new production Lyman pistol molds

[rhill]

My newest Lyman pistol mould is from the early '70s, so how are the new ones? I was less than impressed with a .30 cal. mold I bought a couple years ago, but with a bit of work I made it servicable. Maybe the handgun cal. molds are ok? I was thinking of trying one, but if advised to stay away, I will order another NOE. Thanks.

[runfiverun]

pass..

[Bigslug]

As of my experiences from about five years back, pass.

[jrmartin1964]

Perhaps my experience is an anomaly, but I have obtained two new Lyman moulds within the last eight months, a 358311 and a 454190 - both Double Cavity, and I could not be happier with them. Both cast at 0.0015/0.0020 over nominal - and nearly perfectly round - from COWW, and the boolits drop readily from the cavities.

I have been a Lyman adherent for 40+ years, and have always gotten good service from their moulds.
As always, though, YMMV.

Jim

[samari46]

If and when I need a pistol mold or one for a rifle I'll get one from the sponsors or vendors here. I've a a bunch that cast way to small. Totally useless. Frank

[rhill]

That was the problem with my 30 cal. mold, cast small. My old Lyman molds cast excellant. I guess I will go with NOE when the mold I want is in stock, with all the sales they had recently the pickins are slim right now.

[georgewxxx]

Do a Google search on Beagling a mould/mold, and it'll probably bring you right back To Cast Boolits with an explanation on how to enlarge your mould. Beagling is really simple process once you've tried it.

[rhill]

I did beagle my .30 mold. I just do not think one should have to if they buy a mold supposed to cast at .311 and it turns out boolits at.307-.308.

[bearcove]

My last Lyman mold is a PC mold cause that gets the dia up to a usable size.

Not what I planned to do with it...

[rintinglen]

My personal experience has been overall pretty good, but people who I have a favorable opinion of have expressed dissatisfaction with small diameter castings from modern Lyman products. I believe this stems from two problems, one of our making and one of Lyman's.
Back in the 50's and 60's, the old style sizer dies had trouble making concentric boolits, they tended to shave rather than swage excess lead. Boolits that were smaller, closer to groove diameter, worked better. So, the clamor went up that boolits should cast at most one thousandth larger than groove and after about 1980, that's what we got. However, Lyman designs their molds to use hard antimonial and tin rich alloys that most of us cannot find or afford. When we get one of their molds and use COWW or other alloys that run light on tin and antimony, we get small boolits.
Now, I have about 8 Modern era Lyman molds--i.e., molds purchased new since 2005. All of them will cast to nominal size save for a 311-041 that runs about .3095 and a 429-666 that runs a shade over .428 unless I add a couple % more tin. I have a second 429666 that casts about .430. Larry Gibson, a very knowledgeable caster and former member of this forum used to have a standing offer to buy any Lyman mold that failed to produce boolits of at least nominal diameter with an alloy of COWW and 2% added tin. Last I heard, he hadn't bought any molds.

So bottom line, you pays your money and you takes your chances. For what it is worth, my last 7 molds have been NOE or MP.

[Mitch]

I got a lyman 452630 4 cav back in aug of 2016.all 4 cavs were a different size and way under nominal with my usual mix.i tried some No2 alloy and one cav was almost to size.I tried calling the seivice number never got to talk to a person.So I went the service and support email route.10 weeks later I get an email back with a customer return number.I returned the mold and 3 weeks late is was back.The same mold recut with some sample boolts with No2 alloy.Now it works on with my 12 bnh mix.they drop at about .4525.so take this how you like.Lyman is very slow but did make it good.

[oldblinddog]

Hmmm...

Found this description of a Lyman mold on Midwayusa.com.
Lyman 2-Cavity Bullet Mold #311299 30 Caliber (309 Diameter) 200 Grain Round Nose Gas Check

[samari46]

The only two Lyman molds that cast where they should be for me are the 314299 and 311316. The 45 rifle molds cast at .457 and two RCBS 300 and 400 45 molds at .457. My Saco 315 casts well and fat. Gets old fast when you pay good money and do not get what you pay for. I sent my 311284 mold back to lyman and the bore riding section cast at .299. You could see where they recut it but still too small. Definitely go to our online vendors and get my $$$ worth. Frank

[2shot]

Just got a 4 cavity 358311 and my experience equals jrmartin1964's. Great mould

[725]

I'm another that goes to our sponsor vendors. The stuff they make is heads & shoulders above the mass marketed stuff. I have lots of Lymans, RCBS', Lee, et al. Generally they work and work well. Can't hold a candle to NOE.

[Grmps]

Friend brought me his LYMAN 357 446 4 cavity mold and the smallest cavity was .005 smaller than the largest one with due diligence, course and fine polishing compounds I got all the cavities within .0003 of each other. They are fixable but you shouldn't have to. They also have some good molds. I think their quality control person died or got lazy. Buying a Lyman mold would be like playing Russian Roulette. Buy from a CB vendor, tell them the alloy you plan on using and get a mold that drops what you want.

[Tom W.]

I traded for two molds from members here. Both were older Lyman molds and both fit my RCBS handles, and they work great. The last one I bought from Midway got traded off. Not nearly as stout as an RCBS mold.

[runfiverun]

Larry is not a former member.
he chooses to not post.

[Good Cheer]

The 410610's not big enough and out of alignment are my horror story.
Got one of 'em that I'm still trying to figger out what to do with it.

[WFO2]

Bought a Lyman 429421 last year and it works fine for me with #2 alloy .

[Strtspdlx]

you may have elaborated on this and I haven't got that far, please for the love of god elaborate!!



pass..

[KenT7021]

It may be luck of the draw but I have been buying and using Lyman molds since the 50's and have never gotten one that casts undersize.I also have some Lee molds.I prefer not to discuss them and do not use them.

[ioon44]

I just got a 4 cav 429421 Lyman dated 07-04, it cast .430" but is out of alignment .431" x 429". Applying 2coats of Hi-Tek coating covered up the miss alignment, now just need a break in the weather to see what the will do at 100 yards.