Ideal Molds

[dk17hmr]

I just traded my boss some Lathe wood working tools, I had no need for, for 5 Ideal Molds they are:
311413
311467
308403
308329
308121

What are they for caliber and grain, I dont have any handles so I in the dark. Also what handles do I need to get all are single cavity molds.

Maybe these critters will work in my 1903 30-06.
DK

[bubblehead]

Check these two links:

http://www.castpics.net/RandD/Lyman_moulds/Lyman_moulds.htm

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

[floodgate]

I just traded my boss some Lathe wood working tools, I had no need for, for 5 Ideal Molds they are:
311413
311467
308403
308329
308121

What are they for caliber and grain, I dont have any handles so I in the dark. Also what handles do I need to get all are single cavity molds.

Maybe these critters will work in my 1903 30-06.
DK

dk:

You did OK, especially if the stuff you traded was something you had no use for. #311413 is the classic 169-gr. "Squibb" spitzer gas-check, which is said to shoot very well in the '03 IF everything is perfectly lined up; otherwise it'll give you fits (call it a "challenge" instead. #311467 is the classic heavy (177 grs.) Loverin pointed GC, and is reported to shoot well in just about anything. The "308" caliber prefix in the other three represents and earlier "calibration" used by Ideal / Lyman, but these usually cast in the .310 - .311" range; #308403 (listed on CASTPICS as #311403) is a 167-gr flat-nose plain base, and out to do well in the .30-30, as well as mid-rang loads for your '03; #308329 (#311329) copies the profile of the M1 bullet for the .30-'06 of the '20's and '30's, but is a bit heavier at 185 grs. (vs. 172). But I don't recognize the #308121; that cherry number -121 was used back around 1900 for a .45 rifle bullet #451121 / 457121 reintroduced a few years back for the Parker-Hale replica muzzle-loading rifles - can you re-check that number, or post a photo?

All of these should take the old "small" Lyman handles; if you can't find a pair, I may have a set to spare (PM me to follow up).

floodgate

[Crash_Corrigan]

Floodgate: You have impressed me with your generous sharing of knowledge. We all learned, thanks,
Crash:drinks:

BTW: I was not making a joke...I meant it. CC:)

[dk17hmr]

I cant get a good pic of that one but the numbers are "308" then about a 1/4" over there is a "6" then under the six about a 1/4" is "121". Its a flat point similar profile as the 308403 mold I have but alot smaller.
I also read a number wrong must of been a long day or something because the 308403 is actually a 308409.

Question on pointed bullets with GC if I am using a Lee Sizer how do you seat the GC? I am still rather new to casting and lube only with tumble lube, I was thinkin run the bullet in normal with point up then after they are sized flip them over with a GC and run them through that way. To keep from deforming the tip to bad.

DK

[garandsrus]

DK,

With a Lee push through sizer, you put the gas check on the bullet base and then size it like your normally would. The check is crimped on the base as it passes through the sizer.

There is no reason to run the bullet through the sizer twice. You will probably want to lube twice though, before and after sizing.

Nothing will touch the bullet nose.

John

[floodgate]

dk:

Neither the "#308...6 / 121" nor the "#308409" checks out with anything in my lists. The "121" may be a match number, if it also appears on the other half of the mould. Anything with a "308" prefix is likely to date from the late '20's or the '30's. Photos would help, if you can somehow get legible ones. But the bottom line is: "What they cast is what ya' got", and if they cast and shoot OK, you're 'way ahead.

floodgate

[dk17hmr]

I got handles via mail today thanks to floodgate. I had the day off because its raining in my part of MI and doing siding outside in the rain is just a waste of time.

But anyways I casted about 100 bullets with all my molds. Very Very please with the resulting bullet. All the bullets that I measured casted at .314, Im going to lube them tonight and try them in my 1903 30-06 and my Savage 340 30-30 tomorrow if it is nice outside. If I can get them to shoot in either one of my rifles I will keep the mold if not they might be up for trade.


I grabbed 5 of each type of bullet out of the pile and weight them from left to right:
154gr Flat Point, 178gr Pointed, 189gr Pointed, 169gr Pointed, and a 180gr Flat Point.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/dk17hmr/DSCF0030-1.jpg
I dropped them in water as they came out of the mold so they should be good and hard. I will probably pick up a Lee Sizer in .309 or a touch bigger so I can Gas Check the ones that are made to be Gas Checked. Think any of these will be a good hunting bullet in 30-30 or 30-06 for whitetails or just paper punchin?

DK

[floodgate]

dk:

Your MO arrived today; thanks and enjoy the moulds & handles.

Your photo came out a bit fuzzy, but I can confirm that they are, left-to-right FN PB #311264 (with the current number prefix) listed as 154 grs. on CASTPICS; Loverin pointed GC #311467 - 177 grs.; Spitzer GC #311329 - 185 grs.; the Squibb Spitzer GC #311413 - 169 grs.; the RH one looks like FN #311407, and the weight checks out at 180 grs., but I can't quite make out whether it has the gas-check step. If it is a plain base, it could be #311403 - 167 grs., but the weight doesn't check out.

On the first one, which you read as "308..6.." with a match number "121' (on both blocks?), it looks like Lyman had a defective number stamp, and the fourth and sixth digits did not "take"

All in all, you've got a fine set of the "classic" .30 caliber moulds, covering all the possible bases except maybe short-range, lightweight "plinkers". Ya' did OK!

floodgate

[greenthumb]

First one on the left looks like 308403.
Check the diameter of the base band and tell us what it measures.