Lyman mold: some info pls

[milprileb]

lyman 311466

I have a brand new in the box of this mold. Can anyone tell me what it will drop at ? 311, 312,313 or what do you think?

Thanks a million

I have WW and some linotype set aside for this mold.

[462]

Mine is an older one, purchased from a forum member. It was made back in the day when they were shipped in the black and white stripped cardboard box, rather than plastic. So far, I've cast only a few of air-cooled wheel weights with a bit of added tin, and they measure .314+".

Seems that the added tin is a waste of a resource. However, they were cast well over a month ago and may have grown fatter.

[Maven]

I got mine (no box) from a friend who'd been casting for years so I'd guess it was ca. early 1960's. To answer your question, it casts at least .311" and possibly .312" with WW + 1% Sn.

[TCFAN]

I have a older one also. It drops at .311 on the top band and .314 on the bottom cast with type metal . Mine is a factory HP.............Terry

[MT Gianni]

I have 3 sc and they all go 311+.

[tommygirlMT]

307 across the parting line --- 305 perpidicular to the parting line

You said it was a brand new Lyman --- didnt yah? --- [smilie=b:

:kidding: --- (I hope)

[milprileb]

IT came in orange plastic box and I bought it 5 yrs ago brand new from a shooter.

Its still brand new but not for long.

[pdawg_shooter]

One of my favorite. Mine drops @ .311 but I size it down to .3015 for paper patching.

[mooman76]

You won't know for sure until you cast with it. Drop some and see.

[LAH]

Hot air cooled wheel weights it does .311.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Bullets/Lyman%20311440B/011.jpg

[Ben]

LAH :

Isn't milprileb asking his question about a Lyman 311466 ?
Your photo does not resemble a 311466 ?

[wiljen]

Hot air cooled wheel weights it does .311.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Bullets/Lyman%20311440B/011.jpg

you sure that isnt a 311291?

[Ben]

It isn't a 466 and it certainly does not look like my 291's either.

Looks more like a 440' to me ? ?

Ben

[LAH]

My mistake guys, sure enough the picture posted is a 311440.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Loading%20Room%20101/Bullets/Lyman%20311440B/007.jpg

[Ben]

LAH :

No problem ...........

Ben

[Catshooter]

The answer to your question is no, no one can tell you what it will cast at. How can they? The only way to tell is to cast with it.


Cat

[Hardcast416taylor]

The answer to your question is no, no one can tell you what it will cast at. How can they? The only way to tell is to cast with it.


Cat


Yessir! What he said above!Robert

[milprileb]

So I have a discontinued Lyman mold of which no one knows if it is supposed to drop
.308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313 .

It has no specifications, they just made it , called it 30 caliber and its discovery learning.

Okay, I won't expect anything but something under 8mm.

Too bad though, if its the wrong mold, I could probably sell it brand new
to someone looking for this mold number and find the right mold for my purposes.
I bought in the blind so that is where I am at.

[Ben]

milprileb :

You're really no better off ( or worse off ) than any of us who may have purchased the same mold. None of us would have known the exact dia. We buy them, cast with them, measure the bullets that come from the 1st casting session and evaluate the results. If it is what we want and it shoots well, we keep it, if it doesn't measure up to our own individual needs we usually sell or trade the mold to someone who may have a better use for the mold.

The irony of all this is that you could order 3 New Lyman molds today, each the SAME mold. When they arrive and you start casting with them, you could end up with 3 molds throwing three different dia. bullets.

Ben

[MtGun44]

Nobody can tell you what it will drop for two reasons.

1) Lyman molds vary quite a bit.

2) the same mold will drop different diameters with different alloys and temps.

[462]

"So I have a discontinued Lyman mold of which no one knows if it is supposed to drop
.308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313 ."

You're 100% correct. When it comes to moulds, there is no magic nor crystal balls. The same applies to any mould, too, with the exception of one that was custom made strictly to your dimension and alloy specifications.

[milprileb]

Thanks guys, I will stoke up the pot and see how this goes down.

[Catshooter]

Nobody can tell you what it will drop for two reasons.

1) Lyman molds vary quite a bit.

2) the same mold will drop different diameters with different alloys and temps.

3) And different casting techniques.

For the understatement of the week, see #1)! All moulds can and do vary, but Lyman have raised the bar to a whole new level.

It's not always a bad thing either. I've a 454424 that drops wheel weight metal at .457. Since I have a Smith .455 that has .456 throats, I'm in heaven.


Cat

[MT Gianni]

If you put it in classifieds there will not be a shortage of buyers.

[462]

Amen, to that.

I followed ebay auctions, for more than a year, looking for one priced lower than the national debt. Finally, found one, here, for a very reasonable price and in excellent condition.

[LAH]

It has no specifications, they just made it , called it 30 caliber and its discovery learning.

It does have specifications I'm sure. I have a few Lyman Bullet Blueprints (not mould blueprints). As for Lyman they say the first three numbers would be the bullet diameter, .311 if cast from No. 2 Alloy unless I'm mistaken?

[10x]

No one can predict what diameter your mold will cast. I have several lyman molds that cast Wheel weight 0.001" under and several 30 caliber molds that drop bullets at 0.310" and 0.312.
The alloy you use will also play a role in what diameter your bullets drop at.