Ideal molds in 270 caliber

[AlexAkai]

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Going to take the plunge and start casting for 270, I want to stick with the old "Ideal" brand bullet molds as I really like them.

When I look online I see 5 on the ID chart:

280411 Fine sharp pointed bullet for .270 Winchester for small game such as grouse and squirrel. (PB, SP, 138 – TP is 411)
280412 A fine bullet for target shooting up to 200 yards and for larger game. (GC, RN, 136 – TP is 468)
280473 Spitzer gas-check bullet, designed after the 311413 bullet. (GC, SP, 125 – TP is 473)
280642 Heavy 270 Winchester bullet with lube grooves on the nose for higher velocities. Nose must be lubed by hand. (GC, FN, 150 - TP is 641)
280468 Designed by H. Guy Louverin. Excellent results with target work up to 600 yards and fine on larger game. Furnished in 115 gr. ("L" 6 bands) or 105 gr. wt. ("S" 5 bands). NOTE: 105 gr. 5 bands, and the gas check will fit inside the 6.8mm neck [ed.] (GC, RN, 105, 115 – TP is 468)

The question I have is how rare are these, can I feasibly find these to buy?

Also has anyone on the forum actually used these? Am I wasting my time and should just get a Lee? I really want to stick with Ideal molds.

[Rcmaveric]

Only .270 mold i have seen available are the RCBS one that looks like a Louverin style and the Lee mold. NOE also makes a few i think, but i am cheap and on a budget so i haven't had the funds to experiment. I have been using the Lee mold for 2 or 3 years for a Savage Axis .270 Win. I have shot it just about every way imaginable from paper patched, gas checked, greased and powder coated. Shot it from 1200-2500 fps, works best at 1650 and 2050 fps. The lee bullet is an accurate bullet no matter how i shoot it. Haven't shot it passed 200 yards, but its MOA or a little better so i am happy. I keep my eyes out for .270 molds but the selection is limited for production molds.

[AlexAkai]

Do you have any favorite loads for the Lee mold? I got a variety of powders, 2400, Unique, H335, Varget, and a couple other Hodgdon powders.

[Rcmaveric]

I am always playing with powders. Thus far, 26.5g of Reloader #7 is my best load and gives me Sub moa accuracy out to 200 yards for a velocity of about 2050 fps. Good load for greased or PC'ed or Paper Patched. That's what i shoot greased mostly and I have Red Dot loads and 2400 loads waiting for testing. I have played with BLC-2 and 4064 and trail boss without success. I want to play with 3031 and 5744 next. I would like a heavier bullet but mold selection is limited. Might have to one day fork out the money for a custom mold

I was using 4198 and couldn't get it over 1650 fps with out loosing accuracy. I couldn't get 4198 so i switched to Reloader #7. After researching, low and be hold the reason i couldn't get past 1650 was because my bullets were seated into the lands. Seating into the lands causes a drastic pressure spike. I back the bullets off the lands .002 and did load work ups for 2000fps. At 1650 fps the bullet had 36 inches of drop at 200 yards. Well beyond my limited ability to compensate for. With 2000 fps it would bring the drop down to something more manageable at 200 yards so that's why i chose that speed. I achieved that goal. I will drop a deer one day with that load but dropped a turkey at 100 yards with it.

I finally got paper patching working some what for the .270 but i haven't tried to push the envelope with it yet. So many guns, so many loads, so much experimentation but owe so little time.

[Moonie]

The old Ideal 270 molds can be difficult to find. I own a 280412 that I purchased from a member here. It is an old one marked Ideal rather than Lyman and has no vent lines. I purchased it to play around with in my 6.8 but I've since sold that upper but will soon be working on working up loads for my 270 Winchester Encore pistol. The member I purchased it from had issues because the nose was undersized, won't be a problem in my 270 as I'll be powder coating.

[WJP]

I have 2 or 3 ideal 280 molds.

ETA: Just looked and I have 2 Ideal 280468L, 280468S, and a Lyman 280468U. All single cavities.

[AlexAkai]

I have 2 or 3 ideal 280 molds.

ETA: Just looked and I have 2 Ideal 280468L, 280468S, and a Lyman 280468U. All single cavities.

PM'D you