Identify boolit, cast a few years ago, perhaps 35.

[nitro-express]

Back in the late 70's I had a friend at work have his friend cast me up some bullets, fast forward 35 years, and having a hard time getting my SAA NF in 357 to shoot worth a ****. In desperation I reached under the bench and picked up a handful of these critters, boiled off the old lube, cleaned them up and sized/lubed them. Loaded them up and they shoot better than I can.

It looks like it comes from a Lyman 358477, except the lube groove is rounded at the bottom, not square. It weighs 149 gr and seems soft, it leaves a little lead in the bore (12 gr 2400, OAL 1.61, CCI 450)

My goal is to find the mold and cast them a bit harder, after I punt through these ugly puppies.

Any help identifying the mold would be appreciated.

[Yodogsandman]

Yes, that's the Lyman 358477. My mold casts boolits just like that, with the rounded lube groove.

[nitro-express]

Thanks, it's now on my shopping list.

[rbuck351]

Yep looks just like my 358477 and it shoots very well in all my 38/357s. Mine casts about 152gr with ww.

[44man]

There was a big hoo ha over the round grooves long ago, Elmer did not like them but you found, like I did, that it does not matter.
I see the newer one has flat bottoms again. Sure will not change a thing.
Only thing I like better are two grooves rather then one big one.
I shot the 358156 for many years with 1" targets hit at 100 yards. Old 27, 8-3/8" barrel with a Phantom scope. It had 3 grooves, just above the check, GG and lower crimp groove.
All of my big bore boolits have two or three if I can fit them without reducing drive area.
The newer 429421 has a very wide groove that reduces drive, my original was not like that.
They should not tinker with boolit design. Those two tiny drive bands will not stop skid. They need another in the center.

[Gofaaast]

I will also add that, most 358477 moulds you find today don't have that deep lube groove. The 358477 was only made for the first few years with that lube groove and then changed to one approximately only 60-70% in capacity compared to the original.

[bedbugbilly]

Nice looking boolit! I like that nice deep lube groove - I'm thinking that would work really well for carrying a good amount of lube for Bp cartridges.

[williamwaco]

The design seems to change a little very time the cherries wear out. I like the rounded grooves. They seem to drop easier.

[Leatherhead Bullets]

I bet Tom at Accurate Molds could clone it if that version is not available. As many of you know, Tom's quality is top notch.

[oldblinddog]

Save some of those originals to send Tom, he'll be able to match them.

[nitro-express]

Save some of those originals to send Tom, he'll be able to match them.

That's a good suggestion.

What is the best way to clean out the old lube? so far I've used hot water, good for about 90 %, and iso, solvent and even gasoline (premium) and they still aren't real clean. I probably have 500, worth cleaning but not one at a time with a blue paper towel.

nitro

[Jeffrey]

Have you tried WD40? It is really a great solvent. I have never used it in this application, but I have for many others. Worth a try. I'm sure you have some around.

[Jack Stanley]

What is wrong with the lube that is on them ?

Jack

[oldblinddog]

What is wrong with the lube that is on them ?

Jack

This ^^^^^