Lyman Mold Reference

Ideal / Lyman Mold Reference

Comments, corrections, pontification? Contact me

Top Punch to Ideal / Lyman Moulds
Lyman Modern Bullet Shapes (Will be eventually folded into this page)

Identifying Numbers on Your Ideal / Lyman Mold

Current 6 digit numbering convention for Ideal and Lyman molds.
452 486 523 is referred to as a 452486, the final number is dropped.
   "452" is nominal (size-to) diameter. Mold usually casts .002/.004 over. But... "U" Molds
   "486" - cherry number used to cut mold. NOTE! A few Cherry numbers have been reused.
   "523" is a mold pair ID

   Older molds may have a 4 or 5 digit number, like 3118 or 25720 (plus mold pair ID). As always, first 3 digits are nominal (size-to) diameter, the next (two) number(s) are the cherry number. Some older molds were updated to six digits by adding a leading zero to the cherry number, example 3118 becomes 311008. Round ball molds are (usually) only marked with the nominal diameter and pair ID.
Some alpha characters that were used, L (long), S (short), O (oversize), U (undersize). I have seen B, C, V and X as well.

Mold Serial numbers - As-cast or Sized diameter? (43d Lyman Reloading Handbook)
   The first three digits of the mould number are the diameter that the bullet is to be sized to. The mould will cast a bullet from .001 to .003 larger to allow for sizing. Undersized bullets (mould number contains "U") must be used to size to .308 or other bore diameters. An undersize mould will cast a bullet approximately .002 smaller than standard moulds. In short, "it depends".

Mold Number Table
   I use this visual list of molds: Ol' Buffalo Bullet Mold Tables Note that the Top Punch is NOT identified. For the Top Punch, please refer to the table below.

"U" Molds
From the Belding and Mull Handbook #38, 1959, page 48.

“Generally, bullet moulds are made to cast bullets larger than standard to permit sizing to the diameter most commonly used in a given arm. While there are exceptions, most cast bullets are sized .002” to .003” larger than groove diameter. Some shooters prefer to use cast bullets sized to groove diameter and some designs are furnished to permit this. They are designated as “U” moulds. The following are available as “U” Moulds:”

U225450 U311316 U321297 U358242
U225438 U311334 U356402 U358246
U225415 U311359 U357446 U358250
U257418 U311329 U358345 U375449
U257388 U311291 U358425 U42798
U257312 U311299 U358416 U429215
U280412 U311278 U358432 U429244
U280468 U311241 U358429 U452423
U287346 U311413 U358311 U452460
U3118 U311466 U358495 U452374
U311467 U311284 U358271 U454190
U457124

Le Loup Solitaire wrote:
"The U marked molds were issued at a time when Lyman was already trying to figure out how to make cherry cutters last. Only instead of simply running cherries to the point of creating undersize molds, as they do now, they started with oversize cherries which of course produced oversize molds and ran them until they reached a point where they could be termed U or undersized....compared to what they were to start with. As a result Lyman earned the temporary nickname of "King of the Oversize". It was still preferable to the current situation where you have bullets that hop and skip down the bore and shoot like poop. Nevertheless that era in Lyman's history gave us a wide and more prolific selection of cast bullets most of which has been sadly discontinued. The "U's" were an asset to many shooters."

H&I Bullet Sizing Die

One way to size bullets is with "H&I" dies (Body "H", cylindrical stem "I"). A normal size is .001" over nominal bullet diameter. If the as-cast or sized diameter produces poor accuracy, one culprit may be a bad fit of the bullet to the bore. Slug the barrel to determine actual bore diameter, size to meet it. Two diameters are important, groove diameter and bore diameter. In most cases, sizing the bullet body to .001 / .002 over groove diameter should work. For bullets with bore-rider or bore-diameter segments, the bore diameter is important. To check for proper nose fit, a quick test is trying to stick the nose into the muzzle. It should be snug to a little tight. Some engraving by the rifling is OK.

Top Punch

Lyman and RCBS TPs are interchangeable and use the same number. SAECO makes Lyman / RCBS shaped TPs, P/N can be "46nnn", with "nnn" being the same three digit TP number as Lyman / RCBS. Generic top punches are available that use JB Weld or hot glue to create a custom top punch for your bullet.

Center web thickness. Lyman is .120" thick, RCBS is .156" thick. RCBS stamps TP # on edge of web.
Stem diameter .264 (held very close), stem height being @ .430". Lyman stamps TP # on top of stem.
Both have nose punch end being @.350" long, with center web diameter of .500" (RCBS) and .499" (Lyman). Methinks the RCBS center web has to be bigger to accommodate the TP number, nothing more....
Lyman TP OAL is @.908 high, RCBS TP is @ .942 high. RCBS web may be thicker for TP # stamping, therefor a longer OAL.

Gas Check
Bullet molds come in four main types, Hollow Base / HB (like Minie balls), plain base / PB (square band), bevel base PB (slight angle, useful for reloading), Heel, and gas check / GC (slightly smaller diameter at base).

Hollow Base / HB
   Skirt expands upon firing to grip rifling. Bullet CG shifts forward.

Plain Base / PB
   Used for low to moderate loads. Gas cutting occurs when chamber pressure and bullet hardness combine to allow hot gas to blow past the bands. Don't worry about the base melting, since the lead cannot get hot enough in the short time its in the barrel.

Heel
   This type is used when the bullet diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the case. Example is the 22LR. Resembles the Plain Base, otherwise.

Gas Check / GC
   Bullet base has a slighly smaller base shank. The gas check (usually copper or aluminum) is slid over the shank. Some of the older GCs had straight walls, and needed to be sized on the bullet. Newer GCs have a slight inward taper so they tend to grip the bullet. The can be sized or left unsized. Bullets designed as GC models can be used without GCs as long as the pressure and hardness prevent gas cutting. If the GC is on tight, you can use it in bottleneck cases with the base below the case neck. NOTE: it is up to the reloader to determine if the GC is on securely enough. A loose GC in the case will raise pressure (reduces case capacity) but my concern would be if it is blown partway up the barrel and ldoges there. My readings of "Hatcher's Notebook" suggest one outcome might be as the following rounds are fired, the GC will be pressed against the bore and fusing the GC to the barrel, eventually bulging it.

Lyman Top Punch to Mould Table (Combined Castpics table and Dark Canyon's table) Word document

Top Punch #	Mold #	Nominal Diameter	Nominal Weight	Type	Seating Screw
8	3111	0.312			8
8	3113	0.308			8
8	3114	0.312			8
8	3116	0.313			8
8	3117	0.311			8
8	3118	0.312			8
8	31111	0.314			8
8	31114	0.313			8
8	31123	0.310			8
8	31133	0.313			8
8	31356	0.315			8
8	31357	0.314			8
8	311008	.312"	115grs	FN
8	311041	.309"	173grs	FNGC
8	311157	0.310			8
8	311234	0.309			8
8	311264	0.310			8
8	311281	0.309			8
8	311304	0.310			8
8	311316	0.312			8
8	311403	0.314			8
8	311419	0.311			8
8	311441	0.314			8
8	313493	0.315			8
8	319247	.322"	165grs	FN
43	40143	0.403			43
43	40392	0.405			43
43	401043	.401"	175grs	FN
43	401258	0.404			43
43	401638	.401"	175grs	TCBB
43	401654	.401"	150grs	SWCBB
43	403168	0.406			43
43	403169	0.406			43
43	403169	.408"	240grs	FN
43	403173	0.403			43
43	406150	0.408			43
43	410214	0.412			43
43	410219	0.412			43
43	410610	.410"	215grs	SWCGC
43	412174	0.414			43
43	412338	0.415			43
43	415175	0.417			43
43	419181	0.420			43
43	421183	0.422			43
43	427098	.428"	205grs	FN
80	37580	0.374			80
88	40188	0.405			88
88	403149	0.405			88
88	403171	0.402			88
88	403172	0.403			88
93	?????
95	40395				95
98	42798	0.429			98
98	429398	0.430			98
98	429434	0.431			98
130	457130				130
132	457132	.459"	535grs	Semi-pointed
141	515141	0.518			141
141	515141	.512"	425grs	FN
141	515142	0.517			141
141	518144	0.519			141
141	518145	0.520			141
167	37578	0.377			167
167	37581	0.381			167
167	375167	0.38			167
167	386176	0.405			167
167	386177	0.407			167
167	389417	0.390			167
178	386178	0.387			178
187	439186	0.440			187
187	446187	0.452			187
187	446188	0.452			187
187	451113	0.451			187
190	454190	0.455			190
190	454190	.454"	250grs	FN
190	454485	0.457			190
190	457131	0.458			190
191	457102	0.459			191
191	457121	0.458			191
191	457122	0.457			191
191	457122	.459"	330grs	FNHP
191	457191	0.459			191
191	457191	.459"	292grs	FNBB
191	457192	0.457			191
191	457193	0.459			191
191	457193	.459"	405grs	FN
191	457195	0.459			191
191	457196	0.457			191
191	457474	0.459			191
191	457483	0.459			191
191	457643	.459"	400grs	FN
191	465451	0.465			191
191	509133	0.51			191
191	509134	0.509			191
191	512138	0.511			191
191	515139	0.516			191
203	244203	0.244			203
203	245496	0.247			203
203	245496	.244"	84grs	RNGC
203	245497	0.246			203
203	245499	0.246			203
203	252435	0.253			203
220	429220	0.429			220
226	313226	0.315			226
226	313249	0.314			226
226	313249	.314"	85grs	RN
226	313307	0.311			226
226	316158	0.316			226
251	429104	0.43			251
251	429105	0.43			251
251	429106	0.43			251
251	429184	0.434			251
251	429239	0.43			251
251	429251	0.43			251
251	429383	0.431			251
251	429383	.430"	245grs	RN
251	429384	0.436			251
251	429436	0.429			251
251	429478	0.432			251
251	439186	.439"	370grs	RN
251	446110	.446"	340grs	RNFP
263	410426	0.409			263
263	412263	0.412			263
263	412328	0.414			263
263	415179	0.417			263
263	419180	0.420			263
263	419182	0.419			263
263	427100	0.426			263
263	427103	0.426			263
278	31112	0.309			278
278	311278	0.312			278
278	311279	0.310			278
278	311280	0.311			278
278	311333	0.311			278
284	311284	.309"	210grs	RNGC
293	350293	0.351			293
295	31947	0.319			295
295	31950	0.322			295
295	31952	0.320			295
295	31953	0.320			295
295	32359	0.324			295
295	32360	0.323			295
295	319162	0.322			295
295	319201	0.322			295
295	319247	0.320			295
295	319261	0.321			295
295	319273	0.319			295
295	319289	0.320			295
295	319295	0.320			295
295	319350	0.319			295
295	321232	0.324			295
295	321265	0.323			295
295	321295	0.321			295
295	321297	0.323			295
295	323357	0.325			295
302	358302	0.361			302
303	429303	0.431			303
305	266305	0.268			305
309	311414	0.313			329
311	35864	0.360			311
311	35870	0.358			311
311	35871	0.359			311
311	356242	.356"	90grs	RN
311	358159	0.362			311
311	358160	0.362			311
311	358161	0.361			311
311	358210	0.360			311
311	358212	0.362			311
311	358238	0.358			311
311	358242	0.359			311
311	358246	0.359			311
311	358250	0.360			311
311	358269	0.360			311
311	358311	0.360			311
311	358311	.358"	160grs	RN
311	358315	0.360			311
311	358318	0.359			311
311	358385	0.362			311
311	358396	0.362			311
311	358416	0.359			311
311	356242*	.356"	120grs	RN
320	338301	0.336			320
320	338320	0.339			320
320	350482	0.348			320
321	375321	0.382			321
325	257325	0.258			438
325	263314	0.263			438
329	311329	0.313			329
329	311340	0.311			329
329	311351	0.310			329
329	311365	0.312			329
329	311397	0.312			329
344	358344	0.360			344
346	287129	0.289			438
346	287202	0.290			438
346	287346	0.289			438
346	287346	.285"	135grs	RNGC
346	287405	0.289			346
346	287448	0.287			438
346	311274	0.310			346
348	429348	0.431			348
348	429352	0.431			348
359	311359	.312"	115grs	PTGC
360	429360	0.432			360
360	436218	0.436			360
366	32361	0.324			366
366	323236	0.322			366
366	323366	.323			366
366	323471	0.325			366
366	328371	0.329			366
374	45467	0.454			374
374	450225	0.451			374
374	452374	0.454			374
374	452374	.452"	225grs	RN
374	452374	.452"	180grs	DEV HP
374	452389	0.453			374
374	452400	0.454			374
374	452486	0.454			374
374	452488	0.452			374
374	454148	0.455			374
374	454309	0.454			374
374	454484	0.454			374
374	457124	0.459			374
374	457124	.459"	385grs	RN
374	457125	0.459			374
374	457125	.459"	500grs	RN
374	457126	0.457			374
374	457127	0.458			374
374	457132	0.458			374
374	457194	0.457			374
374	457235	0.458			374
374	457326	0.457			374
374	457406	0.459			374
374	457671	.459"	475grs	RNGC
374	500294	0.501			374
376	37585	0.380			376
376	375376	0.381			376
377	287222	0.285			377
377	287373	0.286			377
377	287377	0.288			450
377	287422	0.287			377
377	291379	0.290			450
386	266386	0.269			450
395	357443	0.358			395
395	358395	0.360			395
395	359363	0.359			395
401	457401	0.456			401
402	356402	0.358			402
402	356402	.356"	120grs	TC
402	358425	0.359			402
411	280411	0.281			450
413	311332	0.312			413
413	311332	.309"	180grs	PTGC
413	311334	0.311			413
413	311375	0.31			413
413	311413	0.313			413
413	311437	0.311			413
415	22536	0.227			415
415	23639	0.237			415
415	225322	0.228			415
415	225353	0.223			415
415	225358	0.228			415
415	225415	0.227			415
415	225415	.225"	55grs	FNGC
415	228151	0.229			415
415	228391	0.227			415
418	25719	0.260			450
418	257361	0.256			450
418	257388	0.259			450
418	257418	0.259			450
420	25716	0.258			415
420	25717	0.260			415
420	25720	0.258			415
420	25721	0.258			415
420	25742	.258"	65grs	FNGC
420	257205	0.257			415
420	257231	0.257			415
420	257283	0.258			415
420	257285	0.257			415
420	257306	0.260			415
420	257312	0.259			415
420	257382	0.255			415
420	257420	0.259			415
420	287221	0.285			420
421	429215	0.432			421
421	429215	.430"	210grs	SWCGC
421	429244	0.432			421
421	429244	.430"	255grs	SWCGC
421	429336	0.430			421
421	429421	0.432			421
421	429421	.430"	245grs	SWC
421	429422	0.432			421
421	429650	.430"	300rs	SWCGC
421	441267	0.444			421
421	445369	0.443			421
421	446109	0.445			421
421	446110	0.447			421
421	451114	0.452			421
424	452423	0.454			424
424	452424	.452"	255grs	SWC
424	452490	0.453			424
424	452490	.452"	255grs	SWCGC
424	452491	0.455			424
424	454424	0.456			424
429	35875	0.362			429
429	356472	0.357			429
429	357446	0.360			429
429	357453	0.359			429
429	358156	0.360			429
429	358156	.358"	155grs	SWCGC
429	358271	0.360			429
429	358345	0.360			429
429	358429	0.360			429
429	358429	.358"	170grs	SWC
429	358431	0.360			429
429	358439	0.360			429
429	358477	0.359			429
429	358477	.358"	150grs	SWC
429	358480	0.360			429
429	358495	0.360			429
429	359432	0.360			429
429	366408	0.368			429
430	35872	0.359			430
430	35873	0.363			430
430	358339	0.357			430
430	358356	0.359			430
430	358430	0.359			430
430	358430	.358"	195grs	RN
430	359394	0.360			430
438	225208	0.225			438
438	225230	0.227			438
438	225438	0.227			438
438	225438	.225"	44grs	RNGC
438	225462	0.227			438
445	311223	0.309			445
445	311407	0.312			445
445	313260	0.315			445
445	313445	0.313			445
445	313492	0.314			445
447	338337	0.345			447
447	350319	0.352			447
447	350447	0.350			447
447	350457	0.353			447
447	354433	0.354			447
449	37579	0.380			449
449	37582	0.380			449
449	37583	0.381			449
449	37584	0.375			449
449	37586	0.382			449
449	375164	0.373			449
449	375165	0.375			449
449	375166	0.375			449
449	375200	0.376			449
449	375211	0.375			449
449	375248	0.380			449
449	375248	.379"	249grs	FN
449	375272	0.38			449
449	375296	0.382			449
449	375300	0.378			449
449	375313				449
449	375355	0.377			449
449	375449	0.377			449
449	375449	.379"	264grs	FNGC
449	410655	.410"	400grs	FN
450	22537	0.225			450
450	22835	0.231			450
450	23640	0.237			450
450	225372	0.228			450
450	225450	0.227			450
450	225487	0.225			450
450	228367	0.229			450
450	236199	0.239			450
450	244253	0.243			450
452	401452	0.405			452
455	266324	0.268			438
455	266455	0.269			438
455	266469	0.269			438
460	45468	0.454			460
460	450229	0.454			460
460	452460	0.454			460
460	452460	.452"	200grs	SWC
460	452630	.452"	200grs	FNBB
460	470216	0.471			460
463	257454	0.258			438
463	257463	0.259			438
463	257464	0.259			438
463	266469	.264"	140grs	RNGC
465	3112	0.309			465
465	31110	0.312			465
465	31125	0.310			465
465	31355	0.314			465
465	299152	0.318			465
465	299153	0.314			465
465	299154	0.315			465
465	299155	0.299			465
465	300136	0.302			465
465	311206	0.312			465
465	311224	0.313			465
465	311240	0.309			465
465	311241	0.311			465
465	311245	0.312			465
465	311252	0.312			465
465	311252	.311"	75grs	RN
465	311255	0.309			465
465	311256	0.308			465
465	311257	0.310			465
465	311277	0.311			465
465	311291	0.313			465
465	311291	.309"	170grs	RNGC
465	311465	0.313			465
466	311331	0.312			466
467	31949	0.320			467
467	311259	0.310			467
467	311268	0.311			467
467	311276	0.308			467
467	311277	0.309			467
467	311282	0.310			467
467	311284	0.312			467
467	311287	0.310			467
467	311288	0.312			467
467	311290	0.309			467
467	311299	0.312			467
467	311299	.309"	200grs	RNGC
467	311335	0.312			467
467	311359	0.313			467
467	311410	0.313			467
467	311410	.312"	130grs	Pointed tip
467	311466	0.313			467
467	311467	0.313			467
467	314299	.314"	200grs	RNGC
467	319323	0.321			467
468	31122	0.312			468
468	280412	0.282			438
468	280468	0.828			438
468	287308	0.287			438
470	31948	0.320			470
470	32362	0.325			470
470	311440	0.308			470
470	316204	0.317			470
470	316275	0.317			470
470	316475	0.318			470
470	321317	0.320			470
470	321427	0.324			470
470	323378	0.324			470
470	323470	0.325			470
470	323470	.325"	165grs	RNGC
471	323481	0.325			471
473	280473	0.281			377
473	294380	0.294			377
495	358665	.358"	158grs	RNFP
498	25718	0.257			498
637	356637	.356"	147grs	FNBB
637	356637	.356"	124grs	Dev HPBB
641	266673	.264"	150grs	Semi-pointed GC SIL
641	280642	.278"	150grs	FNGC
641	287641	.285"	160grs	SIL
644	311644	.309"	190grs	Semi-pointed GC SIL
644	311672	.309"	160grs	FTGC SIL
646	225646	.225"	55grs	Semi-pointed GC
649	429640	.430"	250grs	DEV HPGC
649	429667	.430"	240grs	RNFPBB
649	452651	.452"	325grs	FNGC
649	452664	.452"	250grs	RNFP
649	501680	.501"	360grs	SWC
658	410660	.410"	385grs	Semi-pointed
658	457658	.459"	480grs	Semi-pointed
663	378674	.379"	335grs	RN
663	410663	.410"	40grs	RN
677	457677	.459"	490grs	Pointed-tip
678	?????
	68569	0.685
	429185	0.441
	451112	0.452
	533476	0.533
	538146	0.538
	557456	0.557
	557489	0.557
	575213	0.577
	575387	0.577
	575494	0.575