What's the cutoff date for 'good' Lyman molds?

[Elkins45]

I stopped in a rather eccentric gun shop this afternoon on my way home. The place is a cross between a gun shop, flea market and Grandpa's basement that hasn't been cleaned since 1952. He has a bunch of Lyman molds on a dusty back shelf, so I asked to see what the 30 caliber choices were around 200 grains. He handed me a 311284 and a 311299. One was made in 94 and the other in 96.

"How much" I asked, expecting to hear $80 or thereabouts.

"You paying cash"?

"Yep"

"$35"?

"I'll take them both".

So I have two mid-90's production NIB Lyman molds for a total investment of $70. I can't imagine they aren't worth that, and the guy might actually have even made a profit on them as compared to what he paid for them 18-20 years ago. I'm going to cast a few this weekend in the hope they make good boolets that drop to size.

What are the chances that a mid-90's Lyman mold will drop COWW at .310 or larger?

[dubber123]

My moneys on "pretty good". You got a really good deal too. I have gotten a few older ones that were clunkers, and the last newer one was made in the 2000's, and is very good. Luck of the draw. Let us know how they cast, a bit of tin added to your alloy wouldn't hurt your chances either..

[texassako]

I don't have a problem getting Lyman .30 caliber molds to drop .311, but I do have a problem getting some bore rider's noses to drop over ~.298-9".

[MBTcustom]

That would be the day Accurate opened business. Lyman molds just got worse everytime a new business like Mi-Heck, and NOE came on the scene. The more I use molds made by these makers, the worse Lyman gets. LOL!

[TXGunNut]

Got a good 375449 last year, 380681 came in today so I hope they still turn out a good one now and then. I prefer NOE and been meaning to order an Accurate mould someday but sometimes the old classic looks best to me.

[Larry Gibson]

.............What are the chances that a mid-90's Lyman mold will drop COWW at .310 or larger?


Pretty darn good, especially if you do something real simple like add 2% tin to the COWWs. Might cast at 725 +/- also.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

I'd say good too I have a bunch from that time frame and they all do what I want tin or not.
it's a recent development where tin magically opens the inner diameter of a mehanite mold.

[GP100man]

Are you kiddin !!! in that time era they were terrible , send em to me for forty bucks & I`ll even pay shippin !! :kidding:

Good snag !!! clean em up & give em a test run!

I feel the older 1s as you have had closer quality control specs, on the other hand I bought a 314299 new that drops dead on the money with COWW that`s a couple yrs old.

It may depend on when the cherries are replaced & time of purchase ??

[nanuk]

I bought a 314299 marked 1999 (IIRC) and it was listed at $90

[Hardcast416taylor]

About 6 or 7 years back I bought a new 314299 mold. It cast oval shaped bullets. I sent it back and when it was returned it was apparent that the mold had been re-cut and honed. The bullets now fall between 314 - 315" and are perfectly round.Robert

[slim1836]

I stopped in a rather eccentric gun shop this afternoon on my way home. The place is a cross between a gun shop, flea market and Grandpa's basement that hasn't been cleaned since 1952.

That shop wouldn't have been on Dixie Hwy (US 31W) in Valley Station? It's one of my favorite places to visit when I'm up that way.

Slim

[Elkins45]

That shop wouldn't have been on Dixie Hwy (US 31W) in Valley Station? It's one of my favorite places to visit when I'm up that way.

Slim

It would be, in fact. I figured that description would give it away for anybody who has gone gun shopping in Louisville.

[pdawg_shooter]

I don't have a problem getting Lyman .30 caliber molds to drop .311, but I do have a problem getting some bore rider's noses to drop over ~.298-9".

I lap the nose riding section of my 30cal molds out to .302. After casting I can size the entire bullet down to .301/.304 (depending on what rifle they are for) and patch back up. I would think lapping to .299/.300 would be easy.

[slim1836]

It would be, in fact. I figured that description would give it away for anybody who has gone gun shopping in Louisville.

Biffs was the name if I recall correctly, love the place, grew up in that area, went to Valley High.

Gun range off Hwy 44 is a favorite also, they have some interesting machine gun shoots.

Slim

[MtGun44]

In my somewhat limited experience, current Lyman molds are just fine. I have very old, old, medium old and pretty new
molds that are all pretty good tools. A few old ones cast smaller than I would like but that seems kinda normal - molds
vary. I probably have only 30 or 40 Lyman molds.

Bill

[Elkins45]

An update: both molds cast beautifully, and if anything the noses are a little bit too fat for my liking. Looks like I got a great deal.

[Bagdadjoe]

Been there..used to come up to E-town all the time before we moved from Greensburg to Bagdad. Used to frequent Dan's Pawn in E-town, one of the few pawn shops where I could actually deal, and E-town gun across and up the road. Don't know if he's still in business...last time I was in there he looked not too good.
Good snag on those molds..I don't even have a .30 now and I would have bought 'em :-)


It would be, in fact. I figured that description would give it away for anybody who has gone gun shopping in Louisville.