hensley and gibbs mold question

[finattic]

I need to know what the numbers mean on this mold. It was in the stuff I bought when I purchased my master caster. I have no experience with this mold at all.

55BB .356 is stamped on it and the serial number 3847-?

Thanks for any information you may have, I have not completely made up my mind but I may sell it in order to purchased some accessories for one of my Dillon 550's

Thanks
Alan

[M-Tecs]

Here you go

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/casting/Hensley%20&%20Gibbs%20Mould%20List.htm

#55- .38 ACP. 135 grains. Available in plain base or bevel base. Two round greasegrooves, no crimp groove, round nose. Similar to Ideal #358242 for customer,C.S.Spangler. October 13, 1942.

#S55- .380 Auto. 100 grains. #55 cut shorter, retaining only one grease groove.Available in plain base or bevel base.

BB is bevel base and the -3 is that is was #3 of a matched set.

The .356 is the cast drop size.

[finattic]

Thanks for the info, am I looking at this correctly 38 acp. what is it. or is that another word for 38 super. I am pretty sure I don't want to shoot a 135 out of my walther ppk.

[finattic]

here is the cavity.

[M-Tecs]

http://www.38super.net/Pages/History.html

[finattic]

Thanks again that is why I love this community and everyone in it, there is a wealth of information out there and there is someone who knows it or knows where to get it. Now the big question what to do with it, I guess the best thing it get the old pot out and drop some boolits and see what size they are if they come out at .358 I can size them to .357 for a 38 special target load. Any more ideas floating around out there.

[GWM]

If it drops .356 like it says, it may work in some 9mm's. I have one that will take .356 but all the others need larger. Nice mold anyway :) .

[M-Tecs]

Every H&G mold was hand tested for shipping. It wil drop .001 to 002 over the size claimed for the specified alloy. This allows for sizing. The more tin the less shrinkage if you need larger cast size.

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/casting/hgmoldchart.htm

[GabbyM]

Molds like that are good candidates for simple tumble lube with no size operation. I have a H&G 38 wad cutter mold marked .357". It was for the converted Colt 1911 in 38 Super. They used Colt 9mm barrels. Bullets from 2/6 alloy drop around .3578" and lube up in a .358" size die without leaking lube. But could be just tumble coated then loaded.