Anyone try the Lyman 330 gr. Gould HP bullet mould?

[Texcl2]

I want a good deer hunting bullet that will expand and is lighter than my normal 405gr bullets. I see that Lyman still makes the 330gr Gould hollow point bullet mould. It was designed in the 1880’s to be the ultimate deer bullet in the .45/70. I was wondering how it shot in a trapdoor Springfield. Does it change the poi a lot? If it really casts to .458, I don’t see how it could shoot well in the trapdoor but maybe.

[Texcl2]

I ended up buying a more custom mould. It is a convertible mould with 2 types of hollow point plugs and one solid tip plug. I ordered it in .462 diameter and it will throw slugs from 405gr to 450gr if I recall depending on which plug you use. It has large square grease grooves to hold lots of lube and figured most of my guns are regulated for the 405 grain bullet so it made more sense. It was pretty inexpensive, will comment on it once it arrives.

[Jim]

. . . . .It has large square grease grooves to hold lots of lube . . . . . .

I’m glad you specified a large diameter (I use .461”) for your mold.

Being it will have square-bottomed grease grooves, it might be a little difficult getting the bullet to release from the blocks, but it will be worth the slight aggravation.

I remember reading about Elmer Keith getting “angry” with Lyman Gun Sight, because they modified his square-grooved designed molds to round-bottom versions, to enable better/easier manufacture. Supposedly, this was a major contributing factor in Elmer separating himself from Lyman.

[Tom Trevor]

I had a friend open mine to .461 and it shot well. But the lighter bullet with black powder fouls faster. Not enough pressure and barrel time to consume the fouling. For hunting it would be fine for a couple of shots a day at best. Your custom mold is a better idea,

[Texcl2]

This mould is apparently fashioned after a Keith design. The average bore size for 1873 Springfields appears to be around .462, very few are .459 or smaller. Many are .463+, I’d like to see a 500gr govt bullet in .462. He will also make hollow base bullet with a plug to convert it to a solid base. I agree that the 405gr and heavier bullet is probably a safer bet.

[Texcl2]

Moulds arrived, they look amazing! All sorts of extras. With my very soft alloy the bullets come out at .461. The hollow points are supposed to be around 405gr and solids are around 430gr with linotype alloy if I recall correctly, not that it matters much with black powder loads. The mould was around $100 shipped. They also use the cheap lee gang mould handles, which I bought for $17 from midway.

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[varsity07840]

I shot one deer using the Gould in a Sharps. No pass through from a 50 yard shot. I recovered the bullet. It was cast 20:1. I've read comments from Mike Venturino that they tend to fragment badly on big whitetails. Mine exhibited some of that and it was probably 140 pounds live weight.

[Texcl2]

Wow, I wouldn’t have guessed that a deer could stop a 330 bullet hollow point or not. Thanks for the info. I threw out my back last night so didn’t go to the range today sadly. But did load up a bunch of rounds with these bullet with the solid tip and the small hollow point. It also comes with a large hollow point pin that is gigantic. These are 415ish grain (soft alloy is heavier) small hollow point bullets with a charge of compressed 2f kik powder. I sized them down to .461 otherwise they get badly distorted in my roll crimp die. I made some unsized rounds too. Guess I need a collet crimp die.

[varsity07840]

I use a taper crimp die. My TD has a .463+ groove and I'm using a .464 500 gr government bullet to punch paper. I gave up hunting.

[Jim]

Wow, Tex. . . .That’s a hell of a deal on that GREAT-looking mold at $117!
Are the blocks anodized aluminum?