Ideal loading tool

[Don McDowell]

Doc brought me over an old Ideal tong tool for the 38-40. It's one of those that has the bullet mould built on the end of the handles.
I cast a few bullets with it today, they dropped at .403 from 16-1 and the size hole sized them to .401. They weighed in at 167 grs, and amazingly held very uniform. The mould has no vent lines, and the sprue plate has a mind of it's own.
Anyway have loaded up a dozen rounds using the tool, and maybe will run them thru the Marlin Saturday to see just how they shoot..
It's a really neat tool to have around but sure isn't anything that would be good for loading a large amount of ammo. But assuming a box of 50 was probably a years supply back in the day, it serves quite well for that.