I picked up a old Ideal today!

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Its a 7cav 360344 "S" arsenal/armory mold.

Im still doing some research and have learned these stopped production in the early 1950's so its at least that old. Being its a "S" version of the 360344 (better for sizing to smaller 358)
So that tells me the 38 Special was intended usage instead of the earlier 38 S&W.

A4203CFE-2B49-4E88-8A0E-FBBBA5EFAEDC.jpeg6CC51E3C-C874-45E6-9A55-45B5E084C7AD.jpeg6D668084-8D30-4E5F-9A24-3F21AF2BDE17.jpegCFE7B893-955B-4AEC-83DB-2B340C7EF7E2.jpegE7BD2C9A-93A9-4566-B3D0-6557EC15838B.jpeg4B5A7B50-7A15-429C-95D5-5239CF3BAFEE.jpeg
The bolt on the left block has been replaced (obviously) But its been in this role many years by appearance. The blocks have some damage from abuse. But internals seem fine and align and function perfectly. Casting and Video should be up tomorrow.

I did clean it up a little better then you see here and it was in fair condition visually. I completely disassembled cleaned and re assembled. Its all wiped down in mineral oil waiting on tomorrow.

Any information most welcome!!

CW
 
Last edited:

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
WOW !!!!!!!!!!!
A very unusual mould.
I would like to know the age of this one.
The cavities look like they were cut yesterday.
Thanks for posting the pics.
 
Last edited:

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
This looks just like the two gang moulds I saw being used at our old Academy site's range in 1977-78. Inmate labor cast the bullets and ran the reloading machines that refilled the empty brass for training usage. A different age, then. That might account for less-than pristine condition of casting gear, exposed to the tender mercies of inmate labor. I saw what happened to kitchen gear and cleaning equipment during my jail tour-of-duty.......unbelievable. Thinking back, that training ammo SUCKED. Nothing blew up, though. Figure on 3 misfires per 100. PRIMITIVE.
 

harm

Member
I completely forgot to bid on that beast.

You got a better deal that way, I guess.

I'll look forward to the video, I've got a much lighter one cavity mold here. Pretty cool!
Glad it went to a good home!
 

Matt

Active Member
Very nice arsenal mold and quite a find . Much nicer than my 308241 150 gr mold. Thanks for all the photos; my handles are very crude replacements. Now I have a pattern to replace them. Mine needed some work too as it had seen some abuse. But now casts well. I wouldn’t want to try to heat it up by casting! A hot plate is a must. I’d be worn out before I got any useable bullets. Let us know how the casting goes.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I completely forgot to bid on that beast.

You got a better deal that way, I guess.

I'll look forward to the video, I've got a much lighter one cavity mold here. Pretty cool!
Glad it went to a good home!
Morning Harm!

I have a 1920's single cav 360344 too!! Kinda a petite mold. Casts fine but not Pristine in condition but it works. I did a video for it back then. Ill have it in text video too.
CW
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Very nice arsenal mold and quite a find . Much nicer than my 308241 150 gr mold. Thanks for all the photos; my handles are very crude replacements. Now I have a pattern to replace them. Mine needed some work too as it had seen some abuse. But now casts well. I wouldn’t want to try to heat it up by casting! A hot plate is a must. I’d be worn out before I got any useable bullets. Let us know how the casting goes.
Just PM me if ya need better pics or actual dims when ya make handles. Happy to measure for ya!
Video of using mold should be up later today. I will paste a link here.
CW
 

harm

Member
Glad that mold casts as slick as it does, lot of weight to move around if it weren't producing results!

My single cavity mold is an -S model, interchangeable blocks, will have to take a look at the profile regarding the crimp groove.

I think my one modified combo H&G mold may started out with a similar profile but is now a rounded, flat point with a nipple. High quality drill-bit machining by somebody in the past. Cast at about 187 grains, other half of the blocks is a 30-cal similar to the Squibb bullet. I'll dig both of those out for show and tell another time..

Still waiting on the group buy over on that other site for the MP 358 full wadcutter with HP options! Supposed to use the same cherry as the .44 group buy, which has been done for a while now.