Got another combo mold/SAA special order?

[KeithB]

Just got this mold off eBay. It's a two cavity Ideal (no Lyman markings) with one cavity cut for a 207 gr 44/40 bullet and the other cut for a 250 gr .45 Colts bullet. I believe this must be a very early mold, the diameter designations as called out by the first three digits are consistent with early Peacemakers. The 44/40 bullet has a designation of 42498, with the implication it drops a .424" bullet. I have several later molds marked 42798. And the .45 bullet is designated as 454190, with the .454" diameter consistent with pre-War standards. I have several later molds of this bullet and all are marked 452190.

Did the person that bought this mold have a pair of Peacemakers, one in each of the most popular calibers for that weapon? Or a .45 SAA and a lever rifle in 44/40? No telling, but I like to imagine why someone might pick this combination.

Very little scratching of the top, indicating limited use.


Note the caliber designations, the sizes are consistent with Pre-WWI dimensional standards.


The cavities are very clean, with very little wear of the alignment pin holes, again indicating limited use.

 

[JonB]

Sweet Ideal mold.
Keith, you sure got the mold buying bug, LOL

 

[smokeywolf]

Nice mould Keith. 454190 is my go-to for my 1st gen. Colt SAA. Love the shape of the bullet.

Not sure what the .424 bullet would be used for. All the 44-40s I've seen require a minimum .427 bullet after sizing. Model '73 Winchesters often require .432" or better. I'm talking originals, not modern repros.
You can always set it up on the lathe and take .002 or .003" per side off the driving bands. Not like that bullet is ever going to be launched at 2,000 FPS.

 

[CZ93X62]

My 1897-made Win '73 carbine has a .428"+ throat and dotes upon .429" sizing.

The Holy Black does a MUCH BETTER job of bumping up lead or lead/tin alloy bullets than do the progressive-burning smokeless fuels, too. I think this explains Lyman's bullet diameters like those of 311008, #401043, #427098, and any number of their older slugs for the 45/70 that list as '#457XXX'. The arms using these bullets are almost always of larger land & groove diameters.

These designs were black powder-specific because that's all there was in those days, and the slugs were assumed to just bump up. A solid column of compressed BP, the case mouth crimped around a curved ogive--and that slug stayed anchored until The Big Light hit it. When that happened the soft alloy filled the throat and the bullet got sent.

Smokeless powders demand far more integrity between bore dimensions and bullet diameter. 125 years later that is finally becoming commonly known. Lyman should get with the program.

 

[fiver]

magma to this day makes their 44-40 bullet to be cast then sized [maybe .001] to .428 in 2/6 alloy.

unfortunately nobody ever standardized their bore to 427.
i've used the smaller 428 in my 92,,, with a ton of 2400 under it to mimic Allens B/P suggestion.
it's easier to just use the swage die to make them 430 and not try to destroy the rifle with a giant scoop of powder.

 

[beagle]

I love to sit and speculate on why the original owner bought that combination. I see others have the same curiosity./beagle

 

[Bazoo]

Interesting, and very nice condition. Congratulations.

Beagle, if you don't mind me sharing, this is one of my favorite articles.

https://www.castpics.net/subsite2/GeneralReference/The%20Thinking%20Man's%20Moulds.pdf

 

[beagle]

Those moulds are my favorites too. I had a handful and have since traded as all were redundant to my needs.
When I started casting, you could order a double from Lyman for the cost of a double cavity plus $5 extra.
Any mould in HP for $5 extra, back in the early 60s. Had very little money then but I enjoyed looking and dreaming.
The most interesting “double” was a 429421 and a 458529. Would have liked to have had that one. A 452460 and a 358495 was a good combo too.
I just kee on watching “the bay” to see what turns up./beagle

 

[Ian]

I don't know how relevant it is but I bought a Lyman double cavity mould dated 2005 by the inspection slip, the number is 454190.

 

[beagle]

We’re talking different bullet styles in the same blocks. Maybe you can order them from Lyman now but they won’t be $5 extra. Lyman’s customer service is less than user friendly now./beagle

 

[JustJim]

Had one years ago that cast a 452460 and a 462560. I've always wondered what the original owner was thinking.

 

[beagle]

That is one of the strangest combos I’ve ever tried to figure out.
A M1911 and a .460 Weatherby.
Shoot an elephant with the .45 and while he’s laughing, lower the boom with the .460?/bragle

 

[CZ93X62]

That is one of the strangest combos I’ve ever tried to figure out.
A M1911 and a .460 Weatherby.
Shoot an elephant with the .45 and while he’s laughing, lower the boom with the .460?/bragle

A definite poser, this combination. From the sublime to the ridiculous, all in one mould block.

 

[RBHarter]

3rd gen SAA and 45-70 . In the extreme a Ruger and a Roller .

We've reached a post 1891 point where we forget that the OM BlackHawk,308,&223/556 are all eligible for SSI and were sold over counters next to barrels full of $10 Trapdoors,Rollers , and .318 groove K&GEW 98s that were all very good some even "fresh" arsenal rebuilds . A sledgehammer and a jewelers mallet in a 70 yr old mould isn't all that odd really.