Who made this mold ?

[Sudsy]

Single ball, aluminum (obviously not a Lyman just came in a lyman box)
Just picked it up but can't find anything on it. Did a web search using every combination of terms I could think of, nothing. Expected it to be a Lee but there's no record that I could find of a Lee mold in this size or with this model number.

Any idea who made this?

316806
316807
316808

[Dusty Bannister]

Thompson Center made molds quite some time ago. Aluminum blocks, single cavity, similar sprue plate if I recall correctly. I do not recall them putting anything on the blocks but the size.

https://www.reloadingbargains.com/reloading-molds/thompson-center-bullet-molds

[TD1886]

TC made it. I see quite a few of them exactly like yours even in differenct diameters. I'd say pretty much it was them.

[LIMPINGJ]

Looks like the 2 TC molds I have.

[mehavey]

That's an aluminum mold ?

[quilbilly]

Definitely a T/C mold but all I have ever seen have been steel. All of my T/C round ball rifles shoot RB's from the T/C molds better than from any other brand of mold and I have never figured out why.

[Sudsy]

Yup, 100% aluminum
That's what's throwing me.
I thought TC as well but don't ever remember seeing an aluminum TC mold, always steel.
Since it's aluminum my first thought was Lee, but there's no record I can find of Lee making this size ball

[Dusty Bannister]

Look on Ebay, and you will find Thompson Center molds offered for sale that are indicated to be made of aluminum. My TC aluminum molds have some type of black anodized finish that might be mistaken for other materials. It is possible that TC used both materials in their molds before the mold part of the production was shut down following a fire.

[Sudsy]

So we've established that TC made some aluminum molds
The next thing to figure out is did they ever make a 58 cal (.576) round ball mold ?
I can't find a single one mentioned anywhere online

[Dusty Bannister]

https://www.shootersforum.com/threads/t-c-bullet-mold-reference.25541/#:~:text=T%2FC%20Round%20Ball%20Molds%20%237330%20-.32%20cal%2C%2047,%23%20%3F%3F%3F%3F%20-.58%20cal%2C%20279%20gr.570%22%20Round%20Ball

Read through the complete posts. This mold is mentioned, but no mold number is given. Also you will find that several different makers were used by TC so there may be some slight production differences to deal with.

[Walks]

I think that when T/C started in Black Powder that Lyman made their molds. After some time, T/C started having their molds made in Italy. Those are the aluminum molds. Probably why Lyman & T/C single cavity mold handles interchange. And why Lyman makes the same Maxi-ball molds today.

[Sudsy]

https://www.shootersforum.com/threads/t-c-bullet-mold-reference.25541/#:~:text=T%2FC%20Round%20Ball%20Molds%20%237330%20-.32%20cal%2C%2047,%23%20%3F%3F%3F%3F%20-.58%20cal%2C%20279%20gr.570%22%20Round%20Ball

Read through the complete posts. This mold is mentioned, but no mold number is given. Also you will find that several different makers were used by TC so there may be some slight production differences to deal with.

This is the closest it comes to my .576

# ???? - .58 cal, 279 gr .570" Round Ball

Either T/C never made a .58 cal Round Ball mold or I just couldn't find a reference that listed it. Anyone know if T/C ever made a .58 cal Round Ball mold and if so, what the 4-digit mold number was?

[Dusty Bannister]

Maybe this thread will help you understand why you are unable to find a .580 round ball mold for a Black powder rifle. A round ball of .580" would not be appropriate for a 58 caliber cap or flintlock rifle with patched ball.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?458572-New-to-me-58-Muzzle-Loader

[Sudsy]

Maybe this thread will help you understand why you are unable to find a .580 round ball mold for a Black powder rifle. A round ball of .580" would not be appropriate for a 58 caliber cap or flintlock rifle with patched ball.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?458572-New-to-me-58-Muzzle-Loader

Which has absolutely nothing to do with this thread.
All I want to know is who made the mold

We now "believe" it is an Italian made aluminum TC - however there is still no record of TC ever making a mold in .576
I'm starting to lean towards it being a custom

[Maven]

I don't know that T/C contracted with an Italian maker to produce their aluminum RB bullet moulds. What I do know is that Shiloh, Green Mountain, and Ohaus almost certainly did.

[dondiego]

I believe it is a mold that came from Shiloh.