What's your favorite 38/357 bullet 145 - 160 grain?

[Petrol & Powder]

I haven't been casting for very long but I've been reloading for decades. In my limited casting experience, I've tried a few molds but the RCBS 38-150 SWC is without a doubt the one that I will rely on. It was recommended by members of this forum ( with a Lyman 358477 as a close second). That has proven to be sound advice and it is now my go - to 38/357 bullet.

With 20:1 or COWW alloy it drops out of the mold at around 160 Grs +/- and a little over .359" . The profile is basically a Keith SWC. I can't imagine a need for a gas check in a 38 Special bullet and I prefer simplicity over complexity any day of the week. I think sometimes people have a tendency to wander around looking for the next best thing when they already had something that is, "as good as it gets".

P&P

[GLL]

The RCBS 38-150 is also one of my favorite light SWC choices.
In fact the RCBS 38-150 and the NOE 360-145 are VERY similar designs !

The advantage is the NOE is available as a 5-cavity.
I sure wish RCBS made 4-cavity molds !

Jerry

[stu1ritter]

Being an olde target shooter, I've always liked a wad cutter, but needed something to allow a bit more powder capacity. Accurate # 36-155W.
Stu

[Forrest r]

Thanks for the picture of the Cramer - never seen one of those in real life. What time frame were they available?

I'm really not sure my understanding is that their hay-day was in the 1930's & they sold out to saeco in 1951. Owning 3 different pinned cramers they are one of my favorite mold makers & the molds cast beautiful bullets.

Hollow point molds are an excellent choice for fixed sighted revolvers, it's fun to test/try them. Some of the hp molds I cast/use for the 38/357's are:

Mihec 359640
Mihec 359-125
Cramer 25a
Lyman 358477
Lyman 358156
Lyman 358439

Mihec molds are always a good choice, after owning 11 of them I'm still amazed with the quality of them. Should have a 12th mold in the mail any day. I'd love to see a Mihec 358477 mold my lyman casts a 140gr hp & a 150gr solid nosed boolit.

forrest r

[Trey45]

H&G 50

[shooting on a shoestring]

NOE 360477. Lets me size and lube at 0.359 which works well in all my 35 calibers. The mould drops boolits easily. Boolits are round. They cast fast and shoot great. Those extra couple of thousandths of outside diameter makes a world of difference in a couple of my revolvers. Fit is good. Fatter is better. Never had a problem with leading or grouping using fat boolits.

[dragon813gt]

358156 or one of the 148 grain HBWC designs. I currently own MP versions of both these designs. I don't know what weight the 359640 drops at in hollowpoint form because mine is solid only. But it's only 10 grains heavier at 170 and is a tack driver.

[Green Frog]

If I were to limit myself to a single mould for the 38/357 (and unlikely prospect!) it would be the Ideal/Lyman 358156, probably in DC to make production quicker. Without a GC it is a great SWC target bullet and with a gas check and a hot load of powder it is fine for hunting and self defense with that nice flat meplat. In fact, for any revolver, a bullet on this basic theme would be (and usually is) my "go to" bullet. I see a few others have already chimed in supporting the 358156, so I must be in good company, in fact Skeeter wrote an article years ago summarizing the best of his 38/357 loads and he said virtually the same thing as well.

Froggie