Which NOE 357 Mould?

[theMickster]

I'm considering a 360429 168Gr. SWC 4 cavity PB, or a 360 160gr WFN 4 Cavity PB.
I'll use it for plinking reduced loads and full house for deer in a 5" S&W. Any thoughts?

Mick

[williamwaco]

Thoughts!

Six of one and one half dozen of the other.

Imagine a cartridge loaded with one of each.
One will look "prettier" than the other.
Choose the one that looks best to you.

That said. The 360429 is one of my all time favorites.

[Ben]

NOE 360160 gr. SWC plain base.

I've had this one about 6 - 7 months, This one isn't for sale. A great bullet mold . I've shot it in several different lever action 38/357 rifles, My Smith 686, My Colt Officer's Model Match , 38 Spec.

Super accurate out of all of them.

Notice that the lube ring offers a generous amount of lube and the bullet has a " double crimp ring " like the Lyman ( Ray Thompson Design ) 358156 g/c bullet.

Ben


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/005-34.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/haysb/media/005-34.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/654.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/haysb/media/654.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/003-49.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/haysb/media/003-49.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/002-54.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/haysb/media/002-54.jpg.html)

[Beagle333]

The 360-160 WFN... it's like a laser beam outta my GP-100. My BH likes it too.

You can hunt deer with it:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/DSC03391.jpg

Or you can hunt Zombies with it. :mrgreen:

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PowderCoating/HF029_zps4c2dffc7.jpg

The Beast, itself.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/DSC03543_zps8f6b8428.jpg


I also have the 360429. Very nice boolit. But not nearly as accurate (for me) as the WFN. Of course, YMMV.

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/Picture081_zpsc2e2ea66.jpg

Buy the extra blank pins and you can turn them into whatever points you want.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/Picture102_zps2be9d03f.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/Picture105_zps31c8c9c7.jpg

For a little more heft, you might also consider the TLC359-175-RF
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/449ac773-5982-48a6-a571-73d9f6148382_zpsf1554c1e.jpg?t=1407035796

[theMickster]

Thanks for the input fellas. Those photos are nice too Beagle333 and Ben! Thanks!

Mick

[Bigslug]

The 360429 will be tight or too long in the cylinder if seated to the crimp groove. Fun fact - if you seat it over the front drive band in a .357 case or to the crimp groove in a .38 case, you've got about the same case capacity either way. I like the bullet, but it does have this quirk.

If I were making the choice now, I'd do A WFN, but I'd be agonizing over the 160 vs the 180.

[Magana559]

I personally bought the 180 WFN and love it.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I have the 160 WFN, and my GP100 loves it as well.
My NOE mold is brass, and a absolute joy to cast with

[pretzelxx]

That mould makes me want a 38 special even more now!

[harley45]

I have the noe 180 wfn with the GC and love it out of my 1894 I wouldn't be afraid to hunt lower 48 black bear in the least with it..

[GP100man]

Get the noe 100gr. wadcutter for plinkin & either 1 of the molds ya mentioned for hunting.
In my GPs the 360-180 wfn was easier to develop loads for ,the 358429 was a little finickier but still accurate .

[EDK]

Go with the WFN...just in case you acquire a 357 lever gun. The WFN works pretty good in a speed loader too. I've got a jillion moulds and the WFN in any caliber gets the most use.
There are other semi-wadcutter designs that allow crimping in the crimp groove and still fit in the chambers. 358429 pre-dates the 357 magnum by years. Uncle Elmer would have modified the design if there was such a thing as a magnum 'way back when.

[adanymous]

thanks beagle, now I have to buy that mold... you best call my wife and explain:mrgreen:

[adanymous]

I just bought it. You guys are enablers, all of you!

[theMickster]

:goodpost:
You guys are funny! And enablers!

Mick

[Bzcraig]

I personally bought the 180 WFN and love it.

I bought the same mold and my GP100 3" & 6" love it slow or fast in either 38 or 357 cases.

[Jtarm]

Is the 360429 basically the same as the Lyman/Keith mould? That one shot very well for me in my .357, but I also love Veral Smiths WFN designs. The LBT .44/280/WFN has been a favorite.

How's that for a non-answer?

From a terminal-performance standpoint, I'd take a WFN.

[exile]

Beagle333,

I am curious how the large HP on the 360-160 WFN responds when fired into something, (wet newspaper, water jugs, deer, etc.,) Any pictures of recovered boolits by chance?

Also, when you hunt deer with this boolit, do you use hollow-point or solid boolits?

Thanks,

exile