FN designs for 357 mag

[Inthealders]

Looking for feedback on accuracy and any other information you'd think valuable. I am thinking about which of the commonly available flat nose designs to use for medium range (30-50 yds), medium velocity (950-1000ft/sec) 357 loads out of my four inch 686+. Accuracy is the highest priority. I see Saeco, Lyman. and RCBS all have flat nose, tangent ogive designs. I guess I should also include LBT's version.

[Jeff Michel]

I use the 180 grain WFN from NOE. 12 grains of 2400/1470fps out of a rifle, never chronograph out of a pistol but it's probably running close to 1000fps out of a four inch barrel. I never papered it at fifty yards with a revolver but it will keep a pop can moving at that range. it runs a reliable 1.5"-2.0" at 100 yards out of my Ruger 77, a bit bigger than 2.0" out of my Marlin lever. Very hard on deer.

[RobS]

Lee's 358-158-RF is a pretty good design and sounds like it may fit your description. I don't know what weight you are looking for however the mold I have drops at 164 grains with WW alloy.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010197875/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-358-158-rf-38-special-357-magnum-38-colt-new-police-38-s-and-w-358-diameter-158-grain-flat-nose

[Inthealders]

I looked at the NOE moulds. It is not sitting well with me that they would design their moulds such that you also have to buy their handles.

[marlin39a]

I looked at the NOE moulds. It is not sitting well with me that they would design their moulds such that you also have to buy their handles.

Gee, I have always used Lee handles with my Noe molds.

[RobS]

NOE molds work perfectly fine with the Lee 6 cavity commercial handles.

[dannyd]

Lee's 358-158-RF is a pretty good design and sounds like it may fit your description. I don't know what weight you are looking for however the mold I have drops at 164 grains with WW alloy.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010197875/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-358-158-rf-38-special-357-magnum-38-colt-new-police-38-s-and-w-358-diameter-158-grain-flat-nose

That is a great bullet

[Kraschenbirn]

Arsenal's 360-162RF here. Casts right at 160 gr. from 3 pt. range scrap/1 pt. COWW for me. I PC and size to .359 for use in (3) Rugers and a Rossi 92.

Bill

[jmort]

This is my favorite
Loads OAL at SAAMI spec
Accurate, best mold you can buy in my opinion, with a great design I saw in the catalog

http://www.accuratemolds.com/img/bullets/detail/36-170TG-D.png

214483

[Jack Stanley]

I've used the LBT design for many years in many different guns and it has been well worth the money . It's very easy to find an accurate load with several different powders . The real plus is it feeds through lever guns like corn through a goose . I think this is the LN not the WFN .

Jack

[gwpercle]

I looked at the NOE moulds. It is not sitting well with me that they would design their moulds such that you also have to buy their handles.

All of my NOE and Lyman moulds have Lee 6 cavity handles....no modifications are required for either.
The other brands of moulds I don't know....there is a Lee handle chart on this site (sticky) someplace that tell what moulds they fit and note any modifications required.
Don't pass up trying a good mould because you think you have to buy their handles...for decades the mould makers handles only fit their moulds...you had to buy them....
Thanks to Lee there is now a less costly option. The NOE's handles are better made but there is a cheaper option. I never did like Lyman's handles , ok quality ...they were just hard to hold , handles were too fat , not long enough and they didn't lie parallel . Less fit my hand better.

[MT Gianni]

From personal experience I would exclude the 357466 Lyman as they are often undersized. Other than that start with the Lee 125 gr rf and work up to the Lyman 358627 at 215 gr listed normally closer to 220 and you should be able to make any of them work. I find the most accurate load is with a 358477 at Lyman Manual #45 velocities for 38 Special.

[Boolseye]

I looked at the NOE moulds. It is not sitting well with me that they would design their moulds such that you also have to buy their handles.

Al just offers very nice handles because some folks are willing to pay for nice custom handles (not me). NOE is as good as it gets and their customer service is wonderful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Moonie]

I really like the Lee 158gr rnfp, I have the 125gr version but only use it for my brothers girlfriends S&W 642 and my 357 Sig. I use Lee 6 cavity type handles with NOE, Lee 6 cavity, MiHec and an old Ideal mold I have. I only had an issue with the Ideal, had to file down the arm on the handles as it was a little tight fit.

[Steven66]

Lee's 358-158-RF is a pretty good design and sounds like it may fit your description.

I'd buy this one in a heartbeat if it accepted gas checks. Any idea how fast it can be driven with some accuracy?

[tja6435]

I have the LBT Flat nose in 38cal at 140gr, 166gr, 184ge, 200gr and 220gr. I'm a big fan. I do have the NOE 360-180-WFN as well, the LBT's shoot better for me, but I haven't spent much time developing an accurate load for the NOE WFN's though. They look very similar when loaded.

[jmort]

I'd buy this one in a heartbeat if it accepted gas checks. Any idea how fast it can be driven with some accuracy?

Put a Plain Base gas check on it
Problem solved

[Moonie]

I'd buy this one in a heartbeat if it accepted gas checks. Any idea how fast it can be driven with some accuracy?

Why would it need a gas check, sure if you were shooting it in a 357 Max but you don't need it for the 357 Mag.

[Steven66]

It's for my Ruger 77/357 and I want to get around 1700 - 1800 fps with it. From what I read, 1400 - 1600 fps is about the limit for plain base bullets.

[trapper9260]

NOE molds work perfectly fine with the Lee 6 cavity commercial handles.

That is what I use and also there is a post of all the molds that the Lee 6 cavity commercial handles works on and what one you need to grind some of it.

[Panman213]

I use the Lee 125gr and the 158 gr flat nose in 4 different revolvers and while the 125gr is fine for practice and plinkin', I would give the nod to the 158 gr for accuracy in front of a near max charge of win 296. But that is in "MY" guns.

[marek313]

That is a great bullet

I just got that Lee 358-158-rf and I think its more accurate then my Lyman 358446 plus 6 cavities vs 2 on my Lyman so no brainer there. I just have to find a good load but looks very promising so far.

[birdadly]

I just got that Lee 358-158-rf and I think its more accurate then my Lyman 358446 plus 6 cavities vs 2 on my Lyman so no brainer there. I just have to find a good load but looks very promising so far.

This is what I plan to try in my 357 as well. Only did some casting so far as I’m waiting for Midway to get Hornady dies in stock next week. Will powder coat and hope for the best! Will be first reloads for a revolver. Giddy up. -Brad

[sniper]

Lee's 358-158-RF is a pretty good design and sounds like it may fit your description. I don't know what weight you are looking for however the mold I have drops at 164 grains with WW alloy.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010197875/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-358-158-rf-38-special-357-magnum-38-colt-new-police-38-s-and-w-358-diameter-158-grain-flat-nose

I don't cast any more, but the Lee design looks like it is what I can use. Does anyone offer this bullet for sale?Thanx!

[fecmech]

With accuracy in the 900-1000fps range you will be hard pressed to beat the Lee 125RF with Bullseye or 231 in the 4-5 gr range.

[gwpercle]

The Noe 358-124 gr.-TC , GC , has shown itself to be very accurate in my 357 magnum Ruger Blackhawk.
This bullet sized .358 with a gas check and a load with AA#5 put 15 shots into one ragged hole that spanned 1 3/8 " with no pesky flyers. Even when cast 50/50 WW and lead the gas check allows it to be driven at magnum velocities with no leading . Also had good accuracy with 38 special +P loads.
This bullet is showing a lot of promise in the 38 spcl , 357 mag. and 9 mm.
Gary

[marek313]

From personal experience I would exclude the 357466 Lyman as they are often undersized. Other than that start with the Lee 125 gr rf and work up to the Lyman 358627 at 215 gr listed normally closer to 220 and you should be able to make any of them work. I find the most accurate load is with a 358477 at Lyman Manual #45 velocities for 38 Special.

I was using Lyman 357466 2 cavity until recently when I picked up Lee 357-158-RF. I really like that Lee 357-158-RF and even though I have some more accuracy testing to so far i think its going to be a winner. Lyman 358466 is dropping small but after PC i got it sized to .3575 which is what i use for my GP100 and my 9mm p320. There are many posts about Lyman dropping small and people dropping Lyman in response i guess. I only have 2 lyman 2 cavity molds but I think I'm going to sell those since I'm not planning on using those much now.

[outdoorfan]

The MP 359640 (150 gr HP) is a wonderful design. I shoot that one as my practice round in Rossi 92 an 686.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I shot 10 mouse fart rds. today out of my new Henry. These were sized to .359 and just barely fit in my SW 27. Well, I got leading just ahead of the rifle's chamber. Makes me wonder if the throat is over size? You think a gas check type mold might be the way to go? It was a Lee TL type swc 158 gr. over 4.8 of tight group.

I can surmise that the Henry won't be able to share cast loads with my 27 since it won't chamber a .360 boolit.
Could be the Henry will have to be a jacketed boolit gun.

Update - I guess the Henry prefers boolits sized to .358. Shot a bunch recently of that size without appreciable leading. Also shot some 165 gr. pc over 14 gr. of 2400 and they worked great.