Nice .38 Wadcutter, #358432-160

[Ricochet]

I've just realized that the precast wadcutter boolits (in Lyman #2, lubed with Ideal Lube, sized .358") and two-cavity Ideal mould I was given several years ago and finally am really putting to use are not the common old midrange 141 or 148 grain wadcutters. The mould is #358432, which came in either a 148 or 160 grain weight (in #2 alloy.) These, lubed, run about 162 grains. The gentleman who cast them (and gave them to me) filled all three grooves with lube, but the top groove is a crimping groove, with a substantial part of the boolit out of the case. It's almost a very abbreviated semiwadcutter, with most of the out-of-case nose being a bore riding cylinder with a short flat tipped "button" on the nose.

They've got enough of their volume out of the case when seated out to the crimping groove that I felt comfortable going ahead and loading some up with a standard 158 grain service load. I've shot some before loaded on the high end of the midrange target wadcutter level, and they shot well enough in my old Colt Official Police.

Interesting boolit.

[redneckdan]

I have the mould, along with a 110gr wad cutter mould. I load up the 110s for really light duty target practice and use the 160s loaded sub sonic for hunting small game closer to town. Both are superbly accurate.

[9.3X62AL]

Another happy owner of a Lyman #358432/160 grain. What I liked about the castings is that they would shoot right to the sights of fixed-sight 38 Special revolvers if run at 800-850 FPS. 140-150 grain WC's at 750-800 FPS tend to hit a bit low for me in those platforms.

I'll bet it has been 15 years since I got that mould heated up. Another project to put on the In Pile.

ETA--This one is the only 38 wadcutter I own, or have ever owned. It was also among the first moulds I bought when I started casting in 1981. Being the ardent adherent that I am to Elmer Keith's beliefs concerning the Keith/SWC boolit, the WC's (also have Lyman #313492, a very similar design in 32 caliber) have kinda been left on the shelf. This is not due to their accuracy, by any means--both shoot wonderfully. The SWCs just go farther with accuracy--the WCs can take a dive after 60-75 yards in some cases. Of course, they were designed to do that--so no knock on the WCs. 90% of my revolver shooting could be done very well with these bluff-fronted critters.

[Ricochet]

There was a recent LONG discussion about cast loads for carry. This one loaded up to normal top standard pressure levels or +P ought to be serviceable for serious .38 use, including snubbies.

I don't think Lyman still makes this boolit, but it might be worth considering for a future group buy. It's got advantages over both the standard flush-seated light wadcutters and the common midweight semiwadcutters.

[StrawHat]

I don't think Lyman still makes this boolit, but it might be worth considering for a future group buy.

I be interested in getting one.

I like using the WC for taking out varmints.

The 148 do a good job, a 160 would be more of a good thing.

[Ricochet]

Picture of it's here, second row, second from left:
http://castpics.net/molds/lyman18.htm

[timkelley]

I think I would want such a mold.

[only1asterisk]

I don't think Lyman still makes this boolit, but it might be worth considering for a future group buy. It's got advantages over both the standard flush-seated light wadcutters and the common midweight semiwadcutters.

I agree. I like the idea so much I started a thread over in the group buy section.

David

[Ricochet]

They sure do make pretty holes in a Froot Loops box! :lol:

[Buckshot]

...............At one time I read that the carry ammo for a NYC cop was a M10 S&W stoked with 160gr WC's. I can see the utility in a social situation. .358" flat nose carries good 'Whappability' and 160 grs of it is serious, but without the over penetration issue.

................Buckshot

[Ricochet]

I believe our friendly local ex-NYPD cop, Crash Corrigan, said that's what he carried.

[redneckdan]

I'm looking forward to when I get my .357 herrett barrel for my contender and can launch some of these 160s at warp speed. Oughta do wonderous things to red squirrels.[smilie=f:

[Buckshot]

I'm looking forward to when I get my .357 herrett barrel for my contender and can launch some of these 160s at warp speed. Oughta do wonderous things to red squirrels.[smilie=f:

..............A fitting description from the movie "Galaxy Quest", "It turned inside out ................ and then it exploded!"

.................Buckshot

[only1asterisk]

Doesn't seem to be much interest in a group buy. I really though this one would go.

David

[Ricochet]

Yeah, that's funny. I've been passing up lots of group buys for boolits that interest me because I'm overextended, and I'll bet lots of others are in the same boat. Sure is a nice boolit, though! Good thing I have that two-cavity Ideal!

[Ricochet]

If anybody does want one of these (and it sure is a nice boolit), post in that thread over on Group Buys!

[happy7]

I have had one of these molds in a four cavity for a while. When I bought it I was more interested in the handles than the mold. It had some light rust but cleaned up really pretty well. Still it did not release well, but I did the leementing spinning bullet thing to it and it is a lot better now. I cast up about 500 bullets with it last week, so was very interested to find this post. I am looking forward to getting some loaded and see how they shoot. It makes real nice looking boolits that drop with WW at about 431- 432 if memory serves, which I am real happy with.

[TCFAN]

I have had one of these molds in a four cavity for a while. When I bought it I was more interested in the handles than the mold. It had some light rust but cleaned up really pretty well. Still it did not release well, but I did the leementing spinning bullet thing to it and it is a lot better now. I cast up about 500 bullets with it last week, so was very interested to find this post. I am looking forward to getting some loaded and see how they shoot. It makes real nice looking boolits that drop with WW at about 431- 432 if memory serves, which I am real happy with.



Happy7

I also have one of these 4 cav molds.And I bought it for the same reason that you did...for the handles.

Never been to pleased with the way the boolits shot from my K-38.

If you work up a good load please post it here.

For any body that is interested here is a photo of the boolit .........Terry

[redneckdan]

flipp them over and seat them backwards. I never was able to get a decent load till I tried that. Don't know why but it works.

[mister gizmo]

I experimented with three WC moulds when I was shooting a lot of target revolver, the 35891 (148 gr), 358432 (148 gr) and 35887 (140 gr).

Bullseye loads of 2.7 - 2.8 grains or W231 at 3.1 - 3.2 grains never failed to produce tight groups. W231 proved to be equal to Bullseye except much cleaner.

I still have the 2-cavity 35887 (358087) and it's for sale if anyone's interested. I'll deliver it conus for $25.00.

[725]

Like Ricochet, I'm over extended on GB's. Mostly because of the 6 banger craze that takes over on most group buys. I have some, have more ordered. I would just like to get some 2 cavities in these GB's. Doesn't take too long to get a few hundred boolits out of a 2 cavity. Just more time than 6 cavities. I'd probably have two or three times the types of moulds I now have if 2 cavities were the mould-du-jour.

[happy7]

I experimented with three WC moulds when I was shooting a lot of target revolver, the 35891 (148 gr), 358432 (148 gr) and 35887 (140 gr).

Bullseye loads of 2.7 - 2.8 grains or W231 at 3.1 - 3.2 grains never failed to produce tight groups. W231 proved to be equal to Bullseye except much cleaner.


I also have a 35887 I just cast some bullets for. Thanks for the load info. I will give it a try.

[Rick N Bama]

Like Ricochet, I'm over extended on GB's. Mostly because of the 6 banger craze that takes over on most group buys. I have some, have more ordered. I would just like to get some 2 cavities in these GB's. Doesn't take too long to get a few hundred boolits out of a 2 cavity. Just more time than 6 cavities. I'd probably have two or three times the types of moulds I now have if 2 cavities were the mould-du-jour.

I would like to see the GBs available in a 2 cavity as well, as I really prefer casting with them. They're much easier to handle and also to Leement.

Rick

[happy7]

The recently run group buy for the 358 75 grain wadcutter was run in both a two cavity and a six cavity version. Both versions appeared to be about equally popular. I like a six cavity myself.

[725]

Rick: I'm with you on this one.

happy7: To help it along, I ordered two of the two cavities in the 75 gr wc GB.

[Ricochet]

That's one of many GBs I've skipped over that I was interested in. That would be a fun little boolit to play with.

[happy7]

Well there were a lot of guys that ordered extras. I am sure someone would sell you one if you have some extra cash when they come in.

[Ricochet]

That's a thought. May try that.

BTW, there's an interest thread for the #358432-160 in the Group Buys forum.