RCBS 38 cal. 158 RN

[Ben]

I had an opportunity to buy this discontinued RCBS double cav. 38 / 357 , 158 gr. RN mold. It is pristine new in the box with warranty papers. One fine mold, machining rivals H & G and SAECO molds. I paid $49 shipped to my door, I don't regret a penny of it ! Paper work in the box was dated 1977.

I believe this particular mold is discontinued by RCBS.
The RCBS, 38 / 357 , 158 gr. RN they are selling now doesn't have a crimp ring.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=541782&t=11082005

I've honed a Lee " Push Thru " bullet sizer out to .3574.
I push all the bullets through this sizer, nose first. Then lube ( only )in a .358 H & I die. I use a " floating Top punch " to insure that the bullet enters the die properly.

These should be some very accurate bullets ? ? I'll put these to good use in my Colt Officer's Model Match 6 ", 38 Special.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Officers%20Model%20Match/9001.jpg

Photos below:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/RCBS%20158%20RN/PICT0008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/RCBS%20158%20RN/PICT0017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/RCBS%20158%20RN/PICT0009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/RCBS%20158%20RN/PICT0013.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/RCBS%20158%20RN/PICT0012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/RCBS%20158%20RN/PICT0018.jpg

[Blammer]

very nice!

[dubber123]

RCBS makes great moulds, very beefy, with big alignment pins. I wish they offered more designs. What do the cylinder throats measure on your Colt?

[Ben]

Never measured the throats, It shoots in a ragged hole at 25 yards, with the .3574 dia. bullets . Just never felt the need to slug the throats and measure them. I guess---- " If it isn't broke, don't try to fix it."

Ben

[dubber123]

Well, you knew where I was headed with that one! If it shoots that good, you are right, no need to mess with it.

[Odinbreaker]

I have a semi wad cutter rcbs mould double cavity 150 gr for 38 been using it for years great bullet in 38 special

[HORNET]

RCBS makes VERY NICE molds indeed. Admittedly, they don't have a LOT of designs, but the ones that they do have are ALL good. You can also count on the dimensions which is not true of Ideals, old Lymans, or the ever-changing Lees (I think Lee specs theirs out of unobtainium).

[Ben]

You're so right. You buy a Lyman Mold and " assume " that you'll have a certain dimension on your bullet.....Guess what ? ? Most likely you'll be in for a real surprise when you cast you 1st bullets. I have several Lyman .30 cal. molds that I've bought from individuals and at Gun Shows that are " out of spec." Noses on many .30 Lyman molds run .297 --.298 - 299. Won't work in my .30 cal. rifles.

I ( and by the way, I'm not a Lee Basher ) bought a Lee Double Cav. 38/357 158 RF mold recently. The bullets " as cast" ran .354 one way and .357 the other way....Oval in shape . Sent it back to Lee. Got a new one. The replacement mold was within specs. Of course I was out shipping expense on a brand new mold that I'd only had a week because of their poor quality control.

This RCBS mold that you see above is within .0002 " with respects to roundness.

Ben

[crowbeaner]

All RCBS products are great and they have the best warranty in the business. I'd rather pay $10 more and KNOW what I'm getting. I have some in the cardboard boxes I bought 30 years ago and they still work great. They are the best buy IMHO.

[theperfessor]

Yeah RCBS has some fine molds. The only reason I don't have more of them is that they only offer them in 2 holers. This is no problem in rifle calibers but IMHO a real drawback in pistol calibers.

[Bret4207]

I have an older model of the same Colt, but with the 7 or 7.5" barrel. Sweet shooter when I can see the sights.

Nice pics. What so you use to put the text on the pic?

[Ben]

Software used is PhotoImpressions 4, camera is a Minolta Z-10 3.2 M-Pixel.

Ben