Molds for 38/357

[Half Dog]

I wish to cast bullets for my 38/357. She is a S&W 686 and I would like for her to have 2 sisters that will allow me to possibly shoot cowboy style. I need suggestions on which molds are desired to shoot 38 cal cowboy style, 357 cowboy, and 357 target.

[bangerjim]

I have every mold made by Lee for 38/357 and like most all them. Do not care as much for the full wad cutter, as it chambers hard in my carbine.

Anything in the 120-160gn range is a nice shooting boolit. Unbelievable possibilities for all levels of loads in those big cases! Love it.

[Yodogsandman]

You can't go wrong with the "tried and true" Lyman 38/357 molds 358477 (150gr) or 358429 (170gr). Both are very accurate.

[paul h]

The Lee 158 rf is an outstanding bullet design, personally I prefer it to the various swc's (yes I know, heresy)

If you're looking for mild cowboy loads, the 125 rf will conserve lead and the 105 swc makes for real powder puff loads. I just ordered a lee 95 rf mold but haven't had a chance to cast it and try it yet but it should be more of the same of what makes the 105swc a good one.

[gunauthor]

I also have a S&W 686 and it really likes the tumble lube variety (and powder coated) 357 wadcutters from Lee.

[Forrest r]

I give my 686 a steady diet of lite plinking loads/38spl's. Mainly the h&g #50 148gr bbwc (beval base wad cutter) and the mihec 359-640's (158gr rf hp's). Some 50ft 6-shot groups.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/keepers_zpsrmfa629l.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/keepers_zpsrmfa629l.jpg.html)

Those bullets/loads listed above, I like to load the bullets long (middle lube grove for the bbwc and the bottom crimp groove on the 640) in the 38spl cases. That extends the bullet further up into the taper of the cylinder's chambers.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/close640amp50bb_zpskzsal7mj.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/close640amp50bb_zpskzsal7mj.jpg.html)

Might as well give a plug for the powder coated bullets. Maintained excellent accuracy the whole range session & not much clean-up after a couple hundred rounds of the ammo pictured above in the 686.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/686_zpseezfnjnz.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/686_zpseezfnjnz.jpg.html)

[Half Dog]

I need to ask...when you use "RF" I'm guessing you are not referring to rim fire. What does "RF" stand for?

[Hickok]

Round with flat, as per Lee's definition. http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-358-158-rf.html

This is a really good boolit for 357's, with a large meplat. Works great in my revolvers.

[tja6435]

As mentioned above, the Mihec 359-640 with all pins is one of the most versatile 38cal molds available currently. 160gr hollow points, 170gr solid points, 165gr cup point. 2 crimp grooves allows seating father out in cylinders that'll accommodate. It is one of my most used 38cal molds, and I have quite a few to choose from.
My most used mold for 38cal is a LBT 358-180-FN GC. It needs sized to .358" to fit in the GP100's, but it'll feed and extract from the 77/357 as cast. It is a very accurate bullet in revolvers as well as rifles.

[jcren]

I have great results with the lee 158 swc tl style powder coated. More accurate than lighter bullets for me and a thumpers when loaded up. 152520

[GWM]

I like roundnose boolits. Something like the Lyman 358311 would probably work well. And it looks right too. But each gun has it's own preferences. http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-details.php?entryID=12

(http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-details.php?entryID=12)

[FISH4BUGS]

My favorite is the H&G #51 160 gr swc and the #39 158 gr round nose. Plain base for 38's and light 357's, gas check for full house loads, and the #39 in max 38's and lighter 357's.
I also have an H&G #51 dual hollow point that I have yet to try out. After many years of experimentation, this mould design is the best (for me) all around bullet in all its forms.
I also have an H&G #?? (I forget the number) which is a very interesting 135gr pointed bullet in 38/357. Haven't played with that one much though.

[2wheelDuke]

I have great results with the lee 158 swc tl style powder coated. More accurate than lighter bullets for me and a thumpers when loaded up. 152520

These are my go-to plinkers. The 158gr TL SWC, coated, with a light charge of Bullseye. I also really like the 148gr TL DEWC. I tumble lube them in 45-45-10. They might be a little more accurate than the SWC, but they don't go in the cylinders quite as easily, so I give the edge to the SWC as plinkers.

I also do the Ranch Dog .380 boolits coated and sized .358 sometimes.

The Mihec 359-125hp have done pretty well too. The nose is too long on those to use in .357 brass in my carbine, but they feed well in .38 cases.

[Half Dog]

Thanks so much for your input but with a limited budget, I will have to pick one mold and purchase another later. It's looking like my 686 will be an only 357 sibling for a while but the excitement is still there.

[Dale53]

Half Dog;
You mention that you want to try Cowboy shooting in the near future. The Lee 158 gr. RF is an excellent bullet in the .38 Special/.357 Magnum for all 'round use. The wide meplat works well on edible small game, equals or exceeds a SWC on varmints, FEEDS well in lever actions (SWC's don't feed well in lever actions) and will shoot to the sights in most fixed sighted guns. The lighter bullets don't generally shoot to the sights. There are no guarantees in this regard, but you are stacking the dice in your favor using the "standard weight" bullets.

Add all of that up and put together with the availability of a Lee Six Cavity mould at very attractive prices you have a winner. By the way, I have a couple of 686's and this bullet seems tailored for the 686 (very quick to reload when used with speed loaders due to "tapered" shape.

Just a thought or two...
Dale53

[paul h]

Another vote for the lee 158 rf for a limited budget single mold. Very accurate, casts well, will work for plinking or hunting.

[Half Dog]

I am sold. 158 gr. RF seems to be the way to go. I just purchased a Lyman 358665 from another member on this site and I'm looking forward to using it. I want to say thanks to all for their input and hopefully I will be passing on your information to a younger crowd.

[David2011]

Round with flat, as per Lee's definition. http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-358-158-rf.html

This is a really good boolit for 357's, with a large meplat. Works great in my revolvers.


I am sold. 158 gr. RF seems to be the way to go. I just purchased a Lyman 358665 from another member on this site and I'm looking forward to using it. I want to say thanks to all for their input and hopefully I will be passing on your information to a younger crowd.

I have that mold as well. While I'm not a big fan of aluminum molds I LOVE the boolits this one drops. It makes awesome holes in paper and would do equally well on small to medium game. Elmer Keith was a big fan of the large meplat because of its ability to cut arteries and veins.

David

[MtGun44]

Lyman 358477, RCBS 38-150-SWC (old molds were KT instead of SWC) are near clones and
wonderful 150 gr SWCs. Lee 358 158 RF is a top design, but the bevel base is a minor PITA for
folks using RCBS or Lyman lubrisizers.

[robg]

the lee 158gr is very accurate pb boolit in my win trapper.but my favorite for full power loads is rcbs180gr gc sil mold

[Maximumbob54]

The Lee tumble lube 158gr SWC isn't a very exciting looking bullet but I have yet to find a .38 or .357 revolver or carbine that doesn't shoot them well. I've done the various tumble lube options and found they all work, I've used Klass Kote epoxy and a few powder coatings and they all worked, and I've done all of the above both sized to .358" and shot as dropped and they worked. I will always wish it had a longer or more existent front driving band and the edges were a little sharper but what the hey it works. And they drop just fine from that six cavity mold.

[toallmy]

The old rcbs 150 kt swc mold I found in ruff shape cleaned up nice and is a pleasure to cast and shoot . For target and plinking it simply worked for me.

[lotech]

H&G #51, the original .357 Magnum 160-grain SWC plainbase bullet. Works very well in the .38 Special, too.

[Bryan527]

I like Lyman's 358429 for .38 Special and the RCBS 38-150 for .38 and .357.

[putnro01]

Current load preferences are the 358477 PB, 358156 GC (for .357 loads) and warming up to 35891.
I recall the 477 & 156 feeding through my rossi '92 w/o issue.

[avogunner]

All nice choices but my preferences are:
Lyman 358432 - target
Lyman 358311 - Cowboy/plinking
Lyman 358156GC - 357 Mag and 38 +P

[Petrol & Powder]

The 150-160grain SWC is an outstanding all-around bullet for the 38/357 and in my opinion, there's no need to go any farther. You can drop the bullet weight down a bit to save a little lead but at the cost of more complicated logistics. I'd rather have one good all-around design. I shoot a lot guns with fixed sights and prefer to keep the weights around 158grs. There's a lot to be said for consistency and simplicity of logistics.
To that end, I would recommend the RCBS 38-150 K or it near clone the Lyman 358477. The RCBS is a fine mold but they only come in two cavity (which may not be a bad thing). The Lyman can be had in 2 cavity or 4 cavity.

If you can find a good H&G mold (or the modern equivalent) of the same profile, that would be a good option as well.

Some posters have suggested a RF profile and that is certainly another option. I tend to lean towards SWC's and Keith designs but that is not holy writ.

Some people feel that round nose bullets are the most accurate profile in a revolver but if that is the case, the improved accuracy is very slight in my experience. The round nose is very speedloader friendly but the SWC and RF designs also work with speedloaders. The round nose is probably the worst profile in terms of terminal performance so if you're doing anything beyond ringing steel and punching holes in paper, the SWC and RF designs become far better compromises.