Lyman 225415...what's the real weight??
I've got a couple of rifles I've considered dedicated jacket bullet shooters...ones a .300 Win and the other a .223. I rely on them for their flat trajectory, have pet loads, and the zero on both hasn't had to be changed in a long time. I've liked it that way. I don't expect .300 will ever see cast. However, given the success with the .223 of number of board members, I thought, what the hell, why not give cast a try? How hard is it to remember the number of clicks to change a zero (actually I'd better not trust my memory...I'll write it down)?
I decide I'd like a bullet of about 55gr with a decent meplat. Midsouth is out of the special order Bator from Lee and the Lyman 225646 which lists at 55 gr. doesn't have much meplat. The RCBS at 60 gr. looks good but ,at least in pictures, appears to have limited bearing surface. 225415 looks a bit better in that regard, has a decent meplat, and has enjoyed a good reputation. However it is a 45 grain bullet...or at least I thought so.
225415 has been around a long time...data for it is in my original Lyman cast manual #1 from the 50s. Depending on alloy (45 grains advertised with Lyman #2 alloy) and actual mould it can run a bit higher...but never over 50 gr. that I've every heard of. It's still there in Cast manual #3 from the early 80s...45 gr with #2 alloy.
But, wait a minute...Midway now lists its weight at 55 gr. I expect it's an error since I wouldn't think Lyman would change the mould without changing the mould number...right? I check Midsouth...55 gr. So, its straight to the source. I check the Lyman site. Lyman now lists 225415 at 55 gr. with #2 alloy.
What gives?? Has anyone bought this mould lately and checked their bullet weight? Has this bullet really been on a high calorie diet the past 25 years...and, with no name change, gained 10 gr. of bullet weight?