Hi all:
I just purchased a Lyman double cavity bullet mold #311466AV at an estate sale.
I did some research and found out that the bullet was designed by H. Guy Loverin. It is a gas check mold with a diameter of .311 that casts a 152 grain bullet.
I would like to find out if anyone might know what the AV after the mold number stands for.
Also, below the mold number is the number 602 and below that on the left edge of the mold are the letters WO. Would anyone know what they stand for?
The mold appears to be unused and came with the handles for $15.00!
This might be a good excuse to re-barrel something to 30 caliber. Would this bullet work in a .30-20?
Thanks for any help'
          Bill.

As I remember, the AV will stand for the company that ground the cherry to cut the mold. The 602 should be on both side and is the number that keeps the two half's together.

I'm not sure what the WO might mean.

The bullet will stabilize in a 16 to 18 twist barrel, I think 32/20 is a 20 twist. It may or may not cast large enough to seal in a 32/20 size, groove diameter.

Great buy, the handles alone are worth $20.

Frank

The 466 is a great bullet in almost any 30 cal. there is also a 311467 That is a little longer/heavier that also shoots well in any 30 I have had. The 466 might be too small (diam) for a 32. NOE cuts the 466 in a plain base.

I forgot about the 465, should work if fat enough. Another is the 311441 if you can find one. 117gr gc

My old 4 cavity 311466 is a go to for me.there are two versions though.one has all the driving bands the full diameter.the older proper ones have the two bands close to the nose reduced to about .305.this original version is a better shooter imho.

Keep in mind what works one day might not work every day and it's the overall day in, day out and year round consistency that one should be truly looking for. I have been fooled way to many times in the past sixteen years and I would highy recommend shooting several 200yd. 10 shot groups through out the year before making any solid commitments on any particular bullet. 

JLouis

Not sure what you mean CF but if one thinks he is going to out and just buy one mould and it is going to provide the very best in competitve accuracy it is something that I have yet to see. When looking to set the Bartlett record I went through five different designs, shooting twice a week for close to a year before I found the one that could do it in my rifle and then I went for it. I have always shot the same bullet when found to shoot the matches and at the time I will be working with a new design in between in search of yet a better one as described in my previous post as it can always get better and never worse than what I already have. 

JLouis

Process of elimination I started with five and then committed a year to the one that proved to be the most consistent when going for the record as a good example. I ended up with a bullet and load that provided 13 consecutive 5-5 Shot 100yd. group averages of a 1/2 inch and under when all was said and done. The rifle and bullet was now capable and the rest was simply up to me. Out of the five three were dropped rather quickly and just not up to the task right out of the gate so to speak. It then came down to two to work with that were real close and appeared to be up to the task and then down to finally just the one. Decidicing factor came down to which one handled the conditions the best. Time spent with each was another 12ea. 5-5 shot group targets, their averages and now having a good understanding of the noticable condition effects between the two. I use somewhat of the same approch for my 200yd. bullet testing but I shoot 10 shot groups instead of five and the same amount. that goes on a score target and I will typicaly shoot ten each before making a slight change, different primers or possibly a seating depth change powder choice always remains the same. I keep my test targets and visually review the changes through out the year and I am now looking for the year round consistency. And as I noted I already have one that works while I am going through this continous search looking for one that might possibly a bit better and I will typicaly shoot a couple of practice targets with it every outing before I move onto testing. That's been my routine for some 15 years but due to decling health I just cannot do it as much as I once did any longer and so I typically go out more for just practice now but still working with a few designs that keep popping up. 

JLouis