360344 ??

[Guesser]

Picked up this mold a few months ago to use in my S&W Regulation Police revolvers in 38 S&W. Full WC, probably 150 gr. marked 360344S (for small). This mold drops at .362/.363 using 50/50 WW/PB. If this is a small drop, what would a standard 360344 drop? Anyone with experience with either?
I size to .360 for both my guns and all the old designs work well. This 360344S makes me wonder and go; HHHMMMMM!!!

[runfiverun]

the 38 S&W took a larger boolit than the 38 special.
a 362 to 363 would have fit one pretty well. thirt Bbl's specced at 360. [ish]

[justingrosche]

Guesser, I'm getting my ducks in a row for a group buy of this Boolit.
Samples are submitted, drawings done, now I just have to put the thing together. I reserve not naming the manufacture since all details are pending his approval.
I have an Ideal 360344 single cavity. In a .38 special, sized to .358 it is a nice, clean cutting wadcutter.
My mold drops .360 and weighs 150 with 50/50 alloy

[Guesser]

Interesting, my mold is marked "S" and drops .362/.363 with 50/50. I size to .360 for both of my revolvers and accuracy is impressive. I have thought of sizing down to .358 for use in my Colt OMT, but the loob grooves are going to get really shallow, really quick doing that.

[square butte]

Lyman usaully marked undersized molds with a "U" prefix before the mord number to denote the fact that the mold cast undersized ie: U 360-344. I don't believe the "S" on your mold after the mold number was put there to indicate "small". Probably an inspectors initial. Perhaps someone more knowlegable will chime in.

[Guesser]

Good; yes I was transposing "s" and "u" in my thought malprocess.Thanks

[runfiverun]

s is most likely the cherry makers designation or lot number.

[Buckshot]

...............The old Lyman 4C 35863 drops a 150gr WC @ .363". I've had a couple other folks who owned one make the same comment. Years ago Lyman (and probably IDEAL moulds) used to drop a couple thou larger then the same numbers of today. Rumor has it they got enough grief about it that they cherried their moulds smaller.

................Buckshot

[308Man]

I have a 358344 that drops 360...

[phaessler]

I remember reading somewhere in an old Lyman handbook, that the 360***'s were designed to be used with the .38 Smith&Wesson, evidently they had such varying bore/groove diameters that slugging was almost mandatory....also have read it in Phil Sharpe's guide..

pete

[Guesser]

My mid '20's Regulation Police and my 1953 Regulation Police both measure perfect .3595, I size .360 and they are phenomenal performers for small framed guns.