What would be the ultimate GP100 357 Magnum mold for hard hitting flat nose?

[Stopsign32v]

Well I want an absolutely best mold for a 357 out of my GP100.

Needs:
Accuracy!
Largest meplate

[Recycled bullet]

I am a big fan of the MP359 hammer. All my hammer bullets are hollow point because I like hollow points. There is a flat nose Variation that is available or a flat nose pin can be replaced in place of the hollow point pin.

I found that the seating depth was identical To the MP clone of the Lyman 358429 bullet. This greatly simplified developing load data. After backing it off one grain and then working it up.
I end up using the identical powder charge [emoji4]

[Recycled bullet]

It is basically a wide flat nose.
Bullet with an enormous hollow point dug out of it..https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240602/be27ca399952ed50159e37a022f7e29d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240602/3c0713a0f6d154e0933b59d7776212d1.jpg

[Stopsign32v]

It is basically a wide flat nose.
Bullet with an enormous hollow point dug out of it..https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240602/be27ca399952ed50159e37a022f7e29d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240602/3c0713a0f6d154e0933b59d7776212d1.jpg

WHEW! Those look nice!

I see they offer gas check or plain base. I know gas check isn't needed for velocities I will be throwing them at, but I THINK I also read people state the gas checks help with accuracy a good bit? Opinions?

[Recycled bullet]

WHEW! Those look nice!

I see they offer gas check or plain base. I know gas check isn't needed for velocities I will be throwing them at, but I THINK I also read people state the gas checks help with accuracy a good bit? Opinions?It is possible that gas checks may cause a more accurate ammunition.
But I do not know because.
I do not use gas checks for these bullets. My Mold is plainbase.. I cast them from a homemade approximation of Lyman number 2.
And then I powder coat them and size them 357 then load them in 357 magnum brass.
Over A moderately compressed Hodgdon H110 gunpowder Powder charge. (16.5 grains)

I can easily keep them on a 9 inch paper plate shooting freehand at 50 yd With the ruger blackhawk.
These bullets are murder on steel plates they basically vaporize.
Really really slap the plate super hard when I shoot them out of the bolt action ruger rifle. The additional velocity is obvious.
They hit it and swing the ar500 almost as hard as Remington core locks from a 30-30 Fired from a Henry lever action..

When I do that I wish I had a bucket of ice water to cool the guns off.
[emoji4]

[jdgabbard]

There is the Ranch Dog 190gr. That has a large meplat, is heavy, and carries a lot of energy. The 180gr would be probably do well as well. You can see it here: https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/360-ranch-dog-190-gr-g-c.2623/#post-49102

For my GP 100, I've been using the standard 358156 and 358429s with great success. See this comment. (https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?466582-GP100-What-grips-do-you-run&p=5705069&viewfull=1#post5705069) But I haven't used them on game. For normal target work with 38s, the 358477 and the MP 359-158 SWC BB works well, https://www.mp-molds.com/product/359-158-swc-bevel-base-8-cavity-aluminum-mold/

I haven't tried the hammer molds, but I've heard some people like them, some not so much. You also probably couldn't go wrong with Lee's 158gr RF boolit. Large meplat, no frills...

[dannyd]

I shoot all of these out of my GP 100's (6 of them)

327148

[murf205]

327160327161

This has become my best all around 357/38 boolit yet. It has all the attributes I was looking for and is every bit as accurate as the 150 gr Lyman 358477 and that is saying a lot. Either one has always shined in revolvers but the 160 gr Accurate Molds boolit will feed through a lever gun.

[gwpercle]

For your application ... give the Lyman #358156 a try ... 155 grain SWC with GC .
If you want velocity and accuracy in a 357 Magnum load ... a Gas Check design is your friend .

Look at the designs by NOE , several nice ones with Wide Flat Nose and improved Lyman WC and SWC designs ...

www.noebulletmoulds.com

Gary

[Bigslug]

Distance for use not specified. Nor is the target that you intend to hit hard. These items matter.

A full wadcutter cast of alloy appropriate to the load will give you accuracy and largest possible meplat - - just expect the accuracy to start coming unglued between 50 and 100 yards (dependent upon launch speed). The ability to reload them quickly is also rather poor, but they meet your stated criteria.

[racepres]

There is the Ranch Dog 190gr. That has a large meplat, is heavy, and carries a lot of energy. The 180gr would be probably do well as well. You can see it here: https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/360-ranch-dog-190-gr-g-c.2623/#post-49102

For my GP 100, I've been using the standard 358156 and 358429s with great success. See this comment. (https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?466582-GP100-What-grips-do-you-run&p=5705069&viewfull=1#post5705069) But I haven't used them on game. For normal target work with 38s, the 358477 and the MP 359-158 SWC BB works well, https://www.mp-molds.com/product/359-158-swc-bevel-base-8-cavity-aluminum-mold/

I haven't tried the hammer molds, but I've heard some people like them, some not so much. You also probably couldn't go wrong with Lee's 158gr RF boolit. Large meplat, no frills...

No GP-100...but all of my 357's and 38's respond well to this simple Boolit!!

[rmb721]

I use a Saeco 354 that with the gas check are 183 grains.

Also a Lee group buy 358-180 RF that with the gas check are 185 grains.

Both with 12 grains of IMR-4227.

[gwpercle]

You also might want to read some of what Skeeter Skelton had to say about loading the 357 Magnum .
I found his writings on this subject most informative .
He had no fear of gas checks and knew how and when to use them .
Gary

[Mr Peabody]

My vote is for the NOE 360-154 SWC,

[dale2242]

My go to bullet for my GP100 is the Lyman 358477.
it shoots well in my 38 Spec as well.

[AlaskaMike]

I've got a 359 Hammer mold with the plain base. I use the 170ish grain solids in my Rossi 92 carbine and they work wonderfully.

For my revolvers I usually use the RCBS 38-150-SWC and it performs beautifully as well, both for full power .357 loads, and light .38 special loads and everything in between.

I honestly don't think I've ever shot a gas checked bullet in any of my .38/357 revolvers or my Rossi 92.

[20:1]

Distance for use not specified. Nor is the target that you intend to hit hard. These items matter.

A full wadcutter cast of alloy appropriate to the load will give you accuracy and largest possible meplat - - just expect the accuracy to start coming unglued between 50 and 100 yards (dependent upon launch speed). The ability to reload them quickly is also rather poor, but they meet your stated criteria.

Agreed. An undefined "more" is not a definable goal. If a meplat is all OP desires, Lyman has a lot of pressure tested data listed in their "Pistol & Revolver" Handbooks for cast full wadcutters up to almost 1400 fps.

[Big Boomer]

Two cast boolits take care of most of my .38 Spl. & .357 needs: Lyman 358156 with a gas check for high velocity loads & an RCBS 158 gr. plain base. I also use a 9mm boolit cast from a Lee 125 gr. 6 cavity mold that actually weighs 137.5 grs. when cast from 50/50 clip-on WW/stick on soft load with a little tin for good fillout & PCed. Since I don't shoot jacketed stuff in my handguns (except for my concealed carry Sig 938) those two boolits have my needs covered. Would recommend those 1st two to any .357 owner. Big Boomer

[fredj338]

Without going custom, the Lee 158 RNFP. Biggest meplat, Accurate.
https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-155B

[Alstep]

My 2 favorite boolits for 38 Spec/357 are the RCBS 38-150-SWC and RCBS 38-158-CM. Covers all my needs, from mild to heavy, especially in my GP100.

[Wheelgun]

How far are you wanting accuracy to hold out?? How hard are you going to be pushing them??

Proven accuracy + largest meplat = Full Wadcutter (obviously can’t get any larger than that)

Inside/at 50yrds a full charge, full wadcutter would be #1 by the guidelines given…
If only used for paper or steel, a light loaded full Wadcutter would still be #1.

Otherwise the Lee 358-158RF has proven excellent for me.

[jdgabbard]

How far are you wanting accuracy to hold out?? How hard are you going to be pushing them??

Proven accuracy + largest meplat = Full Wadcutter (obviously can’t get any larger than that)

Inside/at 50yrds a full charge, full wadcutter would be #1 by the guidelines given…
If only used for paper or steel, a light loaded full Wadcutter would still be #1.

Otherwise the Lee 358-158RF has proven excellent for me.

Except he is also look for a "hard hitting" option. Now there are old defensive loadings for wadcutters. But your standard 3.0gr of Bullseye ain't it. And some of that data is from OLD manuals. It's an option, but you might have to look for some archaic data to work up some new loads.

[Wheelgun]

Hard hitting is very subjective.
Also how far and what are we shooting, a gong, falling plates, steel poppers, bowling pins? Maybe hogs or zombie headshots??

A standard loaded wadcutter going 800fps will shoot through an 18” ballistic gel block. Bump it to 950 or 1000fps and it will smack with authority. I’m betting 30”+ in ballistics gelatin. The data is not hard to find.

While not full snort 357s, a 1000fps wadcutter will shoot through a hog and be pleasant while doing it.

Hodgdons website is hardly archaic.
A quick search there shows several 357 wadcutter loads moving 1000fps+ and one standard 38spl at 1000fps plus. Not to mention the 11, 12 and 1300fps loads that my old, I guess archaic, 80s & 90s Lyman manuals show.

Lee 358-158RF is still another great choice. Readily available, lots of data for the weight, and faster reloads.

[racepres]

Except he is also look for a "hard hitting" option. Now there are old defensive loadings for wadcutters. But your standard 3.0gr of Bullseye ain't it. And some of that data is from OLD manuals. It's an option, but you might have to look for some archaic data to work up some new loads.
So Old...Like Me for instance, is no longer viable??? Because??? Help me here...some of my best loads are from the 60's!!!

[jdgabbard]

So Old...Like Me for instance, is no longer viable??? Because??? Help me here...some of my best loads are from the 60's!!!

Load data has changed a lot since then. Not saying there isn’t good loads, or even safe loads. Just a lot of loads that are no longer considered safe by modern pressure testing results.

[rintinglen]

Get an NOE copy of the 358-432, and load it with 358-311, 357 mag starting loads. Go boldly into the night. 13.5 grains of 2400 and you will have plenty of whomp, though on thin skinned animals like two legged vermin, you'll have excess penetration.

[PhatForrest]

Another vote for the Lyman/NOE copy 358432. Full wadcutter meplat performance out of a standard pressure round. Plus, they cycle through my leverguns without an issue.

It's not flashy. It's not fancy. But someone had the right idea a long time ago in its design.

[BCB]

358429 Keith style boolit...

[lightman]

In a revolver its hard to beat a Keith Type Semi-Wadcutter. But they may not feed reliably in a lever action rifle. You choice, with or without a gas check. I'm a non gas check guy personally.

[jonp]

I use a Saeco 354 that with the gas check are 183 grains.

Also a Lee group buy 358-180 RF that with the gas check are 185 grains.

Both with 12 grains of IMR-4227.

I shot 2 whitetails with my Ruger GP. One at 35yrds using Core Lokt ammo ( 180lbs ) and another 25-30yrds ( 160 lb doe ) using the Lee 358-158 RF. Big fan of the RF profile. Powder used was H110.

[justindad]

Accurate molds makes a 170 grain full wadcutter that I would love to try some day.