need advice choosing a .357/38 & a .44 mold

[shoestring]

i've been casting 452's for a while and am looking to pick up a mold for my 38/357. my revolver has a 2 1/4" barrel and i have always used 125g jhp most of the molds i find are for 158g. any sugestions? once i get this figured out i will be looking for a mold for my .44 mag 9 1/2" barrel. if i can find one. both will be used for plinking somewhat but mainly for a massive contingency stockpile. been reloading for 10 or so years, but just starting with the casting thing

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Hullo Shoestring , and welcome.:-D

I take it you want a lite boolit for your 38/357 ? Ok: non Gas ck
Lee Makes a .358 , 105, 125 & 140 gr SWC.
RCBS makes a .358 140gr CM, and a 150gr SWC.
Lyman has a .358 150gr SWC

If you are looking for a popular .44 boolit : non gas ck
Lee- 200gr Rf , 214 gr SWC , 240 gr SWC
RCBS- 245gr SWC, 250G Keith SWC
Lyman- 429215 210gr SWC, popular lite boolit
429421- 245 gr Keith SWC
Saeco- 220gr, 240gr, 250gr, 300gr

Take your pick, Lee molds are good for people just starting, you can play with them and see what you like for not a lot of $$ . Lyman are more $, RCBS & Saeco more expensive.[smilie=1:
The 429215, 210gr is a great lite boolit for the 44 mag , the 429421 Keith types are the most popular 245-250gr, depends on what you like in the 44 lite or standard. All the boolits listed are non-gas check design, most folks don't need GC on pistol boolits.[smilie=1:

Good Luck , glad to see you getting started casting.:twisted: now you will be hooked.

[MtGun44]

RCBS 357-150-SWC for .38/.357 is a really good starting place. Lyman 429421 or
RCBS 44-250-K are excellent for .44 mag.

Bill

[cajun shooter]

+1 on the post by Mt. Gun. To start these bullets will give a good all around bullet that may be used for many things such as hunting, plinking and taking care of the home front.

[shoestring]

Hullo Shoestring , and welcome.:-D

I take it you want a lite boolit for your 38/357 ? Ok: non Gas ck
Lee Makes a .358 , 105, 125 & 140 gr SWC.
RCBS makes a .358 140gr CM, and a 150gr SWC.
Lyman has a .358 150gr SWC

If you are looking for a popular .44 boolit : non gas ck
Lee- 200gr Rf , 214 gr SWC , 240 gr SWC
RCBS- 245gr SWC, 250G Keith SWC
Lyman- 429215 210gr SWC, popular lite boolit
429421- 245 gr Keith SWC
Saeco- 220gr, 240gr, 250gr, 300gr

Take your pick, Lee molds are good for people just starting, you can play with them and see what you like for not a lot of $$ . Lyman are more $, RCBS & Saeco more expensive.[smilie=1:
The 429215, 210gr is a great lite boolit for the 44 mag , the 429421 Keith types are the most popular 245-250gr, depends on what you like in the 44 lite or standard. All the boolits listed are non-gas check design, most folks don't need GC on pistol boolits.[smilie=1:

Good Luck , glad to see you getting started casting.:twisted: now you will be hooked.

yeah, i want a lite .357 because of the short barrel. i don't have to use a 125g but i do to keep velocities up. .44 mag i shoot mainly 240g i have seen the lee's and it looks like most are in stock. will give them a try. need a .454 round ball mold for my '58 also

[shoestring]

+1 on the post by Mt. Gun. To start these bullets will give a good all around bullet that may be used for many things such as hunting, plinking and taking care of the home front.

"taking care of the home front" i have plenty now but i just cant stop! like a bad addiction. hi i'm josh and i'm an ammoholic. i don't have gold in my portfolio but if ammo gets scarce, i'm rich

[crabo]

I really like the Lee 125 rnfp. I size at .359 and get good accuracy at 50 yards with it. Cheap to shoot and with a 6 cavity mold, you can push a lot out in a hurry.

[shoestring]

I really like the Lee 125 rnfp. I size at .359 and get good accuracy at 50 yards with it. Cheap to shoot and with a 6 cavity mold, you can push a lot out in a hurry.
wow, lee molds, i guess you love'm or hate'm but looks like more people love'm. my (wifes) revolver only has a 2 1/4" barrel. it will never be a tack driver but would like to mold and size my own rounds . i think i will give lee a try, i can always try a more expensive mold later. how did we ever survive without forums like this. thanks everybody

[waco]

Keith Boolits!!!!!!:drinks:

[Tom Herman]

Lyman 429421 four cavity for 240 Gr. Keith style SWC's.
Lyman 358429 four cavity for 170 grain Keith style SWC's.
They are beautiful, wicked bullet casting machines!

Happy Shootin'! -Tom

[higgins]

I asked the same questions when I started casting many years ago. I have found that, to begin with, you will probably get better results with a "standard" weight SWC bullet. Untold thousands of bullets later, I'm still shooting the 38/357 150 gr. Lyman SWC I started using way back when. I've flirted with wadcutters, but always end up back at the 150 SWC. A 240ish SWC in 44 will serve you well. Using the standard weights will also give you no shortage of powder choices.

[shoestring]

I really like the Lee 125 rnfp. I size at .359 and get good accuracy at 50 yards with it. Cheap to shoot and with a 6 cavity mold, you can push a lot out in a hurry.
ok, ordered up a couple of lees. need to get them so i can give info for my star dies. star should be ready for delivery next week sometime

[fredj338]

I asked the same questions when I started casting many years ago. I have found that, to begin with, you will probably get better results with a "standard" weight SWC bullet. Untold thousands of bullets later, I'm still shooting the 38/357 150 gr. Lyman SWC I started using way back when. I've flirted with wadcutters, but always end up back at the 150 SWC. A 240ish SWC in 44 will serve you well. Using the standard weights will also give you no shortage of powder choices.

This is very true plus most snub 357/38 shoo tthe 158gr to POA. For the 44mag, hard to beat the RCBS 250grK.

[Larry Gibson]

RCBS 357-150-SWC for .38/.357 is a really good starting place. Lyman 429421 or
RCBS 44-250-K are excellent for .44 mag.

Bill

MtGun44 nailed it.

I'd only add the Lyman 358477 as the Lyman alternative to the RCBS 35-150-SWC. I've shot thousands of them over the years in both .38 and .357 (.35 Remington to come to think of it). I've used both the .44s he mentions with equally excellent results in all of my .44s. Be advised that with the 9.5" barrel of your revolver can put you over the maximum velocity for good accuracy with PB bullets, especially with a softer alloy, using manual "maximum" loads. Start low and work up for accuracy in the 1400-1450 fps range.

Larry Gibson