Lyman 358-429

[JLK]

Does any one have experience with a recent production 4 cavity mold?
I bought one 10 years ago and had terrible luck.
So bad Lyman took it back and allowed me to exchange it for a different
mold/caliber.
My problem was accuracy.
The bullets wouldn't hold 8" at 25yds off sand bags in a 6" Colt Python.
Thing is the mold cast some of the most beautiful bullets I have ever made.
Thanks!
JLK

[peerlesscowboy]

I got a two cavity Ly358429, first mould I ever owned. Made good bullets when I bought it 45 years ago and it still does.

John C. Saubak

[sagamore-one]

I bought a 4 cavity 358429 about a year ago from Graf, I think.
I need to "alloy up" to get enough diameter to size to .358, but they shoot great through my 6 inch Highway Patrolman. Weight is around 166 grains. I load on top of 13 gr of 2400 to get a chrono velocity of 1410 fps.
They shoot just as well as my H&G 43 boolits.
Just for info... years ago I struggled with a Python trying to get acceptable accuracy with cast lead. Ended up sizing .356 . Got tired of the drama and got a Smith.

[Dan Cash]

I bought a 4 cavity 452664 a year ago. It is a very good mould and drops a soft bullet at .454 very easily. Only complaint is that it is bevel base and was supposed to be flat

[JLK]

Thanks Sagamore,
The thing about my Python is I've gotten great accuracy out of H&G 50's and 51's.
Sent some of these bullets to a friend with a 686 and he had the same poor results.
I'd love to have the bullet design but I'm afraid to buy another Lyman.
Maybe a clone?
JLK

[sagamore-one]

Try pushing them a little faster......
Size some at .357 and some at .356 and push them a little harder down the tube.

[Piedmont]

I don't know if Lyman still has this problem but a lot of older 358429s have a sub-diameter front band. Two I measured were .354 and .355. So you have a long nose to begin with then take away the bearing surface of that front band leaving lots of unsupported weight up front. That can't help accuracy.

You might want to measure all the bands of what is dropping from your mould.

[JLK]

I no longer have the mold.
This all happened around 2004 when I had the trouble
and Lyman agreed to take it back.
The reason I'm interested is I need a round nose or semi-wadcutter
158gr bullet to shoot in the NRA Distinguished Revolver matches.
Thanks!
JLK

[fecmech]

I'm not familiar with the course of fire but the Lyman 158 rn has a good rep for accuracy and I have used the H&G #39 158 rn for years. The H&G 39 is my standard for accuracy in .38 level loads, it will even out shoot HBWC's (just slightly) at 50 yds and at 100 yds there's no contest.


PS. I've shot the Lyman 358429 since the 70's and my experience it needs to go fast. The best I can do with it under 1000 fps is about 3"@50 yds, at 1250 fps it will average 2"@50yds. Not what one would use for target work. Best results came with stiff charges of 296(15 grs),Blue dot(10 grs)and the old classic 13.5/2400. The most accurate was the 296 load.

[JLK]

Thanks FecMec.
The distinguished revolver course of fire is a national match course.
10 shots slow fire @ 50yds
10 shots timed fire @25 yds (two 5 shot strings, each string in 20 seconds)
10 shots rapid fire @ 25 yds (two 5 shot strings, each string in 10 seconds)
One handed no support.
You may shoot single or double action.
The trigger must be 3.5# minimum in single action.
JLK

[casterofboolits]

Wasn't the 358429 one of Elmer's designs for use over hefty charges of 2400? The 358429 was my first SWC four cavity mould. Paid a whole $10.00 for it at the time. Mid 70's.


Perhaps you should try the 358477 38-150-SWCPB. This boolit worked well for me in several S&W 38/357 hand guns.

[beagle]

Good advice. I have an old 4" Python that loves them sized .356" for some reason. Might be a place to start./beagle


Try pushing them a little faster......
Size some at .357 and some at .356 and push them a little harder down the tube.

[mroliver77]

I would go with the 358477 Lyman. It is a 150gr SWC designed basically like a Kieth boolit. Why use the extra lead? Now my 358429 shoots like a lazer beam when pushed fast out of my Black Hawk at max velocities. It is a hunting boolit so I push it to 1930's .357 MAGNUM specs and it delivers the goods.
I have a 4 cav and a single cav. Mine have full sized driving bands.
Jay

[JLK]

Hi Jay,

"Why use the extra lead?"

The rules for the Distinguished Revolver program state
"158gr round nose or semi-wadcutter."

So I'm stuck.

Thanks though!
JLK

[44magLeo]

I've had some luck with Lymans 358311. Weighed 162 in WW's
At the tail end of one session standing up, two handed at 100 yards. I ripped off a cylinder full out of my Dan Wesson with 4 inch barrel, as quickly as I could get the sights on target. A 5 inch group. Best group of the day. Most were about 3 inches at twenty five yards.
I haven't tried the 358429.
I think if you tried the 358477, the boolits might weigh 158 grs. Most of my boolits run heavy.

[GabbyM]

My three year old two cavity #358477 weighs 154 grains from 2/6 alloy. Moulds are listed as 150 grains. WW metal would be 2 or 3 grains heavier probably.

I have the #358429 in a five cavity mould from NOE. It drops 177 grains from 2/6 alloy. Huge hunk of lead. Nice mold.

The round nosed bullets don’t seam to get bid up to high on evil bay.