What is your favorite for .357?

[grubbylabs]

So I ordered a .357 yesterday, its a GP100 with a 6" barrel. What do you all think would be the perfect mold for it? I have a 140g fp from Accurate already for my wife's 38, so this will be for the hot rod .357's

[rintinglen]

My favorite is the RCBS copy of the time honored 358-156. Loaded to the top over H-110 the accuracy is superb and you can't get any more WHOMP out of a 357.

[waco]

I have a 180 RNFP from NOE. It will cast flat or hollow point boolits. You can order plain base or gas check.

[bangerjim]

.359 5 cav brass from MiHec. ~135gn plain nose or 2 shapes of HP's.

[tja6435]

The Mihec 359-640 with all pins is one of the most versatile 38cal molds available. It'll do 158gr penta/big hollow points. It'll do 165gr cup points, it'll do 170gr flat points.

I also have a LBT 358-180-FN 2 cavity gas check mold that is a dream to cast with. I have several or he Mihec 38 cal molds including wadcutters. NOE's hollowpoint wadcutter molds are great as well

[Good Cheer]

Reckon my favorite is... I like them all!

But if I could only have one it would be the RCBS 162 grain SWC GC or something a whole lot like it. The very first .38 mold I ever used was a Lee round nose plain base. It was really good too. Still have it and use it cast straight lead for a flintlock pistol.

[Bzcraig]

168gr swc Keith clone

[Motor]

grubbylabs. Is it blue steel or stainless steel?

I never had any luck with my Security Six SS model. It always leaded up. This wouldn't be a problem now that I powder coat but I never shot that one very good anyway so I don't miss it.

Motor

[Guesser]

2nd vote for Lyman 358156, does everything well from a dozen different revolvers and one carbine; also using H110 or surplus WC820

[Artful]

Depends upon what you want it to do - all around 358156 Thompson design SWC hard to beat. But I also like Lee's 105 grain SWC to just plink while saving lead. For speed loader games it's tough to beat a 160 grain 38 super RN design for funneling them into the cylinder.

[youngmman]

LBT 155 gn WFN, 10grns Blue Dot, .358", 93/5/2 BHN 14, LBT Blue Lube, CCI Magnum Primers, Redding Profile Crimp, 1.59" COL., It's close to max. in my S&W Mo. 28.

This has a velocity of about 1,100 and Terminal performance is incredible on varmints.

[grubbylabs]

Its a stainless model. I got got mostly for fun, but also for just in case I run across the odd deer in a short range weapon only season.

[SSGOldfart]

Don't forget the time tested 148gr.wadcutter still a nice easy round to make and shoot

[dragonrider]

From NOE 358-135 over 5 grains of Red Dot In my GP-100 and my Marlin 1894 is very good. It is becoming the only boolit I use in them. I size to .360 for both guns and get no leading at all. I use straight Wheel weights.

[gwpercle]

Buying one mould is like trying to eat one potato chip....just ain't no fun.

My first was Lyman 358156. SWC, gas check, two crimp grooves for loading 357 loads in 38 special brass, great for 357 magnum.
But then you'll need a full wadcutter for target loads, a heavy plain base for hunting, the 105 grain SWC from Lee for fun plinking and conserving lead and powder loads.
No no no ....you can't get just one ! The 38special/ 357 magnum handgun is just to versatile to hamstring yourself with one mould. The question should be , what SIX moulds should I start out with?
Gary

[Motor]

Its a stainless model. I got got mostly for fun, but also for just in case I run across the odd deer in a short range weapon only season.

I hope you have better luck with it then I did my SS Ruger and cast boolits. If you shoot hard cast or powder coated boolits you shouldn't have any problems. The GP-100s are great revolves.

Motor

[grubbylabs]

I have a 140 grain gas checked mold and a HP that's a little lighter.

[Rustyleee]

I have a 180 RNFP from NOE. It will cast flat or hollow point boolits. You can order plain base or gas check.

+1 It can't be beat!

[grubbylabs]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/17/4f42ef2d9f625e61494d74131b80aaab.jpg

This looks appealing.

[SteveS]

The Saeco #393, 160gr. swcgc is my standard for .357. Works in my Ruger w/wo the gas check.

For more weight I like the Saeco #354, 180gr. fpgc. Very accurate and also works w/wo the check.

Add the quality of the Saeco molds and I'm a very happy caster/shooter.

[Petrol & Powder]

I hope you have better luck with it then I did my SS Ruger and cast boolits. If you shoot hard cast or powder coated boolits you shouldn't have any problems. The GP-100s are great revolves.

Motor

My Service-Six's devour cast lead bullets and they run below 12 BHN, probably under 11 BHN and they don't lead the bore. My GP variants use the same bullets and they don't lead either. I don't think hard cast is a good idea unless you're running in the very upper ranges of magnum velocities and I'm not convinced it's needed even then. I can't speak to powder coating because I don't powder coat. I don't care for gas checks with revolver bullets and again I don't think they are needed at sane velocities. I understand gas checks on rifle bullets but if you need a gas check on a revolver bullet you may want to look at other factors first such as; bullet size, alloy and lube.

I can highly recommend this reading for the OP:
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

[Petrol & Powder]

Getting back to the OP, The GP-100 is a great revolver! I agree with gwpercle, good luck buying only one mold. [smilie=s:
In light of the OP's current 140grn FP I would suggest adding a SWC in the 160-170grn range. There's no need to drive a .357mag at extreme velocities and a lot of people have difficulties when they seek the highest possible speeds.
A 160-170 grn. SWC or SWCHP driven at magnum but not extreme speeds will get a lot done. Use a moderately soft alloy and you'll get a lot of work out of that flat point or hollow point. Gas checks aren't needed if the bullet fits the bore and the alloy is correct. By the way, despite what some say, deer aren't bullet proof. A handgun hunter needs to make responsible shots but a 165ish grain .357 soft lead flat point travelling at 1200 + fps will cleanly kill a deer with a well placed shot. The 44 caliber loads give a better margin of effectiveness but the .357mag is a very versatile cartridge and no slouch in the energy department.

The GP-100 is very strong, durable and accurate. They respond well to tuning and are far better guns that many people will acknowledge.
Enjoy you new revolver.

[Hueyville]

Choose your weight, top case off with 2400, Longshot or Blue Dot and cram it in. Enjoy. Usually load whatever have cast and laying about from 148 grain wad cutters to 160 grain Keith. Most 357's are very forgiving.

[HH928]

So....what's the general feeling these days about shooting the Saeco 180 gr. #354 bullet in the Ruger GP-100? Most loads I see for this heavy bullet is for rifles and most comments are a few years old. What's the best source for suggested powder loads in these short barrels? Has this bullet fallen out of favor? Or?

[lightman]

I like Elmer Keith’s bullets in revolvers and shoot both the 150 and the 170 grain weights cast from straight wheel weights. Mold wise, just pick one!

[blue32]

Accurate 36-180F

[Beerd]

blue32, how does it shoot?
single shoot or revolver or rifle?
..

[Steven66]

Is the Accurate #36-158VG a gas check design?

[sniper]

RCBS 150 gr SWC!

[lotech]

The #358156 is certainly a good one, but another just as accurate, but without a gas check is the original .357 Magnum bullet, the H&G #51. I've always found these bullets to be at least slightly more accurate than the popular #358429 or the #358439.

[AlexAkai]

My old Ideal 358477 does well for me

[Jack Stanley]

A man I used to work with has a Ruger GP100 and it's probably the nicest Ruger I've ever fired . It's accurate and didn't require any work to make it work right .

For myself I think my favorite is a 686 four inch .

Jack

[Hick]

Lyman 358-156GC. Funny story: a year before I bought my 357 I had an old Lyman mold but no handles. So I bid on a mold on Gunbroker that came with the handles. Got it for $40. Only bought it for the handles but turns out it was the Lyman 358-156. Now that I have two 357's I use a lot of those 358-156's. Fantastic design and I got it for so little without even knowing I would need it.

[dale2242]

I`m with AlexAkai, 358477...dale

[fecmech]

It's amazing how times change. If the OP had opened this thread 10 years ago the bulk of the replies would have been 358429(Keith) or the 358156(Thompson). We are living in the golden age for bullet casters with all kinds of great designs in excellent quality moulds. I started in 1970 with two 4 cav Lymans, a 358429 for mag loads and 358495(WC) for the .38 spl. I still have the 358429. It's a solid 2" 50yd load at 1300fps out of my GP100 and a few other .357's I've owned. My .38's are now dominated by the Lee 125RF and Lee 120TC due to their superb accuracy. There are very few bad choices in the .357.

[marek313]

I love my GP100 MC and I'm sure you will love your GP too. I started with Lyman 358446 and another Lyman WC but I cant remember the mold #. Dont shoot neither much because those are only 2 cavity molds. I also like shooting Lee 356-125-2R PCed and sized to .3575 under 5gr of HP38 which makes a nice and accurate 38S round. My last purchase was Lee 358-158-RF which seems to working fine too. I have to do little bit more testing with this one but appears to be more accurate then Lyman 358446.

[DocSavage]

Ruger Redhawk and GP100 here Saeco 158 swcgc and 180 gr RNFP with a dose of 296/H110. The 180 I can push to 1200 + fps out of my Redhawk.

[Grmps]

358-158-RN 2 RCBS
works great in revolver and rifle

[3leggedturtle]

Saeco 180gr RNFP is my most used. Todd/3leg

[jmort]

216358

[c1skout]

I use the 358156 and the Lee 158 gcswc from my GP100. Both cast from range scrap sized .358 and using BLL. I used to use a stiff charge of 2400 but have recently switched to ACC#9, they run just as fast but the recoil feels less "snappy" to me.

The Lee boolit is just a shade more accurate for me at 50yds, but I shoot more of the old Lyman just because I like it!

[Mica_Hiebert]

NOE 360-180 wfn plain base.

[DerekP Houston]

My favorite is the RCBS copy of the time honored 358-156. Loaded to the top over H-110 the accuracy is superb and you can't get any more WHOMP out of a 357.

I have the RCBS 2 cavity 358-156 SWC w/ gas check. Its my favored round for the magnums, but to be honest I dont really shoot them that often.