Ideal 358439 mold

[patio]

Would like some information on this mold. Would it be ok to use in a S&W m36 Chiefs Special with a 2 1/2 barrel? Any idea on what a fair price would be to offer on this mold?

Thanks in advance.

[bruce381]

way to big of bullet for a chiefs special more for a longer barrel 38 or 357.

[patio]

Thank you Bruce. Will pass on this one.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Not one to pass up if the price is even close to right… it is a great bullet for .38/357

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell38KeithHP358439.htm

[Stopsign32v]

Not a common mold right there.

[patio]

Not one to pass up if the price is even close to right… it is a great bullet for .38/357

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell38KeithHP358439.htm

Read the article that you provided. Went ahead and got it. Thank you for the information.

[fecmech]

Read the article that you provided. Went ahead and got it. Thank you for the information.

Good call!
I would argue it's probably the "best" bullet for that snub nose. Cast out of a 40/1 lead tin alloy they weigh right at 158grs and with a +P powder charge they will expand even at snub nose speeds. There is no other bullet IMO that will perform better defensively in a snub gun.

[metricmonkeywrench]

No Problem. My general rule of thumb is that anything hollow pointed (or hollow based if I can find any) for a caliber I have with a price I'm willing to invest is worth it.

I do have this mould and a newer Lyman version and once you get the hang of casting with it they can be quite fun to cast and shoot, I'm not a hunter or use these for self defense but they kill paper really well and folks that come out with me to the range think its great to fire "real" .

I do limited runs if these as production with a single cavity is a bit slow, I have the 2 cavity non-hollow point mould which gets more of a workout

[gwpercle]

I have one ... e-bay allowed me to buy a lot of discontinued moulds .
Mine is in solid point and 170 grs. , tested in all my 38's and 357's I found it to be a long boolit ... I didn't like crimping over the first driving band .
It also wasn't the most accurate boolit ... that title goes to Lyman 358432 , a 160 gr. modified wadcutter design that is not seated deep in the case .
#358432 160 gr. (there is also a 148 gr. with the same mould number) has become my 38 special projectile of choice ... my Airweight J-frame stays loaded with then .

I simply find the 170 gr. 358439 too heavy and too long (mainly too long) for the 38 special and J-frame 38 revolver cylinder length's ... but I never tested the Hollow Point ... it might be a winner if it will seat and crimp in the crimp groove and still chamber ... I not a fan of crimping over the front driving band .

You don't see that mould every day ... if priced reasonably ... get it ... you will own other 38 / 357 handguns and it might be just the ticket .

In theory ... Lyman 358439HP is still in production and available from Midway USA for $97.99 in brand new condition ... But ... of course it's marked
"out of stock , no backorder " !!!
I don't know what a "reasonable" price is any longer ... when you feel the "price is right" ... jump on it with both feet !
Gary

[gwpercle]

Read the article that you provided. Went ahead and got it. Thank you for the information.

Good Call !
Do you mind me asking how much it set you back ... it has been a long time since I bought my last used Lyman mould ( before the covid thing) , this is a desirable one and was wondering what inflation had done to the prices .
Gary

[patio]

Good Call !
Do you mind me asking how much it set you back ... it has been a long time since I bought my last used Lyman mould ( before the covid thing) , this is a desirable one and was wondering what inflation had done to the prices .
Gary

Didn't pay a lot for it. I wouldn't use it as a gage for current prices. Sent you a pm.

[StrawHat]

I also have this mold. Got mine without the hp pin, so cheap! Made a pin and used it in my 1950 Heavy Duty. Found that I preferred solids! Made a pin for that. If you want to try solids without making another pin, droop a bit of bird shot in the mold before casting.

Kevin

[lotech]

I've had one from the '60s for a long time. Cast of app. ww alloy or a little softer, bullets weigh 155 grs. Best velocity you will get from a 2" J-frame gun will be about 750 fps unless you load it pretty warm. If you need expansion, use a soft alloy of no more than about 8-10 BHN.