mold handles question

[growr]

A dear friend of mine gave me a set of Herters single cavity .308 170 grain mold as he cannot find the handles....

Any of you eagle eye members know if any other manufacturer like Lyman, RCBS etc. might fit this fine old mold?

Randy

 

[rockquarry]

If someone knows what mould manufacturer made Herter's moulds, that would tell you what you need to know. I used to buy a lot of Herter's stuff but have never seen a mould.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Lyman single cavity handles are a safe bet. On large bullet single cavity moulds, Lyman 2 cavity handles are sometimes required. Lyman handles were an industry standard for many years.

See if you can stop by a buddy that casts and try some on.

Ivan

Ivan

 

[mtgianni]

Lyman switched to double cavity handles in the 70's. The single cavity handles are out there but not the most common. If you want to be sure, I have Lyman 4 cavity, 2 cavity, single cavity, Lee, RCBS and Saeco handles I regularly use. It might be the most cost effective to send me the mold and return shipping and I could tell you which one fits, as I have never seen a Herters mold. PM if no one else knows and I will share an address.

 

[Ruger 13]

Can you post some pictures of the mould please?

 

[kev74]

Someone on castboolits says Lee 6 cavity handles will fit.

From Lee's website: "Lee Commercial Mold Handles fits Lee 6-Cavity Molds, also most other brands of single & double cavity molds."

 

[growr]

Herters Mold

Was asked for pics....

 

[growr]

herters mold pics

More pics

Hope that helps......

Randy

 

[tmd17]

Lee 6 cavity mold handles are cheap. It would be easy to adapt them to fit that mold if they don't already fit.

 

[Forrest r]

The same mold and the handles they used.

This is from a post (2011) on the castbollits website:
A few months ago I bought a Herter's bullet mold at a gun show. Since it's Herters it's supposed to be perfect, at least that was their slogan. The sprue plate has the Minn. Address and 30169. It makes a spitzer bullet with two lube grooves and is a gas check design. It appeared unused when I bought it. I would say it's late 60's vintage just guessing. It fits small Lyman handles quite well. The finished product weighs 170 grains from wheel weights and measures .314. I've tried some in my '03 Springfield and the did quite well. Were these molds common? I've been told that Herters copied Lyman designs.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Looks very much like a Lyman mold. I'm wondering if Herter's simply had Lyman make molds for them with the Herter's info on the sprue plate. Lyman's sprue plates have no markings on them.
As said, the Lee handles should work. I've used them on various molds: Lyman large and small, an old Cramer double mold, TC molds and etc.

John

 

[rockquarry]

Looks very much like a Lyman mold. I'm wondering if Herter's simply had Lyman make molds for them with the Herter's info on the sprue plate. Lyman's sprue plates have no markings on them.
As said, the Lee handles should work. I've used them on various molds: Lyman large and small, an old Cramer double mold, TC molds and etc.

John

They do look like Lyman moulds. I doubt Herter's ever made moulds.

 

[mtgianni]

Use data for 311413 as that is what it resembles. The weight is right.

 

[growr]

Well, I used a set of Lee 6 cavity mold handles from my 10mm mold....had to drill the handle where the screw goes through very slightly so that the holes would line up....

Yay!!! It works everyone...thanks for all of the tips and help.

Randy

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I can't remember how many evenings I spent with the Herter's catalog on my lap, learning all about the best, most perfect, absolute epitome of everything bearing the Herter's logo. Lots of great stuff, especially for a young policeman with two kids to feed and a mortgage to pay.

Bottom line, Herter's was a marketing company. Products were sourced all over the world, produced by the truckload or shipload, and branded as
"Herter's". I doubt they ever manufactured anything, concentrating only on what customers were buying and providing a good quality product at a very attractive price. If a manufacturer was willing to duplicate their product line under the Herter's label it probably happened; if not I expect Herter's found manufacturers ready and willing to copy just about anything to fill Herter's orders.

Not trying to be critical, just commenting on the "business model" of the company.

 

[mikld]

A lot of very knowledgeable fellers here. Probably find a good answer Molds...Maintenance and Design

 

[Skeet 028]

Most of Herter's molds were made by Lyman...just a little cheaper with changes to not be true Lyman.

 

[Drm50]

I had a couple Herters bullet molds, single cavity and they worked with Lyman SC handles. Lee handles are easiest to adapt because they are fabricated from cheap stamping, but require some spacers to make up the thickness.

 

[Skeet 028]

Have to add Even though most Herter's molds were made by Lyman and had different features they used the Lyman mold types/sizes. Every one I have had/have look to be of the same quality as Lyman in the mold body itself. Sprue plate and handles were cheaper. I used a lot of Herter's items when I was young. Easier to afford. I have a Herter's #9 press which is a clone/copy of a Dunbar...just a little cheaper and a fair amount rarer.