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ndnchf
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Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Sep 2nd, 2024 at 6:58pm
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Last year in my quest for another mold for my .25-20 SS and .25-25, I pickup up this old Ideal 25720 mold off Ebay. I soon fired up my lead pot with 25-1 and was happily casting up a pile of nice bullets. After cooling, I weighed and measured a few. I was astonished to find their cast diameter was .274"!  Not around .257" - .258" as expected. They are nice and round and weigh in at 100 grains.  Has anyone ever seen a vintage mold this much oversize?  I can't think of any use for it and its way too large to size down.  Kind of a mystery.

Steve
  
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Otony
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #1 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 10:17am
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Just a wild guess on my part, but two things make me wonder if that mold has been recut.

First is the condition of the cavity, it is much cleaner and less beat up than the rest of the mold.

Second is the striations on the bullet, essentially in the lube grooves, those are usually much smoother in appearance, which again leads me to believe the cavity was altered.

I haven’t had my coffee yet, so I might be a bit befuddled mind you.
  
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #2 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 10:37am
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Otony wrote on Sep 3rd, 2024 at 10:17am:
Just a wild guess on my part, but two things make me wonder if that mold has been recut.

First is the condition of the cavity, it is much cleaner and less beat up than the rest of the mold.

Second is the striations on the bullet, essentially in the lube grooves, those are usually much smoother in appearance, which again leads me to believe the cavity was altered.

I haven’t had my coffee yet, so I might be a bit befuddled mind you.


Recut. Obvious and poorly done. 
  
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ndnchf
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #3 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 11:44am
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Recut - that makes sense. But for what cartridge?
  
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westerner
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #4 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 12:00pm
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The answer is blowing in the wind, my friend.

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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #5 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 12:24pm
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At the size it casts now, I would say they where trying for a 6.5mm and missed but, with a little lapping it could make a 270 bore happy.

You could also ream the two bottom bands(take the grease groove out) to cast .278 to .280 and it would shoot ok in a 270.
  
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #6 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 12:26pm
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Some 6.5 Carcano rifles have a reputation for loose bores. In theory a .368 groove so .372-3” might not be off the table. 
Kind of like 32 caliber rifles being somewhere between .316 and .326 more or less.

Maybe tight bore 7mm.

If I was selling it, I’m pretty sure it would be a custom Pope bored mould for one of his early 25 caliber rifles.

If I was buying, I’d want provenance and hip waders  Tongue
  
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #7 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 12:46pm
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Build a rifle to use the bullet.   

It's a good looking bullet even if it's a little rough around the edges. Those extra grooves will hold more lube.
  
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Schutzenbob
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Re: Oversize Ideal 25 cal mold
Reply #8 - Sep 3rd, 2024 at 2:29pm
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These are just for comparison; this is a bullet that my 25-20 92 Winchester likes, it's .258 and weighs 80 grains.
  
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