Lyman 252435

[unknownhavoc]

Hey guys,
I picked up a 252435 some time back and haven't gotten a chance to cast with it yet. Tonight I was looking over all my items and realized that the mold casts a pointed bullet, not a RN. I did some googling and found that the 435 is suppose to be a RN design. Can anyone explain why mine would have a pointed tip? I also noticed at the end of my mold number is an E. So it reads 252435E. Does this give any information why mine is not a RN?


Thanks

[rintinglen]

one of two things: either a factory mis-mark or an after-market modification. The 252-435 is a 25 auto boolit that most definitely has a round nose.

[9.3X62AL]

I wonder if the mould was modified for use in 25 caliber rifles? They typically run .257" groove diameters, while 25 ACP runs .251" or thereabouts. I would pour some slugs, and get the micrometer out. See what ya gots.

[unknownhavoc]

I wonder if the mould was modified for use in 25 caliber rifles? They typically run .257" groove diameters, while 25 ACP runs .251" or thereabouts. I would pour some slugs, and get the micrometer out. See what ya gots.

It looks like you might be right on...Here are some pictures. The boolits I were getting were weighting in around 50gr, and in my opinion, it looks like the mold is factory done in this configuration, I see no visible signs of the mold being done by joe blow in his garage. I am going to email Lyman and see if they can explain it, cause it looks like a factory mold to me. I made a dummy cartridge and it cycles fine in my .25. So maybe I could use it with the pointed tip? I don't know, any suggestions?

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/UnknownHavoc1/DSC01120.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/UnknownHavoc1/DSC01121.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/UnknownHavoc1/DSC01123.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/UnknownHavoc1/DSC01125.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/UnknownHavoc1/DSC01127.jpg

[BCall]

I believe they are just different cherries used to cut them. Although yours casts pretty fat. I have a two cavity just like yours but it doesn't cast that fat, more like .254. I also have a 4 cavity of the more standard rn design, and it casts more like .253. JMO, Billy

[runfiverun]

that looks like a modified himmelwright boolit design to me.
lyman does a 45 acp boolit that is very similar in nose shape, but without the shoulders.

[9.3X62AL]

As R5R points out, that nose design has "452374" written all over it. It sounds like you are well on your way to crafting some very affordable ammo for your 25 ACP pistol. That similar-formed 45 caliber nose profile in the 45 caliber castings has worked in EVERY 45 ACP pistol I've owned, so load it to specified overall length and have a blast.

50 grains is the nominal weight for the Lyman #252435. That nice fat .2575" drive band diameter gives you LOTS of options in 25 pistol and rifle calibers, though--cat-sneeze grouse loads for the rifles, and full-tilt service loads for the 25 ACP. (OK--work with me here. All pistols deserve full-tilt ammo, even the 25 ACP).

I would already have some run through my .258" sizer die to shoot in my 25-20s and 250 Savage. :)

[dragonrider]

Looking at the 252435 on this page
http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm
and one can see that your mold is not an altered mold. But a factory made unit. Perhaps it was mistakenly numbered or the "E" somehow denotes the profile.

[MikeS]

While that boolit is kind of pointy, it's a round nose. I had a SAECO 9mm mould that was a round nose, and the shape was about the same as your mould. I think the term 'round nose' is open to several interpretations when it comes to boolit moulds.

With Lyman moulds, many of them have letters after the mould number, on the newer ones those numbers represent the cherry used, and the machinist that cut the mould (those usually have 2 letters, one for cherry, one for machinist). The only other time they have letters (that I know of) is if it has a U after (or before?) the mould number, and that indicates an undersized mould. Years ago customers could order a mould undersized. That was back when Lyman made their moulds cast over the nominal size for the boolit, these days most of the Lyman moulds are undersized. :(