.357 mag mold pb or gas check heavy weight

Ok guys looking at the many 180grn molds for my 1894c marlin. Seems all I can find right now are pb molds. Should I hold out for a GC or bite the boolit so to speak.


What are these pb gas checks I hear of?


Which molds do you prefer?

NOE is showing their 180 gr. with and without a gas check.You can get one of Pat Marlin's gas check makers to check a plain base bullet also.Accurate molds should also have both plain base or gas check molds in the same design.

Problem is finding a GC mold in stock. Noe has none and miha won't return my pm

I prefer a PB over GC any time I can get away with it. My Rossi 92 in .357 gets along just fine with PB. I did resort to GCs in the single-shot .357 Max mainly because both mould I use for that are rifle moulds and use a GC.

I've read a lot about both. Was hoping for more opinions. Just want to make sure I can get it moving fast enough for hunting

I run the plain based 358429 at 1650 fps out of both my Rossi and Winchester 94 and they hold 10 shot groups of 3-4" at 100 yds for 10 shots. That is a 170 gr bullet and while I don't hunt, I think that would be more than adequate for deer to 100 yds.

Never found a need for gas checks on a 357, rifle or pistol. Have run some to 1700 ish ( use them at 1520 for best results)

PB shoot as well as GC in my 357mag rifle.

Get a PB mould, you won't be sorry.

anyone using the mihec c358180 in a lever rifle. been comparing that to the Noe 360180. if i cant find one i may see about honchoing up another group buy and just wait my time.


they appear to be pretty much identical boolits except the now has a tapered nose starting pretty much right at the crimp groove and the mihec is .100" in front of the crimp groove before it starts to taper

I've been shooting a 180 plain base Tom at Accurate molds made. I specifically bought it so I didn't need a gas check. Economy, you know. If you wanted the same mold with a gas check it's probably in his catalog or he will set up a CNC program for it. His delivery time is fast, usually less than a month and I'm not in the U.S.A. Mine is I think, a 358185F . A RNFP design. Mine is being pushed at nearly 1500 and after several hundred rounds there is zero lead in the bore.

I bought the mihec 4 cavity brass c358180 rf hp gc mold but dont have a lever gun. I plan on using it in a 357 handi reamed to a maximum. Hornady 35 cal copper gas checks are reasonable and I will use them. I dont shoot a lot of lead per year so the added cost isnt much of a factor for me. Rick!

Thanks everyone! I am pondering this same question and was leaning towards pb for the same reasons. When I get a 358, then I will worry about the gas checks. Until then, pb will work fine.

Will a FN run in a 35 Rem? Or does it need a RFN?

yeah ive got once last email out in hopes of a GC design. If that doesnt come through ill be going the PB route. Keep it coming guys. I would thing the RF or FN design would work just fine in my 35 remington. Now a wadcutter would be differnt.

wow tom at accurate molds has a huge catalog. almost confusing

save your gas checks for your 35 remington

which mold design do you guys feel is the best? Im really torn between the 2 designs for my marlin 1894C I need to act fast so let me know what you guys think
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