Help Choosing Mold for 38 Special

[Racingsnake]

Hi...I'm new to casting. I shoot approx 500 38 Specials per month at the range and need advice on the best all round mold (not a WC).

I've checked ebay, Lyman etc and their seems so much variety. What's the best allround 38 Special bullet for ease of casting and shooting?

Regards, Racingsnake

[Wally]

I like the Lee 125 RNF...or, if you prefer a SWC--use a Lee 140 SWC..both are great.

[Carolina Cast Bullets]

It is my considered opinion that the best "all around" 38 Special boolit is a good cast/swaged SWC of between 140 and 158 grains in weight and sized for your gun. Such boolit can be made hollow pointed if that is your preference but in my experience, not necessary. The relativley large meplat (big flat point) does the damge/work for the boolit.

Jerry
Carolina Cast Bullets

[theperfessor]

I'll agree with CCB but I might add that the Lyman 358429 (about 170 grs or so) shoots well in my M10. I also like the Lyman 358477 and have a 358311 RN clone that shoots well in .38.

[MtGun44]

A lot of overlap with theperfesser. RCBS 38-150-SWC and Lyman 358477 are both excellent
150 grain semiwaddcutter designs that have been very accurate for me. The great heavy
boolit Lyman 358429 is another very good design. I have also had top results at magnum
levels with Lee 358-158 RF (LBT style) mold. All at moderate hardness, just air cooled
wheel weight. I don't actually remember using the Lee boolit at .38 Spl velocities, but it
should shine there. I certainly does at full max .357 magnum loads for me.

The biggest issue is making revolver boolits match the cylinder throats. The great news is
that if you have a S&W or Colt a .357 or .358 diameter are about 99% certain to be very
accurate and have little or no leading since these guns typically do not show the big
throat variations seen in the .44 and .45 cal guns from all manufacturers.

Bill

[Racingsnake]

The 158gr Lee LBT is a nice looking bullet.

I looked at the other Lee designs as well. I've never got accustomed to the Microband bullets but have no experience with them - are they any good? They appear easier to lube for a newbie like myself?

Racingsnake

[beagle]

The perfessor and MTgun give good advice. You might throw in a good wadcutter mould like the Lyman 358495 or H & G #50 for target work and small game./beagle

[Racingsnake]

Thank you

[Doby45]

I like the Lee 125 RNF...or, if you prefer a SWC--use a Lee 140 SWC..both are great.

+1 for a great boolit

[Whistler]

I've used the TL358-158-SWC with great success in PPC competitions. Just tumble lube it with some wax based antirust spray and shoot it as cast without sizing.

I've gotten best results with 4.2gn of Vihtavuori N320.

[fecmech]

The 158gr Lee LBT is a nice looking bullet.

I looked at the other Lee designs as well. I've never got accustomed to the Microband bullets but have no experience with them - are they any good? They appear easier to lube for a newbie like myself?

Racingsnake

As I've said in previous posts I was gifted with a 6 cav Lee 158 TL SWC mold. Prior to owning this mold I looked down my nose at tumble lubing and TL bullets. Since using this mold and bullet I've done an about face on that thinking. Understand I'm using it in the 900 fps range out of handguns and 1150 out of rifles and to date I've not shot it a magnum velocities but plan to this summer. Within the parameters I've mentioned it will average 2-2.5" groups @ 50 yds out of a Ruger and S&W handgun. Out of 3 Lever rifles(2 Rossi's and a 94 Winchester) it's a 3-4" load at 100 yds and holds that level to 200 yds. I TL it with Recluse's 45-45-10 formula and it's a quick and easy bullet to make if you do a lot of shooting and those accuracy parameters are good for you.

For magnum loads I like 358429 and another 38 spl bullet is the plain old 158 rn, they are hard to beat in the accuracy dept.

[Dave B]

The Lee 125gr RF like Wally said, gets my vote. The 6 holer can "rain" bullets.

[9.3X62AL]

No tumble-lubing experience here. I agree with the above recommendations concerning both Lyman #358477 and #358429. I use A LOT of both.

[Centaur 1]

I'll be the oddball here. The most accurate cast boolit in my S&W 19 is the Lee 358-105-swc over 3.8 gr of bullseye. I was using the 158 swc, but the lighter boolit has less recoil and I get a lot more boolits from the same amount of lead. With the quantity that you use, the amount of lead that it takes to make 500 158gr boolits, you'll now get over 750 of them.

[MT Gianni]

I like the 358477 and the RCBS 150 K. I had good groups with the Lee140 swc but it has the smallest meplate available if you ever want to shoot game with it.

[EDK]

Another dissenting opinion.

Take a look at LYMAN 358665 or LEE 358 158 RF....similar 158 grain round nose flat point. I use the LYMAN in assorted revolvers and MARLIN Cowboy Rifles. There are other boolits for more specialized needs and other weights, but this is my go-to for my fixed sight RUGER VAQUEROS as well as adjustable sighted guns.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

[atr]

any SWC 158 gr.....either with or without a gas check
I have both and prefer the one without the gas check

another good one Ive found is the 125 gr RN ...no gas check....

[Boolseye]

I've used the TL358-158-SWC with great success
+1. Awesome bullet, from 750 fps right into magnum velocities w/ zero leading using 45-45-10
I size it to .358 to prevent case bulging.

[Dale53]

You will never go wrong in a .38 Special by choosing the Elmer Keith design (Lyman #358429). On the other hand, I have had excellent results with the Lee 158 RF with conventional lube groove.

I also shoot a lot of dbl ended W/C's (an original H&G #251 six cavity mould). Lee also has a rather nice W/C in a six cavity mould.

I have three lube sizers (Star, RCBS, and Lyman) so have never tried Lees tumble lube. Some people have good results with tumble lube and some don't.

You can also pan lube. If you use several 9" cake pans you can get decent production when pan lubing, then size with a Lee press mounted "push through" die.

Dale53

[Racingsnake]

Guys thank you for some great information. Racingsnake

[HATCH]

I used the Lyman 358477
Get a 4 cav mold. It isn't inexpensive like the LEE but it will last a very long time and will take some abuse.
Its a 150 grain SWC.
You can go with a heavier boolit but there isn't really a reason.
If you like, I can send you some to try out.

I use the Lyman 358477 mostly. I do have inbound a Mihec HP mold

[shotman]

If anyone is looking for a 358 -429 have a DC in very good shape $55 shipped

[casterofboolits]

I used the Lyman 358477
Get a 4 cav mold. It isn't inexpensive like the LEE but it will last a very long time and will take some abuse.
Its a 150 grain SWC.
You can go with a heavier boolit but there isn't really a reason.
If you like, I can send you some to try out.

I use the Lyman 358477 mostly. I do have inbound a Mihec HP mold

I have two of the Lyman four cavity #358477 38-150-SWCPB and have cast over 200,000 boolits from them when I had my casting business. They still cast excellent boolits and gave excellent results in all my 38/357 revolvers sized .358.

[Racingsnake]

Hi Hatch, PM sent

Racingsnake

[Ohio Rusty]

For a good all around boolit .... maybe consider the 150 grain SWC. You can load it down to the same plinking velocities and use the same powder as the 148 grain wadcutter, or you can run that same boolit to high velocities for a self defense round. The loads for the 158 grain boolit can also be used for that 150 grain boolit.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[rintinglen]

Depends on what you want the boolit to do, I use the 358-311 a lot in fixed sighted guns. 4.6 grains of WW 231 and I am usually shooting to point of aim. I have a Mi-hec 359-640 HP that I love, but I have shot many more Wadcutters, from several different molds, than I'll ever shoot from either the Hp or the round nose.
I am not a huge fan of the 358-429, maybe it's just me, but I've never had really good results. the 358-477 or it's RCBS clone (38-150 SWC) shoot better.

[38fan]

I have the Lyman 358242EV I put 2.6 gr. bullseye behind it for the ladies.
Lyman 358477 with 3. gr. bullsyes for my grandsons.
Like the Lee 90327 but without gascheck. This is an older mold.
These boolits are pan lubed and swagged. But instead of a pan, I use a plastic jar, a couple of hand fulls of bullets, lube, another couple of hand fulls of boolits , lube, screw the cap on and start rolling it around for about 5 minutes. Lay them out to dry before swagging. Replace the lid and the lube doesn't dry out.
I have a Lee 356-125-2R for my 9m, and a 356-102-1R for my .380. If I load these in my 38s, I don't swag them.

[NHlever]

I think that there are darn near as many good choices in .38 Special boolits as there are choices in the guns themselves these days. A good .38 Special revolver, and almost any mid weight (125-170 gr.) well cast boolit of the right alloy, sized to fit your gun, and cast with an eye towards quality will never let you down. They are just plai handy, and fun guns to have around, and you sure get more shooting per pound than you do with any of the big bores! The only exception to that statement is the use of round nosed boolits in tha caliber for hunting. I remember shooting a porcupine at about 10 feet as he was munching down on a tree I had planted. Shot placement was very good, and there was a good trickle of blood coming fromt the right place on his body. He looked at me, looked at the branch he was on, took a few steps, and started eating again. I was even less impressed than he was, though he was, in fact dead, and came to realize that eventually.

[Dale53]

I have lots of bullet moulds for various designs (and of course, many of them for the .38 Special).

If money is tight (I can remember quite well a time when every dime was dern near critical) then a good semi wad cutter design of a weight from 150-170 grs is the best choice as "all around" bullet. Most of the designs shoot well, they cut a clean hole in paper AND game, and just generally do really well for a varied set of requirements.

If I were limited to one bullet mould is would be a SWC. If I were limited to two, then I'd add a good four-six cavity bullet mould for a wadcutter.

I have shot a bushel basket of both with great results.

Dale53

[armed_partisan]

I second all votes for 358477. It is my favorite bullet for my favorite caliber. I have not yet been able to create a WC load that could match it for accuracy. I load mine mild to very hot (.38+P+), and it runs good in nearly every gun I've used it in. You can get higher velocities with this bullet than you can with the 358429, and that means more energy. I use the load described by the great Glenn Fryxell for this bullet: 5.4 grains of Unique. I call this a "Match" load, since I've not been able to best it.

[Swede44mag]

I have a 10 Cavity H&G 158gr Semi Wad-cutter Bevel Base I have used for years. It is heavy but will make a lot of bullets in a short time once it gets to the right temp. The only problem is it is heavy. I make a 1 pound coffee can and a 3 pound coffee can full each secession they last quite a while.

Lee 6 cavity is the way to go for weight be sure to get some bullplate to keep it from smearing.

BTW What Brand of pistol are you shooting? I had a Smith & Wesson in 686 for many years I now shoot a Dan Wesson .357 with a 8 inch Vent Heavy barrel and looking for a 10 Vent Light barrel.

Good luck

[BD]

Another vote for the Lee 158 RNFP. It allows more case capacity than the SWCs and is less problematic to load from speed strips or speed loaders in a J frame.

BD

[38fan]

I've turned to lighter boolits. I was casting a 358-158 gr. swc. Now I have the 358-150 gr. swc. I've had the 358-120 gr. rn. for some time now, I light load them for the ladies. The 158 is a Lee 6 holer, the 150 and 120 are double Lymans.
My equipement is all Lee. I alox my boolits in a plastic jar instead of a pan. I pour them out on shopping bags instead of waxpaper.

[4719dave]

TL it with Recluse's 45-45-10 formula and it's a quick and easy bullet to make if you do a lot of shooting and those accuracy parameters are good for you.

rcbs 150 gr swc dosen't have to be a tl boolit great stuff find the sticky great reading ps dont be affaired to ask questions these guys here are GREATTTTTTTTT

[GLL]

Take a look at BRP 360640 158gr. PB !

http://www.brp.castpics.net/P1.html

http://www.fototime.com/C48C63EB6405234/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/CF4A1EF55019434/standard.jpg

Jerry

[StrawHat]

I may as well offer my 2 cents on this. I started casting for 38 Specials with a Lee DC 158 grain SWCGC. It gave good performance (hit where I wanted, nice group and decent speed with no leading) but I did not care for nor did I use GCs so I had the gas check nub reamed out to make it a plain base. I really like that mold now. I also like the 358429 mold and boolit so for me it would be a toss up between those two molds for a SWC.

In your opening post you say no WCs but that is the style of boolit I use most in my 38 Special. Cast soft it is a good target plinking boolit and cast hard it makes a good hunting boolit. I probably shoot 100 WCs for every SWC when using the 38 Special.

[ColColt]

Would the 170 gr SWC work just as well(or better) with 357 cases? Just seems like a more natural for it than 38 to me for some reason-perhaps the weight.

[Dale53]

ColColt;
The Lyman 358429 works perfectly fine in either .38 Special or .357 magnum cases with THIS caveat: Crimped in the normal crimping groove it is too long for the S&W Model 27 or 28. It works perfectly well in the S&W Model 19 and the "L" frame Smiths. This bullet was developed by Elmer Keith for the 38/44 cartridge and heavy duty (.44 frame) .38 Special revolvers. This was BEFORE the .357 magnum hit the scene. Elmer either shortened the .357 magnum cases a few thousandths so the bullet could be crimped normally or crimped over the shoulder of the first band when later using in the .357 Magnum. This increases seating depth and requires a reduction in powder charges.

It is a GREAT bullet in the "L" frame Smiths like this one:

Model 686 - CS-1:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/QLightTentTests-2-1.jpg

Or even this one, a S&W Model 520 (titanium cylinder):

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/QDalesRevolversandPistols-2308.jpg

A excellent utility bullet for the .357 Magnum that will fit all revolvers chambered for this round is the Lee 358-158RF. The Lee Six cavity mould will allow real production. I can empty a 22 lb RCBS bottom pour pot in about 1-1½ hours with match grade bullets using this mould.

Dale53

[L1A1Rocker]

Model 686 - CS-1:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/QLightTentTests-2-1.jpg


Dale53


Good looking revolver there. What is the barrel length?

[ColColt]

You've got a CS-1?:( What a fine revolver. I've seen them in photos before and read of them but never handled or owned one. I'm sure if the 170 does well in it the GP100 I have would do just as good.

Just a side note. I had the good pleasure of meeting this icon(Elmer) at the 1974 NRA Convention in Atlanta and what a character he was. Got to shake his hand and he had an article in Guns and Ammo's special edition they had then and as he thumbed through it he said, "I've got an article in this S.O.B. somewhere and if I can find it, I'll autograph it" He found it and he did. I still treasure this keepsake.

[Dale53]

L1A1Rocker;
That is a 4" barrel on both revolvers.

ColColt;
I met Elmer twice at the NRA Convention. I only got to talk to him once. The second time he was sitting alone and I was looking at him to approach and he looked so tired that I decided not too. He died not long after. He is the gentleman that got me started on my way through his books when I was just a teen ager. I was just a kid when I corresponded with him (yeah, real letters on real paper,etc:mrgreen:). Elmer was a bit "salty" but was the absolute REAL DEAL!

Dale53