WidenersTitan ReloadingReloading EverythingLoad Data
MidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackboxRotoMetals2Lee Precision
Inline Fabrication
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23

Thread: OK, one last mold question..........

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

    leadhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Western Pa.
    Posts
    970

    OK, one last mold question..........

    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

  2. #2
    Moderator


    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Just outside Gun Barrel City, Texas
    Posts
    9,484
    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.

  3. #3
    Moderator


    Minerat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Jefferson County, CO
    Posts
    9,545
    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

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    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.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Orange, VA NOW
    Posts
    6,492
    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.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,254
    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 !"

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    Dragonheart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    2,705
    If you powder coat your bullets you don't need the expense of a GC bullet, just a thought.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    leadhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Western Pa.
    Posts
    970
    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

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

    Kraschenbirn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    East Central IL
    Posts
    3,448
    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"

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,254
    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 !"

  11. #11
    Moderator


    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Just outside Gun Barrel City, Texas
    Posts
    9,484
    Quote Originally Posted by gwpercle View Post
    Powder coating is an abomination and leading to the downfall of our county and the increase in hurricanes striking the Gulf Coast ... stop it !
    I've had problems with powder coated boolits too.
    I found one at the range, put it in my pocket, and carried it home to look at.

    When I walked past the refrigerator- all the magnets fell off.
    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.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

    leadhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Western Pa.
    Posts
    970
    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

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Dragonheart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    2,705
    Quote Originally Posted by leadhead View Post
    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
    I was about 64 when I powder coated my first bullet, now I am 72 and I have coated over a hundred thousand. it was so easy, simple and quick. Old age has its problems, but you are never to old to learn.

    Now can someone tell me where I put all this bullets?

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    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.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master



    skeettx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Amarillo, Texas
    Posts
    4,102
    WHAT would I do with my Air operated Star sizer?
    NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95

  16. #16
    Boolit Master slim1836's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Burleson, TX
    Posts
    2,120
    Quote Originally Posted by skeettx View Post
    WHAT would I do with my Air operated Star sizer?
    Send it to me ASAP. I'll even pay shipping.

    Slim
    JUST GOTTA LOVE THIS JOINT.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy Greg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Southern Illinois
    Posts
    387
    preach on Brother..
    I pray all ya'll is safe from the storm

    Quote Originally Posted by gwpercle View Post
    Powder coating is an abomination and leading to the downfall of our county and the increase in hurricanes striking the Gulf Coast ... stop it !
    God Bless ya'll
    Greg

    Je suis Charlie

    "You can observe a lot by watching."- Yogi Berra

    Shooters Talk Refugee

  18. #18
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Posts
    35
    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.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master


    Walks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    3,028
    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

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Ball Ground, GA
    Posts
    415
    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

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
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