curious to learn more about original bullet molds by Winchester

[LawrenceA]

I recently purchased original Winchester molds for 32-20 & 25-20.
They have wooden handles and seems to pre date vent lines
Can anyone tell me a little about this mold type?
I cannot find anything on the web.

Thanks in advance
.

[Bent Ramrod]

You might look for a copy of Early Loading Tools and Bullet Moulds by Chamberlain and Quigley. It has data on all the tools furnished by the arms companies and the specialty manufacturers of the time.

Winchester started offering moulds and tools shortly after their 1873 rifle came on the market. First moulds were of brass, which was soon changed to steel. In 1880 or thereabouts, wooden handles were put on the moulds. The moulds and tools were phased out in 1914.

[LawrenceA]

Thanks Bent
appreciated

[Guesser]

I used a Winchester Mould for 32-20 back about 35 years ago. An acquaintance had the 73 carbine in 32-20 with the mould; I shot a Colt in 32-20 so he let me cast a few just to try. The mould was an exact duplicate of the Ideal 3118 that I had been using for the previous 20 years. I don't remember anything about the vent lines, my Ideal mould has them. The bullets were interchangeable in the 2 cavities, they were that close. I still use my old single cavity 3118, I don't know about the 73 and it's mould.

[MT Gianni]

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Appendix_A_MouldAge.htm
Frixell says vent lines started with double cavities in the late 1940's. I have had a few that had no vent lines but never owned an Ideal with integral handles.

[Bazoo]

The Lyman 46th handbook has some articles on the history of bullet moulds and loading tools. Well worth having a copy.