Winchester 32-165 Mold

[Good Cheer]

I have one of the ancient 32-165 Winchester molds (for 32-40 or .32 Special) in excellent condition. Essentially not used, varnish still on the handles. But the sprue plate doesn't sit flat. Looking at it I'd say it never has sat flat on top of the mold and that's why it hasn't been used. Sooo, I'd like to flatten that plate!

Anyone seen Winchester factory molds with this hickup before?
Got suggestions on the best way to go about fixing it?
The only thing I know to do is press it as flat as I can get it and then do the last bit of leveling by flat file followed with abrasives.

[Mk42gunner]

As long as you can take the sprue plate off the mold, it shouldn't be too hard to get flat. If you can't, all bets are off on itt ever being flat enough to use.

Measuring from the crimp groove to the meplat, then comparing brass length to allowable overall cartridge length should tell you which round the mold was intended for. Somehow I doubt that Winchester mad a mold that had two crimp grooves.

Robert

[farmbif]

ive got one of this mold. but mine has have been through a lot of rough years of service and sprue plate screw is forever getting loose. have not even looked at the mold in decades since getting an RCBS 32-170. that mold could probably benefit from having a thicker sprue plate and a grub screw on the side to hold the sprue plate screw in place

[turtlezx]

i had 1 also not that problem tho
as cast .321 dia and would tumble in a 1893 marlin 32 40

[Good Cheer]

What a terrible dilemma; if fixed it'll need something to shoot them in!
Kidding aside I am looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

[35 Rem]

Once you press it as flat as possible using a flat surface, you can place some thin pieces under each end and on either side of the high spot. Press on the high spot in the middle so it can be bent beyond flat to account for spring back. If you go too far flip it over and work from the back side.
Experiment until you get it right.

[Green Frog]

Failing in efforts to flatten it, it wouldn’t be a big deal to cut one out of mild steel, using the original for a template for shape and hole placement. Then you can heat treat it in the oven or with a torch, and you’re good to go!
I really loved using mine to cast bullets for my original high wall in 32-40!
Froggie

[turtlezx]

put on a flat surface with sand paper sheet taped down and sand it down until flat easy to do

[Good Cheer]

Think it's flatten correctly now. Need to find time to test it out.
Then it needs to find a .32 Winchester or 32-40 to snuggle up to.

[Green Frog]

Think it's flatten correctly now. Need to find time to test it out.
Then it needs to find a .32 Winchester or 32-40 to snuggle up to.

…and a Winchester Model 1894 Loading Tool to complete the package. Then, with a small package of components you can head out into the “Great White North” (or South or West or East) and shoot like Oliver Winchester and John Browning intended!
Froggie

[Good Cheer]

Tried it out yesterday evening... success!

[Mk42gunner]

Thanks for the follow up. Way too many I need advice posters never report back on if the job at hand was successful or not.

Robert

[farmbif]

Think it's flatten correctly now. Need to find time to test it out.
Then it needs to find a .32 Winchester or 32-40 to snuggle up to.

sound just about right, something I might do. get a mold then find a gun in that caliber to shoot the bullets with.

[Good Cheer]

Well, either get the gun or find someone to care for the mold.