LYMAN 35863 Problem

[shooter37]

After being strored for 20+ years I decided to cast a bunch or 35863 DEWC for my M52 Smith. I cleaned the mold and then using WW and pure lead alloy, bottom pour melting pot I ran about 50. Then the problem: the bullets cast out at .366 diameter and weigh 151 gr. No way would these size to .358.
I checked the mold blocks and recleaned them. Alignment pins are OK, no mis alignment or damage to the female block. No wiskers on the bullets and vents are all clean. I readjusted and cleaned the spru plate and tried again: same results: .366 diameter and they weigh 151 gr.

Anyone have some suggestions?
Thanks.

[nanuk]

use 'em for plinking in a 9.3?

[Olevern]

are the bullets concentric or out of round?

[bhn22]

Buy a 38 S&W...:) Have you tried pure lead in the mould yet?

[shooter37]

Bullets are concentric and look fine. They passed a "roll" check just fine. I will have to try pure lead when I find some.
Thanks

[HeavyMetal]

I have found 35863 molds that were huge in diameter!

I have yet to find one, particularly 4 bangers, that are near .358. Best I've done was a pair I just sold that ran .360.

Considering most of these were intended for "Target" revolvers the oversized casting certainly allowed great latitude in fitting the chamber throats.

Curious: was this mold casting this large before storage? Or is it a recent purchase that was stored that long?

Casting with pure lead will give you smaller, heavier, boolits but I doubt your gonna get eight thousandths in shrinkage!

Don't really have a suggestion based on the information you've posted other than the fact that this mold should cast for a large throat revolver and another mold be found for the M52 which have a tendency to be "tight" bored.

[shooter37]

The mold I have is 1980's vintage and had been used for the M52 years ago. I just don't understand what happend here as the mold did not rust and shows no sign of damage. Maybe the guy in Canada will make me an offer for his 9.3..........
Thanks all

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Lyman must have never known that 38 special & 357 were and are around .357/358. With that in mind there is no excuse for .366. One possible solution is having the mold blocks plated....nickel would work. How much of a reduction that would afford, I am not sure....maybe .004...w2th two coats/platings and if so that would get it down to around .362 and that is more realistic. As to the cost, again not sure, but platers go by the size of the object and blocks aren't very big. Brass plating might be another option, might be a bit cheaper to do. Chrome might be another choice. Ask/search around. You might have to give up the vent lines, but they can be rescored if necessary. Its a good design for the M52 so might be worth it. LLS