Lyman #358430 mould

[David LaPell]

I have been thinking about getting a 200 grain (or there abouts) version of the Lyman #358430 mould. I was thinking of using the bullets for .38 Special in my j-frame and maybe some for hunting rounds in my .38-44 and .357 Magnum. Does anyone have any experience with the bigger bullet on game?

[9.3X62AL]

On large game, no. On smaller quarry like jackrabbits--YES. When run at 38 Special velocities (700-750 FPS) it has a tendency to cartwheel while passing through even a small critter like the jack. Run faster--357 Magnum speeds like 1100-1200 FPS--it stays point forward but still inflicts pretty extensive tissue disruption. My thoughts are that as a deer boolit it should be cast as a BruceB Softpoint, with a 70-75 grain donor slug for the point to set up some expansion capability.

The notable trait of this bullet is its ACCURACY. From 700 to 1300 FPS, it is a tackdriver. I haven't fired the castings from a J-frame S&W or a D-frame Colt, and I suspect that recoil would be kind of sharp from a lighter-weight wheelgun of those types--even at docile 38 Special speeds of 600-650 FPS from the short-snouts. I fire LOTS of 200 grain NEI #169As from a K-frame S&W and a Webley-Enfield DAO, and they both produce some push-back. Their impact upon steel silhouettes is pretty impressive as well, every bit as strident as that from 158 grain +P SWCs that dupe the FBI classic 38 Special loading. I sure as hell won't be standing downrange fielding those slow-movers with a baseball glove.

Lyman #358430 was among the first moulds I purchased in 1981, and I love its castings.

[MT Gianni]

I have shot some that were made into a fp with a flat top punch. Pm an address and I will send you some samples of each.

[EMC45]

Whew! A J Frame? That would be interesting. I have some RD 190s and was thinking the same thing.

[Love Life]

I have been mulling over buying this same mould for over a year now. My numero uno solid is the 358429 loaded over 5 gr of unique, but this bullet is very interesting. I just wish one of the custom mould makes made one...

[GLL]

Several years ago I ran a 6-cavity Group Buy on the 45 2.1 designed GC version.
lathesmith ran the PB version !

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/D789E82718D9DD4/standard.jpg

[9.3X62AL]

We as a hobby group have been led to believe that RN designs are not as efficient as flat-nose or SWC designs in the game fields or on the street. I accept this premise in a general way, but blunt profiles like that found on #358430 don't seem to pass cleanly through critters like #358311 or the several 9mm RN designs I've used on live targets. One disturbing--and repeated--occurrence takes place with the ^%$# 147 grain JHPs that have become de rigeur in 9mm loadings as the "Sub-Sonic" JHP Panacaea To 9mm Stopping Power. Even with good center-mass hits, these loads don't stop JACKRABBITS effectively with a single strike. Not confidence-inspiring, that.

[beagle]

I've owned and shot a 358430 for years. In the .38 Special, it's a pretty awesome bullet up to 50 yards and after that tends to go unstable out of either a Blackhawk or a Marlin M894 .357.

In the .357 Mag case at higher velocities in either the Blackhawk or Marlin carbine, it's goot at 50 yards but again wanders a bit at 100 yards. Enough so that you can see the deviation during normal plinking.

GC'd, it does pretty well in the .35 Remington and I have one HP'd.

It makes a good shooting short range load in the .38 Special but expect it to shoot high.

Gun writers have written about it's tendency to tumble when hitting human or larger game targets as it's nothing but a cylinder with a rounded end. I can't attest to this but they have been used in the old "Police" 200 grain load for years with a good reputation.

For me, it's too heavy for the caliber and I'd rather spend my time on a good Keith design than messing with this one.

I also have a 150 grain version of this bullet and it hasn't set the house afire for me with accuracy either.

Just MHO./beagle

[smoked turkey]

I used a .357 rifle this year to kill a nice size doe. It wasn't too spectacular as it was a 35 yard broadside standing shot. I placed the NOE 36-180 FP just behind the shoulder in order to save meat. The boolit weighed 186 Gr. from wheelweight material. My load was 6.1 gr. Herco. I haven't chrono'ed the load. It is mild out of the rifle but does have some authority in my 4" model 28. It shoots good. I couldn't have asked for better boolit performance from any boolit IMO. Heavies are good in hunting situations I think.

[Doc Highwall]

I bought one of the group buys with the plain base for my Browning 1885 Lowwall in 357mag. So far I have cast some up out of 30:1 alloy but have not had a chance to shoot them yet.

[9.3X62AL]

Lotta good feedback here from folks whose experience and opinions I respect highly--Beagle being one such contributor.

Not a lot of my game-field work has exceeded 60 yards or so. To this distance I have no complaints about #358430's accuracy. A few of my shots have been at 75-80 yards, from the 357s.......and they arrived as placed with good outcomes.

As for felon-repelling potential.......200 grains of casting metal sustained in the 10-ring certainly won't do the recipient a world of good, whether propelled at 600 FPS or 1200 FPS. I am reminded of Col. Cooper's comments that a 2" 38 Special was perhaps the caliber's best possible platform--compact, reliable, and decisive at the short ranges often involved in self-defense scenarios. ANY gun is better than no gun when the excrement hits the oscillating ventilator--and I far prefer the chance to decline an interview oppurtunity to being the the subject of a post-mortem examination.

[Shakey Jakey]

I've shot the 430 out of my 38 Ruger LCR in front of X grains of 2400. At about 900 fps its a handful in that little gun.

[GLL]

Consider the old 150grain variation. from LYMAN. I use them in .38Special with good results.
http://www.fototime.com/17E47F2BF83493A/medium800.jpg

I had Bruce at BRP design and produce lighter weight versions in both GC and PB.
http://www.fototime.com/DC76820B289C703/orig.jpg

Jerry