Lyman molds
- Thread starter uncle jimbo
- Start date
Just got through casting a pile of Lyman 429421 this afternoon. Mould is a 2017 model. Bullets came out at .431 which is fine for me. I did add about 2% tin to range scrap. They may grow a little bit as they age? I was running a 4 cavity Lyman mould and a six cavity lee mould 452423 (got it on a group buy years ago) . Heat management with a aluminum and a steel mould was challenging. Aluminum kept getting too hot.
Decent Lyman moulds do exist. Problem is that they are often the exception and not the rule. Guys get burned a few times and move on.
I know that every mould I order from Tom will be right. If it casts the wrong size it is because I failed to communicate the alloy and desired size with him.
We live in an era when we can get moulds that cast right every time, why would we play Lyman roulette?
I don’t buy many RCBS moulds either. They cast to size well but I find them to be overly heavy and I feel better designs often exist.
I know that every mould I order from Tom will be right. If it casts the wrong size it is because I failed to communicate the alloy and desired size with him.
We live in an era when we can get moulds that cast right every time, why would we play Lyman roulette?
I don’t buy many RCBS moulds either. They cast to size well but I find them to be overly heavy and I feel better designs often exist.
358156 hp
At large, whereabouts unknown.
Too many corporations still believe that they own their market share. As consumers, we know that simply isn't true and we tire of the games and move on to something else. This leaves the corporations gasping like fish out of water, wondering what happened. We're seeing this currently with companies like Sears & K-Mart who actually did own their markets at one point but frittered their leads away by not keeping abreast of changing trends. I think we're seeing this from both Lyman, and from RCBSs casting products. They're both still living in the old days, and they're all alone there.
There is quite a difference in seeing the current Lyman mould listings vs. Tom @ Accurate moulds catalog.
Lyman doesn't ask any questions about diameters, alloy to be used, etc.
Tom wants to know all of that before he will cut a mould.
Yes, quite a difference in living in the present and living in the " old days. "
Ben
Lyman doesn't ask any questions about diameters, alloy to be used, etc.
Tom wants to know all of that before he will cut a mould.
Yes, quite a difference in living in the present and living in the " old days. "
Ben
Rally
NC Minnesota
I believe there is enough blame to go around to the manufactures, the distributors, stocking dealers and consumers. At one time you could, or had to, go to a dealer/lgs, look up a mould in a catalog, then order it. Few dealers could afford to stock all there was available, so just a few of them stocked the most popular moulds, and a few casting tools. Then it seemed for awhile, the actual manufacturers let the dealers deal with the public and didn't sell direct. It was even tough to get catalogs listing their products. If the LGS new where a certain mould was at they could get it but meant a lot of time tracking it down. Remember when it took 3 weeks to get a mould or gun part? Most dealers/ distibutors didn't/ don't have any idea an alloy can make any difference to the final diameter, and few had anyone in-house that did. Took a pretty well informed LGS to have a mould, sizing die, and top punch to fit, in stock, at the same time. We are pretty spoiled now! Get on the puter or phone, order what you want, with what alloy you expect to use, and it will be in the mailbox in a week or less, with the correct top punch and sizer!
Rally
NC Minnesota
I agree Ben. Pretty handy getting what you think will work and it does! I actually had great luck with RCBS moulds, but they were limited in variety. Always thought they were well made and cast to spec.
I've also been on the other side of the retail counter and dealt with the public. They expected you to have every mould every manufacturer made, and a sizer and top punch. The owner was a good guy, and I spent a lot of his money stocking the dept., but you just can't have everything in stock. It was common to have a couple people show up the same weekend wanting the same mould, after reading some article in one of the gun magazines.
I've also been on the other side of the retail counter and dealt with the public. They expected you to have every mould every manufacturer made, and a sizer and top punch. The owner was a good guy, and I spent a lot of his money stocking the dept., but you just can't have everything in stock. It was common to have a couple people show up the same weekend wanting the same mould, after reading some article in one of the gun magazines.