Lyman Mould IDs

[PaulG]

Hi All!
New guy here. First I'd like to say how much I've learned from you all reading this forum. Now for with a few questions about the molds I have. Both are Lyman double cavity. The first is 356402CX with a CO in the bottom left hand corner and 649 under the other number. The other is 368242BV with a Z5 in the lower left hand corner, 647 under the other number and 92 GR in the right hand corner. I did manage to figure out the 92GR but the rest is Greek. What caliber do they fit and what weight is the one I couldn't figure out?
Thanks for the help.
PaulG

[leftiye]

356402 is a 9mm 120 grain conical nose boolit. I may be wrong, but the other mold probably isn't 92 grains. As it is most likely .368 caliber, it most likely is for the 9.3mm European rifles, and that's muy flaco (very light) for a caliber that big. could well be 242 grains. Many of the Lyman mold numbers are: - first three = caliber, and second three = weight.

[onceabull]

PaulG: the "368242" is more likely to be 358242 ,the light verson of which was a nominal 92 gr. I guess there might be some examples numbered 360242 also...fwiw, Onceabull

[PaulG]

You're right. It's a 358242 instead of 368...thanks for the help.

[floodgate]

PaulG:

The other numbers, if they appear on both blocks, are "match numbers" to keep the cherried blocks together as a set. The letters after the mould identifiers ("CX" and "BV") identify the particular cherry used to cut the moulds, and the "CO" and "Z5" identify the machine or operator that made them. For the past 10 years or so, Lyman has also stamped the moulds with the month and year of manufacture.

floodgate

[floodgate]

leftiye:

"Lyman mold numbers are: - first three = caliber, and second three = weight"

No, the last one, two or three numbers are the "cherry number", a more-or-less consecutive number series dating back to 1896 or so - the #311-8 is the oldest survivor in the series; BUT (a) many of the old cherry numbers have been re-used over the years (e.g., #308-9 > #358-9 > #358-009); and (b) a couple of times, Lyman got cute and picked "empty" CN's that jibed with the weight: #358156, #429215 and #429244 - as you speculated. They are now up in the high -600's, #501680 being the highest on my list through 2006.

floodgate

[leftiye]

Flood, Didn' I say that?

[floodgate]

leftiye:

Unless I mis-read (wouldn't be the first time!) you suggested the last three numbers indicated the bullet weight; I meant to point out that that was only true for a very few of the Lyman / Ideal bullets; the others being differently assigned over the past 100+ years, with numerous repeats which only add to the confusion.

Lotsa' fun, eh?

Doug / floodgate

PS: But the idea of the latest Lyman number as a 680-grain bullet for the .500 S&W IS sorta' intriguing!

[MT Gianni]

I like the 402 and the heavier 242 at 124 gr in my 9mm's. They should be good shooters. Gianni.

[leftiye]

Flood, you'll have to shoot that one yerself. I already think anything bigger than .458 is too big, and heavier than 400 grains kicks too hard. I guess that goes for revolters too.