Balisti-cast 643 or 651

[chboats]

I am trying to decide on which mold to buy, the Balisti-cast 643 173 Gr Keith(H&G 43) or the 651 160gr SWC (H&G 51). They will be used in a BH 357 so I have enough cylinder to accommodate the long nose. Which one would provide the best accuracy? I don't care about the weight difference. Either one will kill a can or other threatening object just fine. I don't use max loads very often, mostly moderate to mild loads. Does anyone have experience with both boolits?

Thanks
Carl

[Le Loup Solitaire]

You are correct in pointing out the difference in length and weight. Both were popular H&G designs; the #51 having some difficulty with being too long for some magnums and the #43 being the "Keith design". I use the 51 and it shoots excellently in the 38 special and the 357. A couple of shooter colleagues use the 43 and claim that it gives optimal performance as well. In terms of bands, lube groove and shape there isn't a whole lot of difference between them; Both are good. I don't think that 13 grains of weight difference will make much difference in terminal ballistics. One is actually a sort of miniature of the other so probably it would come down to barrel length, twist and powder charge in determining if one had any advantage over the other. LLS

[LAH]

Carl if you're going to shoot them in long cylinders such as the NMBH, L or K frame S&W the long bullet may be the way to go. I shoot the long bullet though it be a Lyman. The longer bullet will also work fine the 38 special guns such as a M10 or M36. Hope this helps.

[chboats]

Thanks for the comments. I'm not sure it helps with the decision. It sounds like they both work well and there is no clear advantage of one over the other. I guess I can't go wrong with either.

Thanks
Carl

[fecmech]

Carl--I've shot the Lyman (longer design) for almost 40 years now. It is accurate and especially good at long range. I'm ordering the 643 from Ballisti cast in a 4 cav for myself in the group buy deal. The extra length never worried me. I've always used a light taper crimp on the front drive band and never had bullets move under recoil with max loads of 296. That bullet has a long bearing surface which gives it plenty of bullet pull.

[sliphammer]

For what its worth - if you ever decide to sell or trade a mold off having a Keith design doesn't hurt.

[GLL]

Ballisti-Cast #643
http://www.fototime.com/5FA8B861E75F358/orig.jpg

Jerry

[chboats]

OK OK I guess it's the 643. But GLL that's not fair posting boolit porn.

Thanks

Carl

[Texasflyboy]

That's mould porn. Like posting pics of really hot bathing suits hanging on a clotheshanger.

I bet those bullets are boolit porn....[smilie=l:


OK OK I guess it's the 643. But GLL that's not fair posting boolit porn.

Thanks

Carl