38/357 with 358446 and/or 358477

[TCLouis]

I have both molds and am about to run out of boolits in that weight range with plain base.

As I remember it, one is considered to be more accurate than the other.

Which is most accurate>

OR

should I just run a bunch more of the 160 grain RNFP PB GB boolit?

[Wally]

There is no 358446.... I think you meant 357446... the 358477 is more accurate in my experience and I have been told the same from others that have tried both. Frankly the 357446 is a beautiful bullet, but unfortunately I have found it not to be very accurate. I tried one when I found that the 358429 was too long in my Model 27 in the .357 Magnum... I sold the 357446 mold and just trimmed back a few hundred .357 mag cases so that the 358429 would fit the cylinder.

I have noticed that the 357446 has been offered on S & S a no. of times and it takes along time to get it sold, unlike most BMs offered for sale. Seems that many just don't like that mold.

[MT Gianni]

In a strong modern, full sized handgun I have an accuracy load of 5.4 gr unique in a 38 case with the 358477. It is now an over load and 5.0 is the recommended max. The former load came from LY 45. if a K frame 38 won't shoot with either load it has problems. I no longer own a 357446, since the mid 1990's.

[dubber123]

I've had great success in several .38's with the 358477, but had no luck at all with the "446". As I recall, it was the least accurate .38 boolit I think I have ever shot, barring the tiny "stackable" wadcutter mold I made.

[mainiac]

This is intresting to me,,i have shot both,and the 446 shoots only fair,,but i have a 358477 thats an absolute dog. It wont shoot in any gun ive tried it in.It casts perfect looking boolits,but they just wont shoot.I thought about selling it,but wouldnt feel good doing that to somebody.....

[Beagle333]

My 357446's shoot really well, but they like to go fast. If I shoot them under 1000 fps, they'll wander.

[rintinglen]

My experience is that the 358-477 will generally shave an inch off the the groups made with the 357-446, all else being equal. Which was irksome, back in the day, because I had a 4 cavity 357-446 and a 2 cavity RCBS 38-150 K (their name for the same design as the 358-477.)
The 358-477 also outshot the 358-429 Keith boolit,

[dubber123]

This is intresting to me,,i have shot both,and the 446 shoots only fair,,but i have a 358477 thats an absolute dog. It wont shoot in any gun ive tried it in.It casts perfect looking boolits,but they just wont shoot.I thought about selling it,but wouldnt feel good doing that to somebody.....

If you use a lubrisizer, try using a little a more pressure to print a ring on the base, and check to see if the ring looks even. I wonder if you got a mold milled out of square?

I assume you are shooting them out of your S&W M14? I have gotten sub 1" groups from that boolit from a 1917 production M&P, and a 6" M14 this last winter.

[mainiac]

Ya know,i should spend some time,and determine whats wrong with this mold,but i have many molds that shoot well,so i kind of tucked it away,out of sight....

[dubber123]

Ya know,i should spend some time,and determine whats wrong with this mold,but i have many molds that shoot well,so i kind of tucked it away,out of sight....

I know the feeling, and I have done the same before with problem molds/guns. If you would be interested in trying some from my mold, shoot me a PM.