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Thread: Heavy .357 Magnum Mold

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub Solothurn's Avatar
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    Heavy .357 Magnum Mold

    Any suggestions for a .358 180-190 grain plain-base flat-nose mold that feeds well through Marlin lever-actions?

    Around .25” meplat?

  2. #2
    Boolit Bub SirNomad's Avatar
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    Is the Lee C358-200-RF mold too big then? FortuneCookie45LC did a really good series on the bullets cast from this mold for use in .38s and .357s, including a lever action carbine.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master mehavey's Avatar
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    the Lee C358-200-RF is a great Marlin bullet. (But 'ya gotta use 38 Special cases)

    Still... no matter what the bullet/nose length, a long bullet in a short 38SP case
    loaded to Marlin-limited OAL... still has the same powder volume behind it -- no
    matter what case is used.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    an oldie but a goodie as EX. . . .
    Click image for larger version. 

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  4. #4
    Boolit Master waco's Avatar
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    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    Proverbs 1:7

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Noe 360-180 wfn

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy BrutalAB's Avatar
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    Short answer answer: The rcbs 35 200 rf or one of its many clones (lee)

    You wont be disappointed.

    I use 357 cases, seat them to longest reliable feeding length and crimp wherever that is. Works great for me, 1 inch at 100yards.

    To get in your weight range, https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop...cavity-pb-38sw
    Has got almost exactly the same results and point of impact. Mine weigh 180 ish with my alloy. (I forgot exact)
    Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

  7. #7
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    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
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    I have the Ranch Dog 359-190 RF, it is an excellent mold for Marlins, as that is what it was designed for.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mica_Hiebert View Post
    Noe 360-180 wfn
    This plus one! I have shot hundreds and hundreds of these through my JM Marlin and they are terrific.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I size them at .360" for my JM with a microgroove barrel.

    For my 2018 1894C .360" is a little too fat so I size them down further.


    Steve in N CA

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


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    Saeco makes the #354 Gas Check and #353 Flat Base.
    I have put a few thousand of the Gas Check version though 3 or 4 Marlins with MicroGroove and a Browning 92.
    Feed easily and shot well.
    Last edited by Walks; 03-27-2020 at 02:14 AM.
    I HATE auto-correct

    Happiness is a Warm GUN & more ammo to shoot in it.

    My Experience and My Opinion, are just that, Mine.

    SASS #375 Life

  10. #10
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    I have the Ranch Dog 359-190 RF, it is an excellent mold for Marlins, as that is what it was designed for.
    This . I've shot quite a few of these with and without the GC in my 686 and shot a few deer with it in the 35 Rem , there's also a 175 gr version of this bullet designed just for the 357 mag
    If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy leadhead 500's Avatar
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    The Lyman 358627 or the Noe clone weighs in at 215 grains and is a outstanding heavyweight in the 357 magnum. My S&W 686 with a 8 3/8” loaded with Winchester 296 or H-110 is very accurate

  12. #12
    Boolit Master


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    Where does one find data for that heavy bullet in 357 magnum?
    Rick

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy leadhead 500's Avatar
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    Most people hear about heavy bullets in 357 magnum and think no way possible, the old 38 special was loaded with a 200 grain lead! There is some good info from Glen Fryxell on the web about the Lyman 358627

  14. #14
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    Lyman 358430 (195 grain). I am shooting this in a 38 special case, 2400 powder rated at 875 in a handgun so maybe 1100 FPS out my marlin 1894CS 18.5”. Deadly accurate on 100 yard steel. Hits like a heavy 45 so I can easily hear the “clang”. 158 SWC is harder to hear the hit.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master Jack Stanley's Avatar
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    LBT 185 LFN plain or gas check ... works great !!

    Jack
    Buy it cheap and stack it deep , you may need it !

    Black Rifles Matter

  16. #16
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    The LEE 358-158 is a lil light but has nice profile @ 160g

    NOE re creates the Ranch Dog bullet designs and they are good ones!!

    A 180 & 190 where offered. I have a orig 180 and a GB LEE 190 WFN I like an aweful lot. But it dosent work with all. The RD has worked everywhere so far.

    Surf the Accurate - NOE - Arsenal moles web sites. All make great molds will have you ankle
    Deep in good bullets in no time!

    CW
    NRA Life member • REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE its being paid for in BLOOD.
    Come visit my RUMBLE & uTube page's !!

    https://www.RUMBLE.com/user/Cwlongshot
    https://youtube.com/channel/UCBOIIvlk30qD5a7xVLfmyfw

  17. #17
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by RickinTN View Post
    Where does one find data for that heavy bullet in 357 magnum?
    Rick

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ight=heavy+357

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/goog...116j6770254j11

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    I've had an LBT 180 LFN .357 mould for a long time; plain base mould with wide nose. Never tried such bullets in anything but a handgun, but they would probably work well in a rifle or carbine.

  19. #19
    Boolit Mold
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    200 gr. Lee in Bisley Blackhawk 357

    I have working with this boolit for a couple weeks. Cast with 16-1 lead tin, gas checked, lubed with Emmert's sized .358. 14 gr. 296, Fed magnum match primers, new starline brass, loaded on a dillon sdb. Oal is 1.68, crimp just ahead of front drive band. Average velocity is 1250 fps from 7.5 barrel, sd 14. Point the barel up, open the loading gate snd the brass falls out. Once I figured out how to make good boolits things really came together. Yesterday I shot 3 5 shot 100 yd groups from a home made rest. 3.51", 3.47", and 5.25". The wind got to me on the last one. I have a Vortex Venom on the Ruger, sure can't see that good anymore. I think young eyes could probably do better. These boolits are 205 gr. As cast and there is no sign of leading. I have never got a sixgun to shoot that good. I would highly recommend starting with a little less powder but it is not compressed. There is .1" between the powder column and the gas check. Later. Jake

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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