Mold block sets that drop heavy bullets for 38 Special cartridges?

[Naphtali]

What I do not want is a heavy cast bullet whose nose is too long for proper seating. An example of what to avoid is loading RCBS's 270-grain (45-270-SAA) bullet in 45 Colt brass, the cartridge intended to be used in Freedom Arms Model 97 (45 Colt). I discovered that this bullet must be crimped in front of its front driving band to achieve an overall cartridge length that fits the FA 97's cylinder length. I did handload this bullet into 45 Colt brass and shot it in my FA 97s. Either I personally have a quality-control problem or the crimp location is the problem, for my "groups" were all over the targets. I have not experienced such random inaccuracy from any other cast bullet I have handloaded for my 97s, including Saeco's #454 (300-grain SWCGC). The Saeco #454 (WW+2) is my most accurate heavy bullet for my 97s.

Please identify 180-200 grain bullet mold block sets - by the mass production companies rather than a custom-made set - whose bullets crimp in their crimping groove when loaded in 38 Special brass.


Here is an instance of paying no attention to the obvious. Artful asked a question to which I responded with something less than brilliance. With its longer cylinder there will be no issue with length of nose for my SP101.

[Artful]

What overall length can your cylinder handle?
I ask as what will work in some of my 357 guns won't work in others (example SP101 the wife uses is 125 grain 357 pills only due to shorter cylinder)
RCBS 357-180SIL
as sold by either RCBS or NOE
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/N.O.E._Bullet_Moulds_360_180Gr._FN_GC_195_gr_Sketc h.Jpg

or RCBS 200 grain FN as sold by either RCBS or NOE or LEE
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/images/1111-118-RCBS35200FN.jpg

Lyman #358430 38 Special, 357 Magnum (358 Diameter) 195 Grain Round Nose
https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/766/766200.jpg
http://gunsmagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/HL-0415-2.jpg
the standard weight 158-grain, Oregon Trail 180, NEI 200 and Lyman 210.

Or you could use there search function on this board
to find threads like
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?121915-Heavy-Bullet-Mold-For-357-Mag-(Revolvers)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?288352-Manstopper-bullet-for-the-38-special

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?292763-Heavy-boolts-for-38-357

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?17705-Heavy-bullets-for-the-38SPL

[Naphtali]

Artful:

Many thanks for the information. The revolver is an SP101 with 4.2-inch barrel. That the cylinder is long enough for any factory-loaded 357 Magnum should make no difference. The "relationship" issue is mating of bullet and case. To respond to your unasked question: I want to use 38 Special brass rather than 357 Magnum brass.

[Outpost75]

Accurate has several heavy .38 Special molds which fill the bill:

170471170472170473170474

I have the 36-201D hollow pointed, and could send you a few samples to try for fit if you PM me.

170475

[Artful]

No, I was not alluding to 38spl case vs 357 mag case use but SAAMI has listed overall cartridge length for 38 special as between
1.275 to 1.550"
http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Pistol/38%20Special_38%20Special%20+P.pdf

and depending upon the make/model of you gun the cylinder will differ.

The example of SP101 is valid because Ruger started with 38 spl chamberings and designed the cylinder for that length - then rechambered to the more
powerful 357 magnum but didn't lengthen the cylinder at first so it can only be used with 125 grn factory loads - then they redesigned with a longer cylinder to take all commercial factory loads
1.405 to 1.590" long
http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Pistol/357%20Magnum.pdf

Note the Overlap between 38 special an 357 magnum cartridge length.

the 38 frame cylinder measures 1.518' long
later 357 frame SP101 cylinders for .357mag models are ~1.5785" long

[rwadley]

Don't forget Saeco moulds. Their 353 & 396 moulds would probably work. They are 180 gr.