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My curiosity got the best of me today, so I won an auction with this mold in it. There were no better pictures of the cavity and no numbers in the description. I think I see a SWC design which may lead to a 429422. I assume that you could also get a 454424HB, which is what I’m hoping for. Anyone care to speculate?
It’s definitely a Lyman/Ideal mold on Shiloh handles. Attachment 309561
Attachment 309562
Cast a few, then measure and weigh them.
That should answer most questions, at least the important ones.
I haven’t gotten it yet. Just curious what your trained eyes see to either build my anticipation or kill it!
At a glance, it looks like a old Ideal, but I'd think it would have some markings or part number stamped on it.
I've seen a few over the years, but the hollow point plug is usually missing.
I have old Lyman Ideal hollow base moulds, 429422 and 358431, but do not believe that the 45 Keith was catalogued in hollow base. The hollow base plug for my 429422 has a hemispherical protrusion, not the conical one in your photo. If indeed you do get a 45 HB mould, I think it to be a great rarity.
I agree with Nueces, that base plug doesn't look quite right to me. It may work okay though, the only way to know is to try it.
From what I remember from Elmer Keith's writing, most .44 and .45 HB plugs displaced about fifteen grains of lead from the base of the bullet.
Robert
Thanks for replying. I know this isn’t the best pictures, and the auction was ending too quickly by the time I saw it to be able to ask any questions. I think the Lee mold that it is coming with is possibly a 58 caliber hollow base, which made me question the possible caliber of this mold, but it has the nose and shoulder of a SWC which rules out most of the Minie designs.
The base plug also had me puzzled. I agree that the conical shape doesn’t fit what would be expected for any of these potential mold designs. Who knows. I may have gotten burnt, or I may have gotten a treasure. Here is another picture that shows what I believe would be the shoulder of the SWC design.
Attachment 309575
My vote is for the Lyman 575494
That wouldn’t hurt my feelings either as I have a rifle that would probably love that design!
Once upon a time with a postage stamp you could order custom versions of molds from Lyman.
Ah, those were the days!
I'll pass along a little advice my Dear Old Daddy gave me years ago ...
" Son , don't go buying a pig in a poke ... doing that will soon ruin you !"
I hope the deal comes out okay ... I have no idea what you bought .
Gary
PWorley1 won the lead balloon! Molds came in today. Both were 58 cal hollow base molds. Deal was decent, and I can use both if I can ever finish my muzzleloader! Both cleaned up and cast well.
Attachment 309732
Attachment 309733