mold purchase advice

[solderboy]

well, I just bought a used ruger GP100 (4",SS), my first 357.
I doubt I'll use it for hunting, just target shooting.
What would be a good mold to look for?

[Yodogsandman]

For 150 gr, a Lyman 358477. For 170 gr, a Lyman 358429.

You opened the can! We all have different opinions here!

[gwpercle]

You know, that's a hard question to answer because there are just so darn many good ones!

My first 38/357 mould was the Lyman 358156. 155 grain SWC with gas check for the 357 magnum and 38 special.

Hard to go wrong with a good 148 grain WC for target shooting like Lyman 358091.

Another that I have come to favor is Lyman 358432 , this button nosed wadcutter comes in two weights 148 grain and 160 grain. The 160 grain version is proving very accurate in my 38's and 357's .

Other good choices for general purpose use are any of the semi-wadcutter designs, they range from 105 grains to 170 grains.

The second mould I bought was Lyman 358477, a 150 grain SWC , plain base. It's a keeper .

NOE reproduces several of the discontinued Lyman designs, I purchased an NOE version of the Lyman 160 grain WC ( it actually is more of a flat point than WC) # 358432 design and it has a few minor improvements....I like it better than the Lyman . At the indoor range all shots of a 15 shot group stayed in a 1 3/4 inch circle , all nicely centered in a big 1-hole group. No fliers and no stringing! This bullet is giving exceptional accuracy.

I picked my first mould because Skeeter Skelton wrote an artcle on the 357 magnum and said the Lyman # 358156 would be his pick...if he had to choose only one mould for it .
Still not a bad choice for magnum loads and because of two crimp grooves , you can use it to load near 357 magnum loads in 38 special cases. The second groove allows you to seat the bullet out to 357 OAL. Pretty versatile boolit !
Just so many to choose from....I must have at least 16 different 38/357 moulds .
Gary

[Mitch]

As said above there are a lot of good boolits out the for the 38/357.I have a lee 158 gr SWC gas check.an NOE 180gr WFN PB.both shoot well in my 357s. I have treyd several other boolits from friends and members here all of the SWC from 150 to 180gr boolits shot the best in my 2 guns.Your gun may be different.when you decide on a few you want to try go the the boolt swap section and post what you would like to try.i have given and recived from the boolit swap.many great people here are allways willing to help you choose a boolit befor you plunk down $$ on a new mold.

[TXGunNut]

I won't be needing a 38-357 mould for awhile but I recently set out to buy one anyway. Was very impressed (OK, overwhelmed) by the variety NOE makes. Finally settled on one of his versions of the classic H&G SWC.

[Sig]

Another vote for the 170 gr, Lyman 358429. My GP100 loves it. I have heard that some guns may have shorter cylinders & not work with it.

[country gent]

In 38 / 357 there are 2 if not three bullets to have on hand. For true target work a 148 grn wadcutter bullet cant be beat normaly, A 158 grn semi watcutter style for plinking and self defense, And last is a Heavy for caliber roundnose 180-200 grn wieght for when striking energy is needed. We had a load worked up for the wifes security Six ruget that used a 200 grn round nose bullet at 900 fps for bowling pins that did a great job getting the pins off the table. It was also an impressiv load for banging swinging steel targets. For pure target work the 148 grn around 650-750 fps or so is rally hard to beat and normally does well in almost all pistols. The 158 grn semiwadcutter works well for controlling vermin and informal target plining loads Normally works well in speed loaders also.

[wv109323]

Elmer Keith's go to bullet was the H&G 51. That is a 158 gn. SWC with one crimping groove and one grease groove and a plain base.
My experience with a 158 gn. SWC with two crimping grooves and one grease groove has been negative. Apparently the CG is too far forward to stabilize the boolit.

[GWM]

Accurate 36-158SG

177754

[Leadmelter]

RCBS 150 gr boolit. Load it up or down, easy to cast.
NOE or Lyman have a four cavity mold.
Leadmelter
MI

[Gofaaast]

H&G 50 Wadcutter.

[Lead Fred]

I use a Elmer Keith hollow point Ideal mold. Same load for the 6 inch Blackhawk & the 2 inch GP100

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_12_KeithSWC.htm

[Mitch]

Pm 9w1911 the poor guy has to many molds maybe you can help with that problem lol

[solderboy]

I think I'll be going for the Lee 125 gr RF to load for target shooting and use jacketed bullets for anything a bit more serious

[DHDeal]

Since this a "what do I buy" thread, I just received an Accurate Mold 36-165M that is superbly accurate to 50 yards. I'm still playing with the load (8.5 grains HS6, WW SPP, Starline cases), but the faster I push it, the more accurate it gets.

This load is shot out of a newish Ruger Blackhawk so I know it is safe out of my revolver.

As to you just shooting cast bullets for targets and using jacketed bullets for more serious work, I gotta ask why? They will, and do, work for everything quite well.

[dragon813gt]

Any of the 358156 clones. You'll want a lightweight bullet for judicious use of powder and lead. I like the MP 359-125 for this application. But my favorite, and my gun's, is the MP 359-640. 170 grains w/ a nice wide meplat and it shoots great. Much more accurate than any of the other molds I have.

[Gofaaast]

H&G 51 for a SWC. H&G 50 for a WC. But there are so so many more that will fit your needs. These just happen to be the two I have.

[robg]

Rcbs 158gc swc or ribs 180 GC sil mold for full power and the Lee 158 pb wfn for medium stuff.

[Hickok]

Lee 358 -158-RF

Doesn't cost much and is an excellent boolit.

[buggybuilder]

Go to the Arsonal mold website. I just ordered 2 molds for different rifles. Can not be happier!!! Customer service is great too.
Priced where you can afford one (or many) !!! Check'm out.

[Dragonheart]

If you want to shoot targets I wouldn't look any further than a WC, excellent accuracy, easy to cast and load. And there are a lot quality molds available for very reasonable prices since 38/357 revolvers are not the rage they used to be.

[alamogunr]

Another vote for the H&G 50. My 4 cavity mold almost refuses to cast a bad bullet once I get it up to temp. I forgot I even had the mold until the thread "75000 Wadcutters in a Model 27" appeared. I'll never reach that number but it got me started using the mold and shooting the #50 in a Highway Patrolman. I'm sure there are other wadcutters that will perform as well as the #50. There's just something about using an H&G mold.

In case someone is interested:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?156622-75-000-Wadcutters-in-a-Model-27



(http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?156622-75-000-Wadcutters-in-a-Model-27)