Would like to find a Lyman 257388 mold

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Chris,

First, I have one seen one in my almost 60 years of bullet casting. A friend has one that shoots well in his Savage 23 loaded single shot. The longer 257418 was much more popular as it was for the 257 Roberts rather than the 250/3000.

Ric
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Is this something that one of the fine mold makers we have now could duplicate?
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Oh, they could make anything much better, as it was not a very good design: no nose support, narrow driving bands and front band too far to the rear. IMHO, Ric
 
Ric: That's exactly what I want it for, a 25-20. I'm kinda hoping to get similar results as what I get with the jacketed Hornady's. I've also been casting the '240 slug and those results are good but not as good as the Hornady.
Keith: Good thought, honestly, I have no experience with custom molds and no idea if the '388 can be duped. Any ideas where I'd start?
Thanks Guys, great ideas
Chris
 

myg30

New Member
Chris, your 25-20 a lever?. You try the 257420 or 257312? I’ve not used a sp yet in the 25-20
Mike
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
As a "rule of thumb", jacketed bullet design does not translate into good cast designed. The lead alloys we use are not strong enough to work well at those pressures. You can make them hard, but not strong. I have had good results with the RCBS Cowboy match plain base, and the Lyman #257312 in my Savage 23B bolt action. Ric
 
Yeah, that's what I meant to type up there. the Lyman 257420 (I transposed the 4 and the 2, must be my dyslexia ;)). It's a good bullet, but I can halve my group size with jacketed. And yup, it's a Savage 23, I have a pair of them, one in 25-20 and the other in 32-20. Fun little rifles, I've had a bunch of fun getting them to shoot. Just something about an old antique rifle that looks like a 22...but isn't.

Chris
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
You have class, Chris! I have almost every style made, from 1922 to 23 A, AA, 1919, Model 19 NRA, B, C, D. Only one I don't have is the H, 22 Hornet with heavy barrel in NRA stock. At one time they were very inexpensive, less than $125, but must be worth more now.

PM your email, as I wrote a couple of articles for The Fouling Shot years ago about the 25/20 Savage.
 

myg30

New Member
I sold a 23a in 22 lr and sorry I did. Was 75-80% condition outside but a good shooter.
I Emailed Hornady asking about their lil 60g FP.257 asking if they are going to make any but still no replys. Sierras 75g are ok to shoot.
I cast the 257420 and have very good results with those. No hunting just paper.
Good luck in your mold search.

Mike
 
Impressive Ric, your quite the connoisseur. The folks at Savage should be sending you Christmas cards! These really are neat little rifles, I'd love to hunt with one someday. All I've used them for so far is paper punching and a little "can" work.

Mike: Both of my 23's are perhaps 80%, no rust issues, just the usual patina-ed bluing and "old furniture" looking stocks. I've debated re-finishing them, but haven't been able to put them down long enough to get them to a smith for bluing. Oh yeah, the 25-20 was swiss-cheesed by some drunk trying to get a scope on it. Doesn't hurt the functionality one bit, and I use scopes anyway... I managed to cover up the extra holes with a rail so....outta sight outta mind, right?

The Hornady I've been using is the 75 grain "V-max".

Chris
 

Eutectic

Active Member
A Savage Model 23 love affair.......

I am probably as much a connoisseur of the Savage Model 23 as Ric..... It didn't happen overnight either! The relationship we have is many years in the making! A fun story to write down....

I wasn't married but I was driving so I put the year as 1960. Almost 60 years ago. My father bought an early Model 23 for $20! It was a .25-20 and someone had shot old squib loads in it and plugged up the bore! (Hence the cheap price.) My Dad determined they were lead loads and was sure he could get them out. He tried every trick up his sleeve and couldn't budge the plug. Most know the Model 23 has a barrel and receiver that's one piece. Figuring he had made a BAD deal my father heated the barrel in his furnace just enough to melt the lead. The lead pour out and the barrel was still plugged!!! Dad had polished a piece of 1/4" drill rod which just had clearance over the lands. He tapped the plug and it moved! Some idiot had pounded nails into it trying to remove the lead! The barrel was ruined!

Numrich Arms has been in business for a long time. I see an ad..... Brand new .32-20 Savage Model 23 barrels (and receiver) for $24.95! I showed my Dad. I could tell he was interested but he barked.... "That's more than I paid for the gun!" But he ordered one...... I think back and wish we had ordered a dozen!

Things changed in my life and they were female. I got married, had kids, and that old Model 23 was not spoke of..... forgotten.

I was melancholy 40 years later as I got my father's stuff. As I boxed guns it felt like he watched me..... There was that Model 23 .32-20! It had never been shot! He had put it together but never shot it!

I went to work on it back in Idaho. I was to learn early 23's and late 23's (as the .32-20 barrel was) are different.) I had to make a recoil lug and fit it to the older stock as Savage had moved it back. The ejector was missing.... I modified a Weaver T/C Contender base to fit and scoped it..... Now thousands of rounds later in it has never seen a jacketed bullet! You could almost fill a small pickup with the Blue Grouse it's killed. (Small exaggeration) My good lifelong buddy who worked in the gun business (including Remington and CCI/Speer) calls it my ".32-20 bench gun!" What a compliment from a professional!

I've got two more Model 23's as well.... Both .25-20's. A Winchester Model 43 .32-20 too. It's fun to pit them against the Model 23 .32-20 for accuracy! They were born for cast bullets and are among my favorites to shoot and hunt with!

Back on subject I found a new/old stock 257388 with handles 10 years ago. I thought about it but can't let go of it..... Sorry

Pete
 

Eutectic

Active Member
On a side note, how does the '388 slug fire in your mod 23?

I don't think it is your best choice Chris. But it's a 'loaded' question...... Let me explain my .25-20 journey a little.

I think the .25-20 was my first favorite cartridge. Right about the time I was weaned:D! But know this......... it is a primadonna! Yes I have two 23's, one early, one late. I have a Winchester Model 92...... a custom T/C Contender barrel, a Marlin 1894 CL, and a Remington Model 25 all in .25-20. Not one of them has the same favorite cast bullet! Even the two 23's... The old one likes 257420 best the new one likes the NOE 89gr gascheck with HP. (RCBS copy)
The Model 92 is most tolerant of different bullets, the older 23 and the Marlin the least so.

I would start with the 257420 or the NOE copy of the RCBS bullet in GC. These are the two most tolerant in all my .25-20's. Both my 23's will shoot cast under an inch at 100 yards when fed what they like. I varmint hunt a lot so use mostly gascheck bullets because I shoot the old WHV equivalent higher velocities. The flat nose is a benefit here. Plain base won't shoot moa for me over 1300 fps in the .25-20. The plain base RCBS or copy is a GOOD grouse bullet. I'll usually grab the .32-20 Model 23 for grouse as I have wolf loads along too with it. Yes...... we have had wolves up close and personal!

Pete
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Chris, There is a Herters copy of the 257388 on Evil Bay this morning. Not mine and have nothing to do with it, but just saying if you want to search for it. Ric
 
O.K. I won that one, the Herters mold on Evil bay. Can anyone tell me where to get the mold-to-handle screws for it? They are not the same as Lyman. I may just drill and tap them for a different size, but figured I'd ask here first.
Chris