New (old) Lyman mold questions...

[j23]

I picked up a new to me, but older Lyman 375248 mold and I have a couple questions:

1. The mold is marked Lyman 375248 then "GW" right after. Then underneath is stamped "330" and "BA". What are the extra markings?

2. In each cavity (2 cavity), on one half of the mold, there is a tiny pinhole in the bullet nose. It looks factory, but I have never seen that before. Any insight?

Thanks!

[Piedmont]

I can't answer your first question but on #2 probably a previous owner did that so he could differentiate between cavities and possibly even orient the bullet and the dies identically upon loading the ammo. The processes attempt to eliminate variables for extra accuracy.

[j23]

257995

These are the holes I'm trying to describe if that helps.

[gwpercle]

As Piedmont stated , #2 answer looks to be orientation "bumps" left on the loaded round and used as a reference to place round in chamber ... useful on single shot rifles and usually removed by the thumbnail just prior to chambering the round .
You usually see these bumps on single cavity moulds , not double cavity , so they could be for some other purpose .

Question #1 , have read the extra mould markings were used during the manufacturing process and don't have any real meaning now. I'm sure there was some meaning to them but little details like that get lost to time and thus becom "meaningless" .
If I had worked for Lyman back then ... the GW would have stood for Gary Wayne...my name !
I just made that up...I've no idea what GW means.
Gary W.

[Hickory]

I have that mold and it shoots very well in my 38-55 JES Marlin.

[j23]

Funny you should mention that Hickory, this mold is for a JES 38-55 Winchester 94.

[Hickory]

Let us know how it shoots for you.
The first load shot under 1" @ 100 yards.
24.2 grs. of IMR 4895.

[j23]

I sure will Hickory. Will those little nubs left on the bullets from those holes negatively affect the accuracy??

[Hickory]

As gwpercle has said, scratch them off with your thumb nail.