First New Lyman Rifle Mold in a Long Time

Matt

Matt

Active Member
I’m almost embarrassed to acknowledge I purchased a new Lyman rifle mold. To make it worse I bought it off eBay. Lots of internet chat indicates Lymans quality control and dimensions are poor. But it’s been tough finding a bore riding 6.5 mold in stock anywhere. The one I got Is the 150 gr 6.5 mm double cavity mold #266673. I want to get one of my 6.5 Creedmoor rifles to shoot cast. The only 6.5 mold I have is an old Ideal 266324 that hasn’t shot well. Got the mold yesterday, cleaned it and put it on some handles.
Tonight I cast about 15 pounds worth of these bullets out of my roughly 1-20 bullet trap scrap.
After heating the mold on my hot plate I started casting. After a couple of casts I was getting keepers and the bullets fell from the mold upon opening. I was very pleased. Dimensions of bullets from both cavities are pretty much identical. The group I wieghed were all 159 gr +/- .3 gr. Nose diameter is .256” from both molds, driving bands are .2665” on both molds. I’m impressed. Once my gas checks arrive I’ll see how it shoots.

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CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Some years back, I had the use of a couple Lyman 6.5mm moulds courtesy of the late NV Curmudgeon, #266469 (Loverin 140 grain RNGC) and the #266673 seen above. I spent about 400 rounds each of both designs doing a "shoot-off" between them in my Ruger 77R in 6.5 x 55 Swede. The Loverin just slightly edged out the "673", but it was a very close call. Back then I still had a lot more month left at the end of the money than is now the case, so I chose the Loverin. Both designs shot acceptably, the Loverin was just a taste better.

My Ruger uses a slightly slower twist rate than do most 6.5mm barrels--1-9" instead of the usual 1-8" or 5 turns/meter. You might not be able to get much past 1600 FPS in a 1-8" twist using conventional alloys and old-school lube-in-groove bullets. I have run both Lyman designs to 1800 FPS with decent accuracy in the Ruger. Powder-coating may enable higher velocities with accuracy, but that is well outside my wheelhouse.
 
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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
Interested. I got a 6.5 CM Ruger American a while back. Impressed with the accuracy with jacketed, but I have several molds and quite a few 6.5 bullets cast up between my one 6.5x55 that didn't pan out and all the stuff my Dad had cast up at one point. I'd love to get a good cast load worked up in it.
 
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STIHL

Well-Known Member
I've bought a few new Lymans this year and I haven't seen an issue with them. The ones I have bought did exactly like you described, once they got hot, they were dropping really nice bullets. One of the best I bought was a 147gn 9mm mold, that thing was dropping beauties on the second or third pour. probably some of the best bullets I've ever cast came from that mold.
 
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MW65

Wetside, Oregon
Hey @Matt , any updates on your experiments? Have loaded a bunch of 6.5 jacketed, but would really enjoy seeing what you've been able to accomplish. Thanks!!
 
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