take me to Midway and a Lyman RB mould selection for 375,451,454,458 special order selection bar .
    In light of that the Lyman mould number 266469 is a .266 diameter 140 gr Lovern style bullet .

    This shows the Ideal 389405 . The one your looking at maybe ?
    The 389295 doesn't come up with anything for me .
    This is a showing of Lyman bullets I couldn't find the other day when I was looking however .
    http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

    The cast pics here has several reference guides also .
    In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.

    I was young and stupid then I'm older now. Me 1992 .

    Richard Lee Hart 6/29/39-7/25/18


    Without trial we cannot learn and grow . It is through our stuggles that we become stronger .
    Brother I'm going to be Pythagerus , DiVinci , and Atlas all rolled into one soon .

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy ronniet's Avatar
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    Sorry I made a mistake on the 389295
    should be 380 295 not 389 .
    My mistake.
    Last edited by ronniet; 04-05-2017 at 02:05 PM.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    Now you know as much I do . I do have a 380 , I don't recall the suffix probably the same and from roof flashing it casts .380 , which is about .003 more than I care to load on a 58 Rem 36 cal on the gun . The 375s I've run with 1-20 and 1-30 run about .376 .
    In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.

    I was young and stupid then I'm older now. Me 1992 .

    Richard Lee Hart 6/29/39-7/25/18


    Without trial we cannot learn and grow . It is through our stuggles that we become stronger .
    Brother I'm going to be Pythagerus , DiVinci , and Atlas all rolled into one soon .

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check