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