357446 bullet mold??

[leadhead]

Has anyone here used the Lyman 357446 bullet mold, and if so
how did shoot? Thanks for any responce.
Denny

[rintinglen]

I have a 4 cavity and did not find it to be as accurate as either the 358-429 or the 358-477. The problem in my experience is that the front bearing ring is undersized and does not align the boolit well in the cylinder throats. It is the least accurate 38 SWC boolit that I have used in the 38 Special. Some aver that it needs to be pushed fairly hard to get good groups but I never tried it in the 357 after the disappointing results in the 38.

[tazman]

rintinglen is spot on with his advice. It doesn't do well at 38 special speeds. It works ok at magnum speeds but isn't what I would call outstanding.
The two boolits rtg mentioned are both very good for anything you want to use them for. I would include the 358311(round nose) and the 358432(wadcutter).
This would pretty much cover all the bases with either a 38 special or 357 magnum.
If you need a gas check, the 358156 fills that need nicely.

[dale2242]

It was one of the first molds I bought.
It was not that accurate for me.
I sold it and bought a 358477.
It is now my go to mold for 38 Special and 357 Mag.

[gwpercle]

If you are looking for a surprisingly accurate 38 /357 mould ...you need to look at the 160 grain version of the Lyman #358432 wadcutter .
Lyman has discontinued it but NOE has re-created it.
I bought a used 1-cavity on E-bay and after discovering how well all my 38 and 357 revolvers shot it ... I bought a 4 cavity NOE ... it's just about the only plain based 38/357 boolit I cast now days .
It's one of the most accurate design I have found . My 38 special Bullseye Match revolver , built on a model 64 S&W just loves this boolit ...one ragged hole groups at 25 feet is the rule !
Gary

[leadhead]

Well, this is terrible news... I just bought the 357446 mold from a
guy I know. Now, I have to look for another mold. There used to be
a ton of molds for 357 on E-bay. Now, not so much.
Denny

[tazman]

Well, this is terrible news... I just bought the 357446 mold from a
guy I know. Now, I have to look for another mold. There used to be
a ton of molds for 357 on E-bay. Now, not so much.
Denny

Not to worry. Most of the current mold makers provide clones of the most popular Lyman molds. NOE makes a very good mold and has clones for the boolits mentioned so far.
They tend to be a little more expensive but they are superb for casting.

[Firebricker]

Lead head, I would give that mould a try before you get rid of it. You never know your guns might favour it. I have one and it is kind of hit or miss. One revolver shot well with it and the other one. That I tried it in did not like it at all. FB

[leadhead]

Yea Taz..... I have a few NOE molds and they are fantastic.
I may look into them and see what they have. I would never
buy a new Lyman mold, as the last 2 I bought were under
size, and they wouldn't do anything about it. So, I look for
older Lyman and Ideal molds. Besides that, Lyman wants a
ton of $$$ for there new molds. I'd just as soon buy NOE.
At least you can request the diameter and weight you want.
Denny

[Lance Boyle]

yep it is just fair. That the front bearing is undersized could explain why. Try it. Nothing to lose but a bit of time and effort.

[45DUDE]

I saw the post about a month ago and bought a 2 cavity mold 357446 on ebay to test. I am going to use a few different powders and will maybe test today --bench at 25 yards. My boolits weigh 163 grains. I am using 38 brass. The Bullseye powder didn't do so well last week. I think I ran it a little warm. I am using 231 and American Select this week and will load some Unique to try also. The boolits look really good. I have a rifle and several revolvers 2 1/2--10 inches. I haven't got a lot in the mold.XXXXXX--Well I went to the range but I picked up the wrong box. I still had a good time. 55 degrees. I may have lucked out. My 357446 drops a .360 od boolit and the front band is the same size.

[Joel Chavez]

I’ve been casting a Lyman 357446 mould for nearly 10yrs. The mould casts a .3585” boolit which I size at .358 with my Lyman 45 using Carnauba Red lube. This has been the most accurate cast boolit I've ever shot through my 6” Smitty 686 and 3” Smitty M64. It will easily print 1.25” groups at 25yds open sights with my 686 pushed at 1150fps. The M64 will print 1” groups at 10yds all day long. This mould is suppose to produce crappy boolits incapable of any realistic accuracy. Well, I must have a dud cuz this mould is awesome.

[45DUDE]

I’ve been casting a Lyman 357446 mould for nearly 10yrs. The mould casts a .3585” boolit which I size at .358 with my Lyman 45 using Carnauba Red lube. This has been the most accurate cast boolit I've ever shot through my 6” Smitty 686 and 3” Smitty M64. It will easily print 1.25” groups at 25yds open sights with my 686 pushed at 1150fps. The M64 will print 1” groups at 10yds all day long. This mould is suppose to produce crappy boolits incapable of any realistic accuracy. Well, I must have a dud cuz this mould is awesome.

How about the load you use? I am all for a short cut.

[ddixie884]

+1 on the #358432................

[Joel Chavez]

6.0gr of Unique in the Smitty 686, 3.2gr of BE in the Smitty M64. I have over 1k waiting to be sized and lubed lol.


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[45DUDE]

357446 I tested today in 38 special. Bullseye-Unique-231 and American Select. It was windy and at 25 yards 4 grains of American Select was tops at 1.9''with a 10 shot group. I gave Bullseye and Unique 2 extra tries but results were about 1'' larger. I am not sure I like the mold as it seems picky on powder. I have other molds for 357 mag.

[bruce381]

for me its a dog too. for both 38 and 357 have a lee 2 cav round FN that shoots way better

[Vopie]

Almost gave up on that mould myself until I read an old Lyman book that stated that this bullet needs to be pushed fast. When I did I was impressed! 16.0 grs of 296 in a Browning 92, doesn't get any better than that, w/ cast or jacketed.

[45DUDE]

6.0gr of Unique in the Smitty 686, 3.2gr of BE in the Smitty M64. I have over 1k waiting to be sized and lubed lol.


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Thanks-When/if I can get it grouping good at 25 I am moving to 50yards.

[Joel Chavez]

Thanks-When/if I can get it grouping good at 25 I am moving to 50yards.

I’m just dumbfounded by the fact many folks can’t get this boolit to perform for them. I did measure the boolit bands (air cooled/water dropped) without smoking the cavities and they measured .360(bottom), .359(2nd band from bottom), .359(3rd band) then .354(nose band). I size it to .358 for all wheel guns and it’s a keeper for sure.