What’s the oldest mold you cast with?

[Matt]

I’m not sure which of these are the oldest. The Ideal is marked 25-20-R and I use the bullet for my 25/35. The Winchester is marked .38WCF and occasionally use it for black powder loads in my New Service and M92. I’ve also used it in my 10mm Auto where it works very well. They cast pretty well but both need to be run hot and I need to keep a screw driver close to keep the sprue plates in adjustment.

 

[JonB]

This 38-150 Long WC "Geo.A.Hensley" marked 4 cav Iron mold was made in the 1930s

Fun fact: I acquired it from a member here.

 

[358156 hp]

Modern Bond J-358-610 wadcutter. This may be the original Ogival Wadcutter design. It has a rounded face, roughly about the same radius of a 50 cal. muzzleloader ball. I just gave my last batch of cast bullets from this mould to a friend today to try in his first year Colt 1911 National Match 38 Special wadcutter gun. ETA- I have one bullet left, I dropped it during packaging, and it was in my "remelt" can. I'm making assumptions about its age, my Ideal 360270 could potentially be a bit older.

 

[fiver]

probably the Winchester all steel [iron] 45-70 mold with handles in one unit.

 

[RBHarter]

Known ?
I probably have an Ideal older , but either of my Cramer's probably the very obscure #B4 over the #43 . I do have a 280473 .

 

[Brad]

I pretty much use only Lee, NOE, Accurate, or MP moulds these day so my oldest probably can’t legally drink or smoke.

 

[CZ93X62]

My oldest moulds are all Ideals--single cavs #225438, #454190, and #454424.

 

[Ben]

Same here Allen,

My oldest moulds are all Ideals.

 

[dale2242]

A George Hensley mold.

 

[Rick H]

My oldest are Lee single cavity 50 cal 259gr. REAL and 358 140gr SWC. Both purchased new in the early 70's

 

[S Mac]

Ideal 308241 with integral handles. Looks kinda rough but shucks a decent bullet.

 

[Ben]

If that one could talk,........I'd like to hear its story.

Ben

 

[fiver]

I bet it starts with,,,, well some butthole.
at least it has wood on the handles.

 

[FrankCVA42]

Have one of the Ideal nickle plated loading tools/molds. Never cast with it and really don't know where I got it. Casts a roughly 165 grain plain based bullet for the 32-40 cartridge. Was in the process of casting a bunch of 314299's for my Finn model 27. And figured ok now's the time to try it out. Took awhile to get it up to casting temp. Last few bullets had nice clean grooves,driving bands and sharp clean base. Ended up using heavy welders gloves as those handles did get hot. I normally cast with a pair pf welders gloves but have one pair that is much heavier than the ones I was using. As far as a more modern mold is concerned Lyman's 311316 gc used for the 32-20 single cavity and 314299 double cavity gc. Don't know how old the Ideal 32-40 mold is, but the 311316 is probably about 35 yrs old. Frank

 

[462]

Certainly not as old as the above, but it's a ventless, single-cavity Ideal 308291, and is my best caster.
It was an e-Bay purchase, and the previous owner was a geezer, from Butte, Montana, and I like to think that some of the mould's bullets put deer and elk in his freezer.

Next oldest is a vented, two-cavity Ideal 266469.

 

[JonB]

SNIP...
Certainly not as old as the above, but it's a ventless, single-cavity Ideal 308291, and is my best caster.

This reminds me, I also have an old Ideal 308291, my version is a 311gr Lanyard nose, plain base

 

[358156 hp]

For shooting carp?

 

[462]

This reminds me, I also have an old Ideal 308291, my version is a 311gr Lanyard nose, plain base

Now, that is one interesting bullet!
What's it purpose?

 

[S Mac]

I'm guessing a fishing sinker conversion. What a sacrilege.

 

[JonB]

I'm guessing a fishing sinker conversion. What a sacrilege.

yep, I agree.
I got it when I bought another mold from another caster, they just threw this one in. It does cast pretty nicely, and was "grinded" in a nice way, if you prefer fish'n weights over bullets