Guys... Which gas checked mold do you think is the best one between
these two? Lyman 358156 SWC or the RCBS 38-162 SWC.
Thanks for any and all replies.
leadhead
Guys... Which gas checked mold do you think is the best one between
these two? Lyman 358156 SWC or the RCBS 38-162 SWC.
Thanks for any and all replies.
leadhead
They're both good, and well proven.
I'm not exactly sure why, but the Lyman does seem to be more of a favorite.
I don't know if its due to accuracy, or just because Lyman prints a loading manual for their molds
and people buy more of them because of that.
In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.
OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
I have the 358156, so I think it is the best because it was free. Also is consistent with the weight I like in J word boolits for my 38s and 357s.
Steve,
Life Member NRA
Colorado Rifle Club member
Rocky Mtn Gun Owners member
NAGR member
I ain't tried the RCBS but if I was going GC mould that's where I'd look. RCBS moulds cast easier and with less issues than Lyman. RCBS offers data for their bullets atleast. It can be found in the one book one caliber manuals. Although in looking for an RCBS manual, the one book manuals are my go to as well as the Lyman manuals for regular and cast.
I have three RCBS 38-162C molds and a 4 cavity Lyman. The RCBS boolits are all slightly different in weight, which is a nuisance, but they shoot smaller groups. By a smidge. Neither shoots very well without a gas check.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
I prefer the Lyman 358156 . It has two crimping grooves the upper for loading in, what was then , hard to find and expensive 357 magnum cases and the lower groove for loading into plentiful and cheap 38 special cases . 357 magnum cases were hard to get back in the 60's ... 38 special littered the range and were free for the picking up . I picked up buckets of them . Skeeter Skelton explained how to use this boolit to load almost nearly magnum loads in those free cases ... always the frugal loader ... I followed his directions .
This load has become one of my lifetime favorite pet 357 loads . It involve the #358156 and a 38 special case with the boolit seated in the lower crimp groove and a healthy charge of Unique powder (7.5 grains) that he listed ... the first groups were clover leaf's ... We had a Winner !
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
If you powder coat your bullets you don't need the expense of a GC bullet, just a thought.
I'm to old to get into powder coating.... I've been using lube for over 50 yrs and
it's worked very well for me. I guess you could say, I'm from the old school.
leadhead
The Lyman 358156 was the first mold I purchased for smokeless loads (prior to that, I'd been casting for cap & ball BP only) so I guess I'm kind of partial to it. BTW, I still own (and cast) that same mold...a Lyman/Ideal 2C purchased around 1972-73.
Bill
"I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."
Jimmy Buffett
"Scarlet Begonias"
I learned years ago ... not to be afraid of the gas check .
Skeeter Skelton and I believe in them in 357 magnum loads ... never fear the check !
Powder coating is an abomination and leading to the downfall of our county and the increase in hurricanes striking the Gulf Coast ... stop it !
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.
OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
Winger Ed.
Now that's funny. Like I said, I'm to damn old to start playing around with
powder coating. I've heard some bad stories about them too. Besides that, they look
sissy like with all the pastel colored bullets.
leadhead
Yep, bullets are supposed to be all grey and manly, not zombie green and ford blue. That said I'm going to try PCing and become familiar with it. It may be useful for a specific application, But I'll never give up my Lyman 450 or my 50/50 lube. I like the tradition of lube, same as I like wood and steel guns.
WHAT would I do with my Air operated Star sizer?
NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95
I concur about not fearing the gas check. I used to avoid all molds with a check because I didn't know much about them. They are an added expense, but are worth it in my opinion.
To put the thread back on subject.
My 1st GC mold was the #358156, a 2cav. Soon after I got another 2cav, real cheap. Only cast about 2,000 bullets a year from them these days.
Not as many as I used to. Did 10,000 on one long wknd, once.
A few years later I bought the RCBS mold. It was stolen some years back.
I haven't missed it.
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
I have the Lyman and have developed 25 yd bugeye loads in both 38 and 357. I do not have the RCBS but do have a gas check Lee. The Lee can shoot just as good as the Lyman but they are different loads with different powders. I would suspect the RCBS would do the same thing. I have found that gas checks on mid range pistol loads not to be worth the effort. Get on up to high end loads and are well worth the effort.
Tony
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 |