Is there any difference in the 25-20 single shot bullet mold and the 25-20 winchester. Would either be suitable for reloading either shell?
Steve
Is there any difference in the 25-20 single shot bullet mold and the 25-20 winchester. Would either be suitable for reloading either shell?
Steve
No difference except finding the correct diameter boolit mould for your rifle by slugging the bore.
Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!
BA .... great answer
Regards
John
How would you know what diameter bullet the mold would cast? My rifle is .257. Should there be any markings on those old molds to tell you what diameter they are? I use a lyman mold now and it does great but was just wondering about those old antique ideal ones.
Steve
You slug the bore with a soft lead boolit, then use a micrometer to measure the diameter of the lead slug. My original Win '92 bore is 0.257".
I have an original Winchester mould that casts 0.260" and a Cast Bullet Engineering 80gn that casts 0.258". Both are put through the RCBS lube-sizer die which is 0.258".
Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!
"In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'
The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery
NRA Benefactor 2008
I know how to slug a barrel. My question was how can you tell what the mold will produce. I do not think they put thos numbers on the old antique ideal molds. I was just thinking it might be fun to own one of those old molds and try to cast some stuff with one. My sizer does my cast to .258 also.
Steve
Last edited by slk; 07-31-2020 at 09:27 AM.
The old Ideal and Lyman mold #'s were the 'size to' size - not the cast size. While they were standardized with Lyman #2 alloy makes a large difference in the actual size of the boolit. So a 257*** is a mold that will cast slightly large with Lyman #2 and should be sized to .257 according to their catalogs.
Wayne the Shrink
There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
I was jut thinking it might be fun to have one of those old ideal molds with the all steel construction, like a set of pliers. I bet those metal handles get hot after a few cast. The bigger question is what weight one might be. I am looking at one that says 25-20 SS. I am assuming that means single shot which was a larger shell casing. I would have no idea what weight it would be unless I cast a bullet which is impossible since I do not own the mold, and the owner does not have a clue.
Steve
An accurate length of the cavity and a description of the nose shape should allow someone to estimate the weight. It would not be exact but should be close.
.
Yes, they get hot fast. I use welder's gloves, but they were never intended for casting 100 or so at a time.
Wayne the Shrink
There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
Would be cool if you could find some slip on silicone handles that would fit. I just got through figuring out my lyman mold bullets which are like 65 g. Was trying to push them too fast. I finally am shooting 1/2" to 1" groups @ 50 yds.
Steve
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 |