44 mag LBT in So. Calif.

[Rodbuster416]

Hello! I bought a box of cast bullets from a gun show years ago. They were 44 mag 275 grn LBT. I loved them but have not been able to locate them again. Does anyone out there know where to find these? Or a similar type with a GC? Particularly in the Southern California area?
I tried to post on the "Buy/Sell" board but looks like I need more posts.
The Reloading Center in Northridge was the best thing going but they rolled up and left. They had other heavy's but not those nose heavy LBT's.
I inherited a casting set-up years ago. I did a little cleaning/fluxing and casting/sizing. It was ok, not really crazy about it. I think if I had more time I could actually enjoy it. On that note I have kept all the equipment put away. I did buy a Lyman 275 or 270 grn 44 mag mold. Darn thing dropped bullets .436 or .437 if I remember right. The crimping groove would shave clean off when sized. I cleaned and oiled the mold, put it in the box and put it away with the rest. I really need to send it back to Lyman so when some day I decide to try it again, maybe I'll have better luck.
I just got a new 4" Redhawk and would like to try those heavy's again.
If anyone knows a source, please drop me a post.

Thanks, Ray

[HeavyMetal]

Rodbuster416:

Welcome aboard! I know what you mean about the reloading center in northridge, it's a shame he moved on but the reality of it was he was tired of the constant harrasment by L.A.P.D. They never charged him with anything it was just an attempt to force bankruptcy through legal fee's. The favorite tool of the Democrats.

If you look in the back pages of Handloader magazine I believe you'll find a small advetisment for a company either selling the molds or the boolits or both from LBT.

Good luck with the search.

[76 WARLOCK]

LBT is not connected to Lyman, what you have is a mould made by Lead Bullet Technology. That mould was most likely special ordered for an old Ruger sbh with over sized throats. Someone on this site would need that mould.

[GabbyM]

http://www.lbtmoulds.com/index.shtml
http://www.ballisti-cast.com/Bullet%20Designs%20Page%208.htm

Above are the links to LBT and Ballisti-Cast. The mould manufacturers. Bottom link is Ballisti-Cast 44 cal LBT style moulds.
Hear is a link to a supplier of LBT bullets. A bit pricey but the pictures sure are pretty.
http://beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

I could help you out with a 250 gr. WFN in a few weeks.

[runfiverun]

a guy with a marlin micro-groove would love that mold.

[Blammer]

too bad about the reloading center in northridge, it was a classy place.

[Rodbuster416]

LBT is not connected to Lyman, what you have is a mould made by Lead Bullet Technology. That mould was most likely special ordered for an old Ruger sbh with over sized throats. Someone on this site would need that mould.

I have a mould made by lyman, came in a little orange box that says "Lyman".
Thanks for the welcome.

[floodgate]

Rodbuster:

Read us ALL the numbers and lettering on BOTH sides of the Lyman mould and we can tell you what you have (unless, of course, someone has re-cut it to a larger bullet; then, at least, we can tell you what it was originally).

floodgate

[GabbyM]

Fellows He purchased the LBT bullets already cast. His mould problem is something totaly different.

[Rodbuster416]

Here goes, The Lyman Box label reads, "Item # 2660640" "44 MAG, FN, GC, 275 GN, 429640"
On the mould, Side 1,
LYMAN
429640BV
341
WO

On the mould Side 2,
LYMAN
341

"Double Cavity"

I purchased this along with a lubricator heater, hard lube and a top punch. All new in box from Midway. If memory serves me right my sizer is .429 .
I've been shooting since I was a kid. Been reloading since my late teens. Am now 43 and still shooting. I'm no expert on casting but have been around the block a few times. I'm pretty sure I just got a bum mould.
Although I do appreciate your opinions and thoughts.
Now that I went out in the garage to dig up this funny orange box, I saw all that money just sitting there. Maybe I need to fire it up again. At least for the heavys that I miss.

Thanks for the help, Ray

[Scrounger]

Sizing them .429 is probably too much; .430 or .431 would likely work better in a pistol and .432 or even .433 in a Marlin.

[D R Greysun]

Here goes, The Lyman Box label reads, "Item # 2660640" "44 MAG, FN, GC, 275 GN, 429640"
On the mould, Side 1,
LYMAN
429640BV
341
WO

On the mould Side 2,
LYMAN
341


Thanks for the help, Ray

From Midway Catalog #31:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=198535

#429640, 0.430, 250 Grain, Top Punch 225-535 (Lyman #649), Devastator Hollow Point, GC. No mention of 'BV' ?? Single Cavity mold, Midway # 198-535! The number does not show in the Lyman 3rd Ed. Cast Bullet Handbook! Sorry not much help.

D R

[Scrounger]

They no longer make the flat nosed version he has. I sold one recently.

[floodgate]

Rodbuster:

OK, as stated above, that is the plain version of the .44 caliber "Devastator" hollow-point with gas-check, introduced in 1991 (which is why it is not listed in the 1980 3rd Edition Lyman "Cast Bullet Handbook"): the HP is still in production as of 2007 (I haven't gotten my 2008 Annnual Product Catalog yet), but the plain, flat-nosed version was dropped after 1998. The "BV" suffix is a code to identify the cherry the mould was cut with, the second (A, B, C...) supplied to Lyman by outside vendor "V" (we don't have a list of these vendors; probably proprietary information); the "341" on both blocks is to keep them together as a set after cherrying, through finishing and packaging.

[GLL]

Ray:

I have a custom equivalent of the 429640, and a Lyman HP "Devastator" , as well as the Group Buy PB or GC versions. If you did need not too many I would cast you a few and you could size and lube yourself.

What alloy are you interested in and I will check the diameter as cast?

Where are you in the Los Angeles area?

Jerry

[Rodbuster416]

I have a custom equivalent of the 429640 as well as a Group Buy version. If you did need not too many I would cast you a few and you could size and lube yourself.

What alloy are you interested in and I will check the diameter as cast?

Where are you in the Los Angeles area?

Jerry

Hello Jerry, I'm in South Gate on the edge of Downey.
As for alloy, I used wheel weights the few times I did cast.
The other moulds I inherrited were GC type so I saw no need to get too involved in better alloys. They were .357-158/GC and .429-215/GC also a .429-245-SWC-PB.
As for how many is too many[smilie=f:.
I appreciate your offer and would be more than happy to offer fair market value.