Saeco 180 gr plain base round flat: 35 Rem & 357?

[catboat]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=724735

I've been looking at this mold, and would appreciate input. I'm thinking this mold, SAECO 180 grain round/flat nose (not truncated), plain base would be an intesting dual purpose design for for a low velocity loading (~<1600 fps? due to lack of gascheck) 1950's Marlin 336A 35 Rem (Ballard rifling), and a Ruger GP100 357 6" bbl revolver.

And now for the typical quiestions:

Has anyone used this bullet in these two aforementioned applications?

Does it chamber ok in the Ruger GP100?

Does it feed/chamber ok in the Marlin 336?

How does it shoot in each?

What is the "as cast" diameter,if wheelweights used?

Thanks.

[GSM]

I think a fellow by the name of Crabo may have one of those molds. Maybe he could give a bit of information......

John

[EDK]

Go to the bottom of the page and look at RANCH DOG's TLC 359 190 mould. It's a lot cheaper than the SAECO and designed for 35 caliber MARLINS. The heavier weight and gas checked boolits are excellent in a rifle, but you'd be better off with a lighter plain base in the pistol. Get a good semi-wadcutter or round nose/flat point in a 4 or 6 cavity mould.

You could buy the RD AND a six cavity LEE for the price of the SAECO...and get them now. Most suppliers seem to have the "30-to-90 day delivery" on SAECOS, but they stock LEE and LYMAN in more choices.

Interchangeable components sound good; but like most compromises, they fall short of ideal in most areas. I have a growing mould collection...but mostly in 44 caliber.


:cbpour::redneck::Fire:

[cbrick]

I don't have SAECO #353 but I do have #396 and #399. They are identical except 396 is plain base and 399 is GC. If 353 is like the other two (I don't know if it is), ie, two diameter bullets, it probably won't work well in the revolver but should work very well in the rifle.

The front driving band is .005" smaller than the middle and base bands and allows the loaded cartridge to lay at an angle in the chamber, even if the over all length is long enough to chamber the front driving band in the throat. When the middle driving band reaches the edge of the throat it shaves lead. Put another way, there is no way to size these bullets to fit the throats of your revolver. These two bullets are the only ones that have ever caused any leading in my FA's, they both lead the cylinder but not the barrel.

Notice the front driving band is not sized on these bullets sized .357".

http://www.lasc.us/Left396Right399.JPG

If you wish to use 353 in both firearms it may be worth your while to find out if it is a two diameter bullet.

Rick

[crabo]

I think a fellow by the name of Crabo may have one of those molds. Maybe he could give a bit of information......

John

The only reason I have one is because I haven't given it back to John. I think the 353 is a very good looking boolit, but as Rick stated, it is a 2 diameter boolit. The front driving band is smaller than the other two bands.

I was never impressed with the way it shot in my 8 3/8 586 or my 94 Marlin. You cannot shoot it in a Marlin 94 unless you do the carrier mod. You should be able to use it fine in a 35 Remington because it is shorter than the RCBS 200 grain that everyone likes so well.

I would pass on this boolit, however, I believe Imashooter2, uses this boolit for his control load in his 94 Marlin 357.

[Ben]

I have a SAECO # 353 that Buckshot HP'd.
Mine is a double cav., the front cav. is HP'd and cast a 168 gr. HP.
I still have the rear cav. casting the solid at 180 grs.
Best of both worlds...........

A great mold :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0009-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0007-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0004-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0001-6.jpg