In search of new 38/357 Mold

[novalty]

I currently have a Lachmiller 162gr. SWC PB mold, and am looking for a different mold for 38/357 Ruger SP101. I don't want a traditional wadcutter or round nose mold. After perusing through the Hensley Gibbs mold chart I see his #61 mold design with the blunt meplat. Does anyone else make a similiar design?

[Wally]

This is a .38 Caliber WC with 2 grease grooves. IMHO a Lee or Lyman 148 WC would be just as good...

Here's some more info on the H & G # 61:

http://hgmould.gunloads.com/molds/61.jpg

I have a Lee 158 RNF # 90303...it is a as accurate as a WC and a dream to cast with...It has a massive metaplate that hits as hard as any WC bullet. Lyman's # 358665 is similar, but has a smaller metaplate.

[novalty]

In regards to the wadcutter design, I am not looking to have boolits that seat flush with the case mouth.

I found this other post here that references Penn Bullets Thunderheads (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?133681-anybody-play-with-bore-riding-wadcutters)
http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL11/868624/1573547/48264897.jpg

[Wally]

Do you mean the case mouth..the rim is where the primer is....? If you want a WC to seat flush with the case mouth I suggest a Lee 148 WC-TL...or the RCBS #82223 148 DE-WC.

[novalty]

Do you mean the case mouth..the rim is where the primer is....? If you want a WC to seat flush with the case mouth I suggest a Lee 148 WC-TL...or the RCBS #82223 148 DE-WC.

Thanks Wally. I corrected my typing error. I am looking to avoid one that seats flush. From the other post I listed they were referred to as bore riders. They reference the THOR/Hammer design for 44's, but I'm unable to find another one like the HG#61 for 38/357.

[Beerd]

check out this offer from slug

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?210709-Lyman-358344-d-c-mould-for-the-board
..

[novalty]

check out this offer from slug

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?210709-Lyman-358344-d-c-mould-for-the-board
..

Thanks Beerd, I sent a PM to slug to find out some more info on the mold he has. Still interested in seeing what else might be available. Really wish Mihec had one in his line-up.

Also see some references on this site for a Modern Bond d-358582 or 358627.150 gr/160 gr

[Wally]

Perhaps a Lyman 358344...you'd have to list in the Want To Buy..perhaps one will turn up for you...

Look it up on this chart...http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

I have a Lyman 429348 that is similar...it shoots very accurately for me, but it is .44 Caliber.

Good Luck.

[GLL]

Have Tom at Accurate Molds design exactly what you want to your gun's specs !

http://www.accuratemolds.com/

Or... modify an existing design from his catalog !

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-155W-D.png

Jerry

[detox]

The RCBS 158gr Cowboy or the Lyman 158gr Cowboy are verygood and way lass expensive than Accurate moulds. Both of those boolits shoot verygood in my S&W 686. The Lyman or RCBS 150gr Keith style boolit is good also

[novalty]

The RCBS 158gr Cowboy or the Lyman 158gr Cowboy are verygood and way lass expensive than Accurate moulds. Both of those boolits shoot verygood in my S&W 686. The Lyman or RCBS 150gr Keith style boolit is good also

Detox that RCBS 158gr Cowboy looks very similiar to the Mihec 360640. I don't know, maybe that is the way I need to go. Just intrigued by the exposed wadcutter design.

[GLL]

Depends on the definition of "way" ! :) $81 vs. $98 !

With Tom you get to spec every dimension to fit your specific gun.
I do love RCBS molds though !

Jerry

[novalty]

Depends on the definition of "way" ! :) $81 vs. $98 !

With Tom you get to spec every dimension to fit your specific gun.
I do love RCBS molds though !

Jerry

I appreciate the recommendation of Tom's molds, but I am number than a pounded thumb. I wouldn't have the first idea how to go about ordering a custom dimension design for my Ruger SP101, and I would also be casting some for my father to shoot in his S&W 686.
http://2guystalkingmetsbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Square-Peg-1.jpg

[mainiac]

Thats how i struggle threw life,,driving the square peg,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the round hole never seems to be big enough........

[GLL]

That round hole looks pretty full of square peg to me ! ;) ;)

Jerry

[Idaho Mule]

Detox that RCBS 158gr Cowboy looks very similiar to the Mihec 360640. I don't know, maybe that is the way I need to go. Just intrigued by the exposed wadcutter design.That RCBS 158 CM mold has worked very well for me in 38's and 357 out of Ruger Security Six and Marlin 1894. I have to size .358 for the pistol and .359 for the Marlin for MY best results. JW

[HDS]

Detox that RCBS 158gr Cowboy looks very similiar to the Mihec 360640. I don't know, maybe that is the way I need to go. Just intrigued by the exposed wadcutter design.

A rerun of the Mihec 359640 is currently underway if that interests you (multiple HP pins so you can change weight from 158 to 170gr). Difference from the 360640 I believe is that it drops at 359" and has two crimp grooves. It probably won't be fast however, so if you want a mold now I'd look at the lyman or RCBS, or Accurate.

EDIT: If you want something more in line with your original request then I was browsing the Accurate catalog and found several interesting candidates, not true wadcutters but very wide flat nose bullets:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-165A-D.png
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-170A-D.png
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-170B-D.png

Would be a simple thing to order imo, just specify a .359" bullet diameter and it should fit almost any revolver and can be sized down to whats needed as well.

[novalty]

Thanks HDS for the links to the Accurate Molds closely matching the style I am interested in. I like the 36-170A and 36-170B, the biggest difference appears to be the size of the second driving band and the length of the bullet past the crimp groove. Not sure if the shorter second driving band will affect performance any, or the taper starting from .357 instead of .356.

[Baja_Traveler]

Don't forget the awesome NOE 360 WFN...

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=146&osCsid=s44q5rlss28js0qs4vihk6lu87

[hamour]

Don't forget the awesome NOE 360 WFN...

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=146&osCsid=s44q5rlss28js0qs4vihk6lu87

That was going to be my suggestion as well

[HeavyMetal]

The exposed wadcutter design has some merit, I favor Kieth's idea of a full caliber driving band to center the boolit in the chamber.

You can see this in all his original designs you'll also note that a full wadcutter never entered his head as he was a long range guy when ever the need arose.

Now having said all that I will make a small suggestion and that is the RCBS 150 SWC never had a gun it wouldn't fit, something that can't be said for the 358429!

Your H&G 61 is also a 150 grain and I have never been a fan of boolits over 150 for 357 Mag pistols This is a good all around boolit weight and a good all around design that will do everything you can ask of a 357 and then some!

That said do some shopping around at the various mold sites, you might even E mail Eric at Hollowpoint mold.com he does a little horse trading in molds and may have one laying around that isn't on his for sale side of his web site.

[NoZombies]

I don't know why I like type 3 wadcutters (that's what the H&G 61 is) but I really do.

The H&G #9 is another example, although it has a crimp groove. Modern Bond also made one with a crimp groove and a shorter nose. The ideal 360344 was the fore-runner to the 358344 but other than nominal diameter, is the same design. I've also got a few custom molds for type 3 WC's in .38 caliber.

The Type 3 wadcutter is a great design for self defense, as it lends to being pushed harder than flush seated WC's. I've found the style to be accurate in my guns almost universally, and with the very nearly full diameter meplat, they cut paper like a punch. I imagine they would do the same thing to someone who meant me or mine harm.

H&G #9:

http://hgmould.gunloads.com/molds/9_0.jpg

Lyman 358344:

81931

Modern Bond:

81932

[novalty]

NoZombies,

Thanks for the info. The H&G #9 is more the style I am looking for, as it has the crimp groove. Nothing against Lyman, but haven't had the best of luck with their molds. So they wouldn't be my preferencial choice. As mentioned early Tom @ Accurate molds has his 36-155W design, but his mold has one large lube groove opposed to the 2 in the H&G #9 and the Modern Bond D-358. I am afraid I will have a hard time finding either the H&G and Modern Bond, so I am sure I'll be in touch with Tom in the future.

[HeavyMetal]

Don't let one lube groove scare you off, LOL!

If you have a Star lube sizer in your future the single lube grove is a huge advantage in seting up your die for the boolit.

The H&G 9 is also a good weight so if Tom at accurate has a copy go for it with no fear.

[novalty]

Hoping Tom won't mind me posting a picture of his design. This is the one I have been considering. I've been having pretty good success with casting in my Mihec 4 Cavity brass molds, but the designs are pretty accepted--so I didn't mind getting 4 cavity. Where this one is kind of a whim for me, I am thinking I would go with a smaller 2 or 3 cavity mold. Will mainly be used for shooting steel plates.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRt0XJKd8NRd_p4VogQrUEg91G5mEGO4 bmGRB56P66NPu3GA9v0w2duerP7vQ

[HeavyMetal]

Mold size depends entirely upon your needs, be sure to think ahead, what you shoot today may triple next year.

A good 4 cavity mold in Tom's design will make boolits for you for a long time and they'll make plenty in short order!

As I get older my time in front of a lead pot simply isn't as long as it used to be so making as many good quaility boolits during the time I can hang in front of ther pot means a lot more to me today than it used to.

So much so that today I own three electric pots, a Lyman mag 20 dipper pot and a Lee 10 # mounted over an old Lyman 61 10#'er.

I use the Lee as a feeder pot and cast with a pair of Lee 6 cavity molds in either 9 MM or 45 auto, I makes a lot of boolits fast with this set up!

Go for the 4 banger and never look back, LOL!

[GaryN]

posted by HDS
A rerun of the Mihec 359640 is currently underway if that interests you (multiple HP pins so you can change weight from 158 to 170gr). Difference from the 360640 I believe is that it drops at 359" and has two crimp grooves. It probably won't be fast however, so if you want a mold now I'd look at the lyman or RCBS, or Accurate.

My gun love the 359640 that Mihec is running. If I didn't already have a double cavity I would be signing up for it.

[Michael J. Spangler]

this thread is killing me!
i've always liked the idea of type 3 wadcutters. now i really want one!

keep it coming guys!

[NoZombies]

Go for the 4 banger and never look back, LOL!

I agree with this statement entirely.

I have NEVER thought to myself "Gee, I wish I only had a one cavity mold of this design". Spend the few extra dollars, and prevent yourself from discovering how much you love the design, and having to spend the money again to get more capacity.

I have a 6 cavity custom made brass type 3 mold very similar to the H&G #9, as well as owning the #9 and the other molds I mentioned. I like all of them very much, and I find I prefer shooting them to "standard" type 2 wadcutters. Which is really saying something, as I am a big fan of type 2 wadcutters!