180gr .357

[Medic08]

I am looking to buy a 180gr mold for my .357. So far I have never cast a boolit but I am going to start. I am thinking something in this weight is what I want for hunting PA Whitetails. I love pistol hunting and I want to shoot my own reloads with boolits that I made. So let me know what mold would work well for me.

[cbrick]

Welcome to CastBoolits Medic08,

Before recommending a mold, what firearm is it for?

Rick

[Blammer]

NOE's 360 180 is a very good one for this.

May want to see about getting in on the GB that's going on for that mould.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN7626.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits%20fun/DSCN7627.jpg

[Medic08]

I have a Smith & Wesson 386 hunter with a 6" barrel. That is the scandium framed model.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Blammer ,that's a SWEET looking boolit!

[GLL]

Bruce at BRP made two variations of the 360-180GC. Both are outstanding in either revolver or carbine ! :)
You would now need to have a clone made by someone like ACCURATE MOLDS !

The NOE 360180 illustrated by Blammer is also a very good choice

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/0D76FBEA2170344/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/39DE3B72C440744/standard.jpg

[GP100man]

I purchased a slightly used NOE 360-180 RG2 mold 1 cavity is plain based & the other is gas checked.

While the mold is quality made & versitile it casts easy,but it`s slow if ya only want 1 style .

I would decide on 1 style or the other & get a 3 -5 cavity

[parson48]

I've had good results with Ranch Dog molds. He has a 170 grain mold for .357.

[Medic08]

I put in for one of the group buy molds. It looks like just what I had in mind. Now to look under some rocks for the extra cash. lol

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Seaco makes a nice 180 gr boolit ether gc. or with out.
Don't know how you'll kike shooting it in that light pistol ?
Also will it hold up to heavy loads?
:Fire::Fire:

[cbrick]

The two bullets you refer to are SAECO #396, a 180 gr PB and SAECO #399, the same bullet in a gas check version. I have both of these molds, they are BOTH a two diameter bullet. The front driving band is at least .005" smaller than bullet diameter. There is no way to size these bullets for a revolver and they horribly leaded the cylinder of every revolver I tried them in and there was nothing resembling accuracy. These are not revolver bullets but they did do fairly well a Marlin 94 357 and in the closed breech of a T/C Contender 357.

Rick

[EDK]

The NOE 360 180 WFN is an excellent boolit. My moulds are ordered with 4 plain base and one gas check cavity in the pistol calibers. I'll use an occasional gas checked boolit in the revolvers, but they are used mostly in "rifle specific" in a MARLIN Cowboy that sides the revolvers in that caliber.

I'm going to order the RANCH DOG 175 next month (just retired on a "golden parachute" for us union types no less! and signed up for social security; make sure the money is coming in.) I really like his TLC 432 265 and it will remove lead from pistol barrels...got high hopes for this one to perform that well. Michael is THE MAN for lead boolits in a MARLIN rifle.

The guys over at marlinowners are really enthused about 180 grain +/- in the MARLIN 1894 in 357.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

[imashooter2]

The two bullets you refer to are SAECO #396, a 180 gr PB and SAECO #399, the same bullet in a gas check version. I have both of these molds, they are BOTH a two diameter bullet. The front driving band is at least .005" smaller than bullet diameter. There is no way to size these bullets for a revolver and they horribly leaded the cylinder of every revolver I tried them in and there was nothing resembling accuracy. These are not revolver bullets but they did do fairly well a Marlin 94 357 and in the closed breech of a T/C Contender 357.

Rick

The SAECO #353 and #354 are 180 grain RNFP and both of them work very well from revolver or carbine. I'd prefer one of the big meplat group buy boolits for hunting though.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Yes I was referring to the Seaco 353 & 354 molds. I have the 4 cav. gc 180gr & it does a good job in my Ruger Redhawk. :Fire::Fire:

[Blammer]

Yea I shot baby bambi but he was good eating!

Plus it was with my win 94 in 360DW using the 360180 boolit. :)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2007%20Deer/DSCN6247.jpg

path of destruction

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2007%20Deer/DSCN6249.jpg

[Medic08]

As far as the recoil with the heavy loads it doesn't bother me. I haven't found a handgun I don't like to shoot yet including a 14" barrel 45/70. I haven't herd of any problems with this revolver holding up to heavy loads either. I won't be shooting a butt load of them either.

[theperfessor]

I have an older Lyman 358429 that casts about 173-174 grs with WW and some pure. Haven't shot anything animate with it but it works fine in several .38 and .357 handguns and in .38 cases in a Marlin 1894C. I only mention this because this mold comes up a lot for resale, might be able to get one at a reasonable price.

[Iron Mike Golf]

+1 on what ThePerfessor said. I get about 170 gr with my alloy and it shoots real fine in my 4 inch M28-2 and 6.5 inch Blackhawk. I picked up a used 4 cav for about $40.

I don't have your gun, but I expect the cylinder is longer than my M28 and if you use this bullet, you might be able to crimp in the crimp groove. I have to crimp over the forward dive band when using 357 mag brass. Or use 38 Spl brass and crimp in the groove.

[gandydancer]

Yea I shot baby bambi but he was good eating!

Plus it was with my win 94 in 360DW using the 360180 boolit. :)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2007%20Deer/DSCN6247.jpg

path of destruction

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/2007%20Deer/DSCN6249.jpg
Hey Blammer! Isn't there a weight limit on bambi deer?? lol I bet it was good.

[Ilwil]

MiHec has an active buy going right now for a 180 grn bullet, with pins to make a couple types of hollow points as well as solids. I have two of his molds, and the quality is very fine. I'm in for this one, and we could use more guys to sign on for this one.

[gandydancer]

Bruce at BRP made two variations of the 360-180GC. Both are outstanding in either revolver or carbine ! :)
You would now need to have a clone made by someone like ACCURATE MOLDS !

The NOE 360180 illustrated by Blammer is also a very good choice

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/0D76FBEA2170344/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/39DE3B72C440744/standard.jpg
Howdy GLL is that a accurate mold bullet you showing if so do you have the number? thanks. Getch

[GLL]

Both designs are very accurate in .357MAX carbines ! Unfortunately BRP molds are not longer in production but I am sure that Tom at Accurate Molds could make you a very similar mold. Bruce's BRP catalog listed both designs as 360-180GC. The noses, crimp grooves, and meplats were different but both weighed 180 grains.

I was VERY sorry to see Bruce stop making these great molds but am happy I had him make me a BUNCH of custom jobs in time ! The 429106 for .44Russian and .44Special is a favorite one off he never listed ! :) :)

Jerry

[nanuk]

Yea I shot baby bambi but he was good eating!



Heh... Bambi's is the BEST eat'n

[white eagle]

I just pick this one up from Tom
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-180E-D.png,
bought with the intent of using it in a 357 mag
but some how I have them loaded in my 358 win.
w/14 gr unique and a touch of dacron fill
we will see how they shoot tomorrow

[GLL]

white eagle:

I just received the Accurate Molds 36-185B for use in my .357MAX. It will soon be off to get an HP added !

Jerry

For comparison:
..........36-185B ....................36-180E
http://www.fototime.com/29A16DBB1C0BDDF/standard.jpg