lyman 358 - 156

[dancast]

hi folks,
looking for the non gas check mold, of the 358-156. 155 -158 gn bullet. thanks......dancast

[beagle]

Never saw one and don't know if any were made by the factory. It's a fairly easy operation for a machinist to remove the gas check shank and you have what you want. I have one and they do shoot well. It's a good bullet design and I believe it would be more popular if Lyman made them without the GC shank. Most are used in revolvers where the gas check is of dubious use due to the lower velocities. Many 358156s sit unused in the mould drawer because it increases the cost of the bullet by using the expensive (relatively) gas check. Mine was like that for years and I had one dehorned and now it gets more use./beagle

[Larry Gibson]

hi folks,
looking for the non gas check mold, of the 358-156. 155 -158 gn bullet. thanks......dancast

There are numerous 150 - 160 gr plain based SWC moulds available from numerous vendors.

The Lyman 358156 GC'd mould is an excellent mould as is. It was designed primarily for 38/44 loads in 38SPL cases and heavy magnum loads in the 357 magnum. The 358156 excels at both. It allows softer alloys to be driven to magnum level velocities with the best accuracy, velocities and terminal performance.

The 358156 also can be exceptionally accurate, when case soft, sans the GC at 38 SPL standard velocities (700 - 850 fps). I cast them of 40-1 alloy, TL with LLA, let thoroughly dry and size at .358 with a push through sizer. Loaded over 2.7 - 3.5 gr Bullseye they prove as accurate as any cast bullet in my 38 SPL revolvers. Cast of the same 40-1 alloy but GC'd they can be driven to +P 38 SPL level with 5.5 gr Unique. When HP'd with a 1/8" Forster tool to the front drive band they rival Federal and Winchester 158 +P LSWCHP "FBI" loads in terminal performance.

Cast of 20-1, 16-1 or COWWs + 2% tin then 50/50'd with lead and GC'd they can be seated to the lower crimp groove over 2400 in 38 SPL cases for 38/44 loads for use in N frame S&W 38/44 revolvers or 357 magnum chambered handguns.

Cast of 16-1 alloy, GC and loaded over top end 2400, lil'Gun, Blue Dot or H110 357 magnum loads in 357 magnum cases and used in 6"+ revolvers velocities of 1400+ fps are easily obtained. This is my "go to" bullet for my magnum loads in my own 6" 357 Ruger.

Cast of COWWs +2% tin and GC'd the 358156 is the most accurate SWC cast bullet in 357 magnum rifles with top end 357 magnum load. I have never found any PB'd cast bullet of 140 - 165 gr weight that is accurate at the 1600 - 1800+ fps that are possible in rifles, carbine and Contender barrels. The GC'd 358156 so cast is also an excellent performer in 14 - 16" twist 35 Remington, 358W and 35 Whelen rifles upwards of 2000+ fps.

The 358156 cast bullet from a Lyman mould isn't broke so I see no need to fix it. Just use it correctly and you'll find what an excellent and versatile cast bullet it is.

[Three44s]

This is my go to mold for a non-GC mold in 357/358:

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0004482032/double-cavity-pistol-bullet-mould-number-38-150-swc-point358-150-grain-semi-wad-cutter

Three44s

[44MAG#1]

Could this be possible?
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-160D-D.png

[dancast]

hi folks,
yes i shoot the 358 - 156 in my s&w revolvers. load 3.2 win 231. the gc bullets shoot the best. thought a non gc would be nice, and shoot as well. that might be an idea, to remove the gc ring. thanks for the replys, be safe.....dancast

[oldhenry]

Lyman's #357446 is identical to #338156 except it is w/o the gas check. If my 81 year brain works correctly, both are Thompson designed.

The #357446 was my 1st. 2 cav. mold back in the 60s : an excellent boolit.

[45DUDE]

This is my go to mold for a non-GC mold in 357/358:

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0004482032/double-cavity-pistol-bullet-mould-number-38-150-swc-point358-150-grain-semi-wad-cutter

Three44s

I have one of those and really like it..

[gwpercle]

NOE Moulds will do a 4 cavity mould , 2 - with and 2 - w/o Gas Checks if you like .
May not be a bad way to fly . In magnum loads the gas check is useful .

The problem with Lyman is they have discontinued a LOT of moulds in the last 10 - 20 years .
Luckily NOE recreates many of the better moulds .
Lyman stopped making all 41 cal. moulds .
Gary

[beagle]

Think I would do some research on the 357446 before I jumped on that bandwagon./beagle


Lyman's #357446 is identical to #338156 except it is w/o the gas check. If my 81 year brain works correctly, both are Thompson designed.

The #357446 was my 1st. 2 cav. mold back in the 60s : an excellent boolit.

[beagle]

Larry, Didn't mean to upset you. I like the 358156 as is fine. Been using it since 1960 in various pistols and a couple of rifles. It is good as is.

However, I don't see the need for a GC on it for .38 Special loads and lighter .357 stuff.

Over the years, many of these had set around on shelves and in drawers not being used simply because people like me were too cheap to gas check a bullet when it's not needed. I know I'll take fire for this but using it without a check led to leading and poor performance for me.

A little after 2000 my shooting partner and I dehorned the first one and found that we had an acceptable solution to the .38 Special/358156 gas check delima. The .357 wasn't a problem as we used the 358429/439 in it.

Now, I think there's about 4 or 5 358156s in my drawer. Solids and HPs.

Now that I have the PB, it gets a lot of use so I see that this is a viable modification./beagle


There are numerous 150 - 160 gr plain based SWC moulds available from numerous vendors.

The Lyman 358156 GC'd mould is an excellent mould as is. It was designed primarily for 38/44 loads in 38SPL cases and heavy magnum loads in the 357 magnum. The 358156 excels at both. It allows softer alloys to be driven to magnum level velocities with the best accuracy, velocities and terminal performance.

The 358156 also can be exceptionally accurate, when case soft, sans the GC at 38 SPL standard velocities (700 - 850 fps). I cast them of 40-1 alloy, TL with LLA, let thoroughly dry and size at .358 with a push through sizer. Loaded over 2.7 - 3.5 gr Bullseye they prove as accurate as any cast bullet in my 38 SPL revolvers. Cast of the same 40-1 alloy but GC'd they can be driven to +P 38 SPL level with 5.5 gr Unique. When HP'd with a 1/8" Forster tool to the front drive band they rival Federal and Winchester 158 +P LSWCHP "FBI" loads in terminal performance.

Cast of 20-1, 16-1 or COWWs + 2% tin then 50/50'd with lead and GC'd they can be seated to the lower crimp groove over 2400 in 38 SPL cases for 38/44 loads for use in N frame S&W 38/44 revolvers or 357 magnum chambered handguns.

Cast of 16-1 alloy, GC and loaded over top end 2400, lil'Gun, Blue Dot or H110 357 magnum loads in 357 magnum cases and used in 6"+ revolvers velocities of 1400+ fps are easily obtained. This is my "go to" bullet for my magnum loads in my own 6" 357 Ruger.

Cast of COWWs +2% tin and GC'd the 358156 is the most accurate SWC cast bullet in 357 magnum rifles with top end 357 magnum load. I have never found any PB'd cast bullet of 140 - 165 gr weight that is accurate at the 1600 - 1800+ fps that are possible in rifles, carbine and Contender barrels. The GC'd 358156 so cast is also an excellent performer in 14 - 16" twist 35 Remington, 358W and 35 Whelen rifles upwards of 2000+ fps.

The 358156 cast bullet from a Lyman mould isn't broke so I see no need to fix it. Just use it correctly and you'll find what an excellent and versatile cast bullet it is.

[txbirdman]

A few years back I thought about modifying 358156 to plain base. My .38’s/.357’s are S&W’s so the 358429 wouldn’t do for .357 loads in my N frames so I thought about the modification. Also considered the 358667 but the accuracy seemed to be hit or miss. So I settled on the RCBS 150K for plain base and left the 358156 as is. I also wondered if there was enough lube groove to work as a .357 plain base.

[45DUDE]

I have both--a lyman 358477 and RCBS 38150 are the same flat base boolit with one lube groove and both weigh about 153 grains with my mix and both take LEE 4 cavity handles. The RCBS mold weighs a little more in the 2 cavity. I have an older Lyman 358477 4 cavity and the boolits look the same but don't quite fit in the other 2 cavity molds. <It drops a .361 boolit> I just use my 358156 for mag loads. Has anyone bench rested the 358156 with alox without a gas check at 50 yards in a wheel gun with a scope and compare to the flat base boolits with lube?

[44MAG#1]

I guess the bullet in the link I posted is no good, I guess.

[45DUDE]

Looks a lot like my 358156 without a gas check. Looks real good to me. I like the 2 crimp grooves and the single lube. The Lee book has 2 different crimp settings for 357 mag.

[Three44s]

I guess the bullet in the link I posted is no good, I guess.

I think it looks good as well. It’s just that I bought a hardly used RCBS 150 gr plain base and I am a fan of the RCBS molds.

Tom over at Accurate Molds is well thought of here at boolits. If I had that mold I would comment on it.

Best regards

Three44s

[rockshooter]

The closest is probably NOE 360-165-SWC-T5. It has the dual crimping groove like the original but is a non-GC version. I have cast/loaded/shot thousands of them in both .38 and .357
Loren

[marlin39a]

There are plenty of 358477 molds out there. No GC, weighs 150 gr s, and great for 38. When I need a stout 357 load, I go to the 358156.

[Larry Gibson]

beagle

No problem, you didn't upset me at all. Just hate to see a good bullet mould ruined when not necessary. As mentioned, there are numerous other similar PB'd moulds available. And if a good machinist sets up a multiple cavity mould to remove the GC shank then the cost will equal or exceed that of a new different mould. Yeah, I've seen numerous "home bubba'd" moulds with the GC shank reamed or drilled out.......none of which cast good bullets as most have out of round, belled or off center shanks. I've cast bullets with a couple of them and even though it looks like sizing corrected the problems non of them shot as well as the original bullet.

The 358156 is an excellent bullet as is. No I don't use it exclusively for all my 38 SPL/357 magnum loads. I use, mostly, the Lyman 358477 or the Lee TL358-158-SWC for most of my 38 SPL and low end/mid-range 357 magnum loads. However, when i want top end performance both accuracy and terminally from either cartridge I use the 358156.

[beagle]

Just didn't want to start anything. I use maybe 1/2 dozen .38 moulds on a regular basis in the .38/357s. The 358477 is one of them. I know that I enjoy my PB 356156.

I was lucky and have a master machinist that will do my whims on moulds and sizers because he's a shooting partner. Many of these modifications are bubba'd. It takes a machinist who is a shooter and understands casting.

I'd recommend one of the better guys on here that do HPs, etc. to do a job. People don't realize how sloppy moulds, especially Lymans are made./beagle


beagle

No problem, you didn't upset me at all. Just hate to see a good bullet mould ruined when not necessary. As mentioned, there are numerous other similar PB'd moulds available. And if a good machinist sets up a multiple cavity mould to remove the GC shank then the cost will equal or exceed that of a new different mould. Yeah, I've seen numerous "home bubba'd" moulds with the GC shank reamed or drilled out.......none of which cast good bullets as most have out of round, belled or off center shanks. I've cast bullets with a couple of them and even though it looks like sizing corrected the problems non of them shot as well as the original bullet.

The 358156 is an excellent bullet as is. No I don't use it exclusively for all my 38 SPL/357 magnum loads. I use, mostly, the Lyman 358477 or the Lee TL358-158-SWC for most of my 38 SPL and low end/mid-range 357 magnum loads. However, when i want top end performance both accuracy and terminally from either cartridge I use the 358156.

[dale2242]

dancast, check your PMs.

[GP100man]

I have both molds ,358156 in plain base (dehorned) & dehorned in hp. Love the boolit design but it does`nt lend itself to bunny poot loads , reduced lead loads yes but low pressure loads NO

The 358446, I have the same set of molds solid & hp'ed it`s less tolerant to lower pressure than the 156s . The lube groove needs to be bigger for carbine length barrels ,both serve a nich in my line up up loads .

I mainly shoot a KEITH style heavy SWC form NOE ,my guns like em low & slow or fast & furious!! I bought the 5 cavity mold & glad I did!!

All the boolits above I have shot many loads with & other than a DEWC mold these are my goto boolits for SD/HD & hunting.

GP100man

[cowboy4evr]

Yes , the 360-160D @ Accurate molds is the one . For years I shot the Lyman version with the gas check . Then Tom @ Accurate Molds made for me 2 of the 4 cav versions w/o the gas check . I cannot begin to tell you the thousands and thousands of that bullet I have cast / shot . They come out weighing 160-162 grs using my alloy , WW's . I use them for my 357 loads . I fill the lube groove and the bottom crimp groove with lube . The accuracy suits me just fine . Regards Paul