Bullet molds

[ed lundquist]

Got a box of bullet molds today and I only shoot round ball, which leaves me with some questions. I am unable to find size markings on a couple of these and want to know if I can measure the cavity or do I cast a bullet and measure? Some of the bullets have two grooves others three and four grooves. Some are pointed and some are round nosed. I am ignorant as to the terminology to accuratley describe them. Once I can do that I will offer them for sale. Some do have numbers on the blocks that don.'t seem to correspond to caliber. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[smylee grouch]

I would cast of pure lead, measure dia. and weigh them .

[recurve]

take photo of numbers on molds and of open molds showing shape  of ball/bullet

[canadianml1]

Just be aware that BPCR bullets are usually cast one part in 20 tin to lead. They cast to a slightly different diameter(s).

[Daryl]

Lee moulds usually just have a reference number on them.  Iron blocks usually have a "mould" #, the first 3 numbers usually the diameter.

[JBJ]

Any numbers and letters should be noted for each mold as well. They do have meaning and, in some cases, old catalog offerings of various manufacturers can be matched up, even when the makers name may not be present. This is the case even for defunct makers. The more modern molds such as the aluminum blocks in the picture should be very easy to identify as Daryl suggested.

J.B..

[ed lundquist]

Thanks for the help. Unfortunately it looks as if most of them are for modern bullets. I found charts online and am sorting through them. Thanks again.

[Daryl]

Last count, I have 82 sets of blocks. All of the iron blocks have calibre marked and many have bullet weight in grains as well.
These usually denote Lyman #2 alloy, which is a combination of PB, antimony and tin to about brinel 16. This is quite hard, as
noted, for modern rifles & high vel.