358156 Bare Bottom

[Ben]

My good friend Beagle, wrote an article in CastPics about removing the g/c shank on a Lyman 358156.
He is a big proponent of this procedure. I respect his views about as much as anyone that I know on bullet casting and shooting.

Here is John's article :

http://castpics.net/dpl/index.php/the-library/articles-about-a-specific-bullet/211-bare-bottomed-358156hp

I decided today to use my newly purchased 23/64 drill bit on an old double cav. Lyman 358156 mold and follow Beagle's lead and remove the g/c shanks in both cavities of my mold.

I spent quite a bit of time on the drill press this morning to be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that the drill bit was perfectly perpendicular to the top of the mold blocks. Took a bit of time but the results were worth it. Works smooth as silk, sizes out well , nice and round with no irregularities to .358".

Both cavities drop bullets that are 157 grs ( + or - 3/10 of a grain )

The rear bands are now about .361 " in both cavities. Bullets from both cavities vary by 3/10 - 4/10 of one grain. Weight variation is close enough for me for 25 yard revolver shooting.

No more pesky gas checks to buy and install.

Now to head to the range and give these a good evaluation on paper.

This is what a bullet looks like that has dropped from the mold prior to lubing and sizing.

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/004_zps7cda9f5b.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/004_zps7cda9f5b.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/003_zps5f89ab57.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/003_zps5f89ab57.jpg.html)

[JeffinNZ]

Ben, I am concerned you have become a gas check snob. What did gas checks ever do to you? [smilie=l:

[Ed_Shot]

Based on Beagle's article I just sent a new Lyman 358156 DC to Erik at Hollowpointmold.com to have the gc shanks removed. My first mold was a single cavity 358156 bought in 1968. Over 2400 13.5 gr w/gc it remains my favorite for both pistol and rifle. Aside from being SC the GC was always a draw back.

I am amazed at the difference between Lyman 1968 and 2014 version of the 358156. Using identical alloy both drop from the mold at .358~.359. The 1968 weighs 153.7 gr while the 2014 is at 158 gr. The most noticeable difference however is in length. The 1968 is .674 while the 2014 is .703 long. While the shank on the new boolit is obviously longer all dimensions on the newer model appear elongated compared to the 1968 version. Definitely takes up more space in the case.

After my Ruger showed me it really liked the new boolit I sent to Erik. I applaud anyone who has the skill to do that work on their own.

[Ben]

Jeff

Yes, that " bad ole' gas check " has cost me money, time, and frustration.

Ben

[GP100man]

I had Buckshot to remove the shanks on this 2 cavity 358156 & to HP the 357446 good $$ spent .

In the past he deshanked a 358156 HP mold & fitted a pin. I like em !!!

But I will say I`m not biased , I like all boolits!!!!

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0583.jpg (http://s746.photobucket.com/user/GP100man/media/102_0583.jpg.html)

Please excuse the fuzzy pic it`s from my old camera & early photo skills.


http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0012.jpg (http://s746.photobucket.com/user/GP100man/media/102_0012.jpg.html)

[Ben]

GP100man

Fuzzy or not, those look like some mean HP's.

Many say the 446' won't shoot ? ? I had Buckshot HP mine about 6 - 7 yrs. ago. Mine shoot great.

Ben

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/357446/PICT0004.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/haysb/media/357446/PICT0004.jpg.html)

I have 2 HP pins for my Lyman 357446 HP mold. One for slower 38 Spec. velocities and one for 357 Mag. velocities.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/357446/PICT0008.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/haysb/media/357446/PICT0008.jpg.html)

[MT Gianni]

I have a dechecked 35815 and a NOE RG2 that has gc. The choices are amazing. I can use pop can gc for higher velocity or slow it down. HP are only available with gc and to me the velocity is need because my hole is smaller than Ben's 38 HP pin. More great work. Now get to work on the Lee 30x113. It does great bare-bottommed.

[Ben]

Your right. That is a fine 30 cal cast bullet.

[GP100man]

The boolits in the fuzzy pic are 358156 hps just loobed the bottom crimp groove to see if it would help/hurt accuracy. It seemed to open groups a bit ,but it could`ve been me???

The article of Beagles was my inspiration for the deshankin of many 38/44 molds & also the HPing of some molds ,It seems like I remember reading one of Beagles articles where HPing never made a boolit (handgun) shoot bad ??

Anyways we think a lot alike ,but I surely would not go at a aluminum mold with a dremel!!
Seems the GP has new fodder to test ??? Happy shooting & be safe !

GP

[Ben]

I surely would not go at a aluminum mold with a dremel!!

I don't think I want to try it a 2nd time .

Ben

[FISH4BUGS]

Some time ago there was a group buy with a 6 cavity Lee 358156 with a plain base. I bought it used, for it had been beagled and had a set screw in the mould where the release lever hit the side of the mould. I think i cast some 2000 bullets and put them into coffee cans unsized. I never did anything with the mould again or with the bullets. That mould casts bullets like a dream. The bullets fall out of the mould like rain.
It is one of those moulds that will be sold eventually. I DID trade some bullets for brass a few times. I now use a 4 cavity H&G 51 for all my 38 and light load 357 reloads.

[Petrol & Powder]

I've never understood gas checks on handgun bullets.

[MT Gianni]

I've never understood gas checks on handgun bullets.
When they were cheap and pushed hard it made a little sense. When you can push this bullet out of a 357 model 92 at over 1800 fps it helps to have one. I believe for most shooters a gc will give you more accuracy at any velocity but you need to be a benchrest shooter to see it. For most handguns a pb works fine.

[leadman]

My handgun loads that go over about 1,350 fps prove to be more accurate with a gas check. I have shot the Lee 44 cal. 310gr RFN GC over 1,850 fps, definitely needed a gc.

Appears the OP did a fine job on removing the GC shank.

[TXGunNut]

I've never understood gas checks on handgun bullets.

At one time I thought I did, beginning to reconsider my choice of a RD GC boolit for 45 Colt. My thinking was that I could use it in revolvers and a Winchester 94 but never got around to trying it in the carbine.

[StrawHat]

The other day I found several boxes of loaded ammo. 38 Specials with a SWC boolit, crimped in the lower groove. I remember loading those a long time ago with Skeeter's recipe for getting 357 ballistics from 38 Special cases. I shot many thousands of them. Thanks for the memories!