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Thread: .357 mag mold pb or gas check heavy weight

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    .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?
    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    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.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    Problem is finding a GC mold in stock. Noe has none and miha won't return my pm
    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    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.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    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
    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


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    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.
    "Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyrannies.” Aristotle

  7. #7
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    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)
    grit yer teeth an pull the trigger

  8. #8
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    Blammer's Avatar
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    PB shoot as well as GC in my 357mag rifle.

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

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    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
    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    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.
    Last edited by stocker; 04-17-2013 at 07:26 PM. Reason: Correction , mold #

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    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!

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    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?

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    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.
    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    wow tom at accurate molds has a huge catalog. almost confusing
    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    save your gas checks for your 35 remington

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy mebe007's Avatar
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    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
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Honcho for Re-Run: NOE 460 350Gr. RF (RD) group buy: Closed
    http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/...d.php?t=119526

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check