Mystery mould castings

[obssd1958]

I was going to load a few hundred .38 specials on the Star, for my Wife's ammo pile for Winnemucca. (I try to make sure there are at least 1k so she doesn't run out).
When Bill passed, he left a lot of containers of cast projectiles from different sources. I don't think he cast anything himself in the almost 16 years that I knew him. I know that I cast and loaded a ton for him.
Anyway, I found a box of probably 4-500 bullets, that look like they're from a 358156 mould, and they just needed sized and lubed. In preparation for that process, I mic'd a few to see what they currently measured. I'm a bit shocked at the results! Across the parting line, they measure. 362 to .363. 90 degrees from there, they measure .352 to .353 - .010 difference! Wow!!
I have never seen a mould that far out of round. I do have quite a few of Bill's moulds, so I might actually find the culprit, but I think he probably bought them off of a gunshow table at what he considered a "value price" (cheap!).
I can't think of any way to salvage these castings, so I guess they'll go into the pot, and I'll have to get casting to get Cindy's ammo stores replenished!

 

[CZ93X62]

That would be my decision as well, Don. To me, most 38 Special loads don't need gas checks--they're superfluous and too expensive to use where they aren't needed. Turn those oblong castings into proper #358429s or #358477s and load ammo.

 

[JonB]

yep, I'd melt 'em.
.353 in one side of the parting line, is just too dang small for my tastes.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah back in the pot. I know you probably have one or two molds laying around to use.
I’m going to hopefully fire up the pot and cast a batch on a MP 359 125 BB mold I got from JonB.

And it’s a hated B. Base to boot.

This will be casting #5 to be loading for testing for my 38’s

 

[Missionary]

Ah but I read somewhere that there is a record snowfall somewhere in Alaska. What else could you possibly have to do.

 

[Glaciers]

Thankfully that was down south in the Anchorage area.
I have enough catching to do. Weather prediction is for mild temperatures in the 20* for highs and no snow for the next 10 days.
So do a little snow removal then take a nap followed by an indoor project.

 

[Glaciers]

Well I read Missionary’s post and thought I was in the Weather thread.
Sorry Don.

 

[beagle]

Those are definitely cast and looks like the 358156s. Back in the olden days, I encountered cardboard tubes of SWCs like those for the Star progressive loaders. Quality was poor and alloy was very soft. Even as desperate as I was in those days for projectiles, they went back into the pot. Don't know who made them as they were "store bought" and whoever made them had no quality control in place at all. Back then, there were many different outfits supplying the bullseye shooters. May have been from those days. Many police departments used prison labor to supply bullets for department training use. Another posibility. Again, their motivation for quality control was grossly lacking.They definitely look like they've been around a while. Dump 'em in the pot and resurect them into shiny, usable projectiles./beagle

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Another vote to toss them in the pot.
The gas check shank alone would be enough for me to recycle the lead but the oval shape makes that a no brainer.

 

[Urny]

Good job you are getting a good early start on that, Don. It might not be so pleasant to discover the problem about the end of May.