.44 Cal. RCBS Molds - What Is The Difference?

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durco

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Howdy, boys:

Can anyone tell me the difference between the following two RCBS molds?
A 44-250-KT and a 44-250-K.

Second question: My green plastic box label also has a number, TP#421. What does that mean - as in Lyman #429421?

Much obliged.
Mike
 
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The TP# is the sizer top punch that would fit that bullet style. Lyman does use top punch sizes on some of their mould desginations but not always, there may be two bullets of the same diameter that use the same top punch but not be the same bullet.

As for the rest of your questions, I'll have to look it up.
 
Thanks, Jellybean. I found another smaller label on the outside of the green box and it has the number 82080. So, apparently the larger label with 82030 is blemished, even though it looks unmolested. So, that question is answered.
The remaining question: The difference, if any, between 44-250-K and 44-250-KT? Mike
 
Assuming these are the two moulds you are interested in:

82042 - 240 gr SWC gas check
82043 - 245 gr SWC plain base
82080 - 250 gr SWC Keith style bullet
Those are the three current moulds that RCBS lists on their web site.

FWIW
Dale53
 
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standard.jpg


[L to R] RCBS 44-245KT, 44-250KT, and again 44-250K

RCBS has unfortunately changed its catalog designations around. Based on the mould boxes:

my 44-245KT is currently called 44-245-SWC #82043

my 44-250KT is currently called 44-250-SWC #82044

my 44-250-K is still 44-250-K #82080


standard.jpg


[L to R : Ballisti-Cast #1103, NEI #256, RCBS .44-250K, LYMAN .429-421. RCBS .44-250KT. Lyman .429-336]
 
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The RCBS Cast Bullet Manual #1 doesn't list any molds with a -K or -KT. I think that was all later designations for the SWC, as they called them at the time. The .38-150-SWC appears to be the same as the .38-150-KT I have, which is old enough to be in a cardboard box. It uses the same top punch as the Lyman 358156 and the 358429.
 
Would the KT stand for Keith-Thompson ? And K for Elmer Keith ?

I seem to remember Keith modifying the mold to have the larger grease groove that he preferred.

I think this marks me as an old guy to remember that.

Come to think of it, remembering anything now, is a real plus
 
Thanks, Dale, GLL and Paul. I have the 44-250-K, which has the more prominent crimping groove like the ballisti-cast 1103 - and very close to the Lyman 429421. Good design, I suppose(?) Mike
 
I think Jerry's pictures illustrate the way moulds can and will change, even with the same item number or designation. It's sorta like the luck of the draw whether a 429241 will have a round or square lube groove, even though the item number never changes.

Commercial mould manufacturers do make changes in their designs over the years and it's for reasons only they know and understand.
 
Paul's observation is important !

I have IDEAL/Lyman 429421 in several variations with both round and square grooves. I also have the RCBS 44-250-KT/SWC with round and square lube grooves and variable front band widths. Both companys made many changes in design over the years but maintained the same product code numbers ! :(

Jerry
 
.44 Cal. RCBS Moulds - What is the difference

The RCBS 44-250 K was supposedly the product of a collaboration between Dave
Scovil of Handloader Magazine, and RCBS some years back. Supposedly Scovil
obtained a few of the original Keith design bullets from an aquaintance and worked with RCBS to get the mould produced. Elmer insisted on having equal 1/10" driving bands on his bullets with a square bottom grease groove. The Lyman #429421 was designed by Keith but they made changes in the design, which Elmer very much disagreed with, i.e. the width of the front driving band, a rounded grease groove, so he went to Hensley & Gibbs and had them make the H & G #503 which he endorsed. The KT designation on the other RCBS bullet stands for Keith Type I believe. An original H & G 503 mould is likely the closest representation of the Keith bullet that exists today.
 
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About the observation that moulds have changed in certain instances while maintaining the same mould #/catalogue #........


I have three different Lyman 429421 sets of blocks acquired over the years.Two are 4 cavity and one is 2 cavity.Each gives a slightly different bullet.
 
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