"one .358 caliber mold?"

[exile]

Funds are very tight around here at the moment, but I did receive a gift certificate to Cabela's for Christmas. With that in mind I called Cabela's this morning and asked them if they carried the Lyman 358429 mold. The guy I spoke with said they did not. When I asked him if they could order it, he said he would have to check with his boss. (Just so you know, that makes no sense to me at all.)

Anyway, as I thought more about it, I wondered if you guys here could have one mold for the .38 Special/.357 magnum (or .357 Maximum for that matter) what would it be? So my questions are actually three.

1. If you could only have one .358 caliber mold, what would it be?

2. Why?

3. What gun in that caliber do you shoot the most?

4. If you want to give your favorite load with that boolit as well, even better.

(Mine is a recent production S & W 686, but that needn't influence the opinions expressed.)

I am sure this has been covered at length on this forum over and over, but I thought if I went to Cabela's and they had a mold that was popular here, I might buy it. Yes, I would love to get in on the NOE group buy for the hollow-point 358429, but right now, if it doesn't come from Cabela's I can't afford it.)

Thanks for your input. :coffee:

[Gohon]

I have 4 moulds for the 35 caliber (38/357) but they are all Lee moulds and they work perfectly. The only Lyman mould I own is for 22 caliber and it has given me fits every since I owned it. The fourth replacement is suppose to be arriving today. Personally if funds were tight for me I'd much rather buy three Lee moulds for the price of the one Lyman mould but that's just me.

[awaveritt]

Right now I just have one - a Lee Mould (TL-358-158-SWC) and it was only $20 from Midway. Since I've recently acquired a Marlin carbine, I'm looking around for some gas check designs, but the 158 SWC seems like a great all around handgun boolit.

As far as Cabelas and your gift certificate, I've never seen anything in my local Cabelas except round ball moulds. If their website lists them, you could redeem your gift certificate on line if you like.

Good luck.

[Shiloh]

There is something to be said about More molds for the same money.
My cheapy LEE molds cast quality boolits just like my Lyman molds.

I'm looking at the LEE 140 gr .38 cal six-banger mold as my next one.

Shiloh

[jdgabbard]

If I could have only one mold, it would be a Lyman 358156. Its a gas check design. It was the "go-to" boolit for 357mag, and shoots just fine without a gas check in the 38spl. I would definately consider it. And Lee also makes a copy...

[Bass Ackward]

If I could have only one mold, it would be a Lyman 358156. Its a gas check design. It was the "go-to" boolit for 357mag, and shoots just fine without a gas check in the 38spl. I would definately consider it. And Lee also makes a copy...


Bingo! This was designed for wide rifling Smiths in particular and it has with held the test of time.

[Guesser]

Another vote for 358156, they just don't make any more gooder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[exile]

You guys are frugal, my wife would love you. Maybe Cabela's will have some Lee molds. Thanks for the responses.

exile

[philthephlier]

Cabela's does stock the 358665 Cowboy double cavity. I just got one but have not cast with it yet, but before buying it I asked the same question you are and several responded positively about this design for virtually any 38/357 revolver

[NHlever]

Another vote for the 358156 as the best all around .357 mold. I have also had good luck with the Lee molds too, and they sure are less money.

[exile]

Lee Mold C358-158-SWC. Is that the one you guys are talking about?

exile

[Catshooter]

If funds were tight for me (and they are) I would stay as far from a gas check mould as I could. I would go with your original idea of the 358429. That will crimp in the crimp groove in .357 brass in your 686 and work well in .38 spl too.

I like Elmer's idea of a boolit is Why.

I don't shoot .357s anymore as they are too dang loud without muffs.

I was working up a load with a military surplus powder, WC 820 maybe? It gave me 1250 plus fps out of my two and a half inch 686 and was very accurate.


Cat

[MT Gianni]

Try Graf and Sons or Mid-South. I shoot 38, 357, 357 Max, 358 and 35 W as well as 9mm so one is a stretch. 358477 for mid- fast 38 & 357, 150 KT RCBS for the same, 358429 for 357 & max, 358627 for 357 Max, RCBS 200 & Saeco 352 for the rifles.

[Marlin Hunter]

When I asked him if they could order it, he said he would have to check with his boss. (Just so you know, that makes no sense to me at all.)





Don't special order anything from Cabelas. You will pay full price and shipping from the factory. They basically order from the manufacturer in your name. You pay the manufacturers list price. you could skip the middle man (Cabelas) and order it your self. I really like Cabelas, but will never special order anything from them.

[mpmarty]

I have a LEE 358/200 rn that I like well in the 358 winchester loaded over a stout charge of 3031 it shoots to the same poi as factory loads in a browning lever action.

[Marlin Hunter]

1. If you could only have one .358 caliber mold, what would it be?

2. Why?




1) Lee .358, 158gr, Tumble Lube, Semi Wadcutter.

2) The mold is low cost. It is tumble lubed, so I don't need to buy a luber. 158 grains with meplate makes a good for self defense, hunting, and plinking.

[exile]

You have to pay shipping if you order something from Cabela's? That's crazy, they probably get bulk rate shipping on all their stuff and charge you the individual rate. Thanks for the heads up.

I admit I still want a 358429 mold, but I will look at Cabela's the next time I am in and see what they have in stock.

Thanks.

exile

[GLynn41]

About the first mold I ever bought was a 358429 and the 358156 --either is great -- shot lots of both - I'd go with the Keith-weighs from 168 to 175 gr -6" old colt Trooper-- as 2 loads -- Reloader nest -- Handloads on line --Lyman all have plenty

[EDK]

I load my ammo pretty generic...use it in a herd of VAQUEROS and Cowboy rifles, so it has to function in both.

LYMAN 358665 is a good choice. The LEE is similar and the NOE 360 180 WFN is my current favorite. I haven't done much with 358429...it doesn't feed very well in my MARLIN Cowboy rifles in 357 brass, crimped in the crimping groove. The NOE 200 grain semi wadcutter group buy isn't going very fast, but it looks good to me.

LYMAN 358156 is a classic, but they ain't exactly giving gas checks away...and lower end loads don't require them.

The HODGDON cowboy action data pages are a good place to start...and go up if you feel the need. I like TITEGROUP and HP-38 in 357 and 44 loads around 1000 feet per second.

Use your certificate for powder or primers and watch eBay or the various forum classifieds for bargain moulds. I've got some nice ones from guys here and have yet to get screwed on the deal. So far, so good on eBay.

:cbpour::redneck::Fire:

[TCLouis]

have already?

Sizer

Lube

Gas checks

Everything to cast 35 caliber boolits ceptin a mold

[garandsrus]

exile,

If you order from Cabelas, you can have the item shipped the store and you don't need to pay any shipping. You will find a MUCH better selection in their catalog than on their shelves. They don't list a full line of Lyman molds though.

Here's a link to their Lyman molds (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007-cat20728-cat20849&id=0018790210637a&navCount=2&podId=0018790&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=&indexId=cat20849&hasJS=true)

The catalog doesn't list much in the way of "Lee molds", but if you do a search several molds will be displayed.

John

[okiecruffler]

I'm another 358156 fan. I use it without a GC in 38 sp and lite 357 and it doesn't seem to change accuracy any. And it just rocks in the heavy 357's and the max.

[Willbird]

I'd eat ramen noodles a few more days, and get a SIX cavity lee for the 158 round flat.

Bill

[Zim]

Lyman 358156 GC - loved the 2 cavity so much, I sold it and got an NEI 4 cavity.

GC are optional. If I am shooting high velocity or 38 spc and that is most of the time, I leave them off. Call it a bevel base, I call it a good shooter.

Easy casting bullet. I went to the four cavity because I am lazy, cheap and like to shoot.

357 mag cases in Ruger Security Six. Mostly...

Starting loads of Green Dot are good. Unique, Bullseye. It's all good.

[cabezaverde]

Lyman 358156 GC - loved the 2 cavity so much, I sold it and got an NEI 4 cavity.

GC are optional. If I am shooting high velocity or 38 spc and that is most of the time, I leave them off. Call it a bevel base, I call it a good shooter.

Easy casting bullet. I went to the four cavity because I am lazy, cheap and like to shoot.

357 mag cases in Ruger Security Six. Mostly...

Starting loads of Green Dot are good. Unique, Bullseye. It's all good.

What are you guys doing for lube on the ones you are shooting bare butt? Are you tumble lubing, or cleaning the lube out of the gas check groove?

[jdgabbard]

I'm another 358156 fan. I use it without a GC in 38 sp and lite 357 and it doesn't seem to change accuracy any. And it just rocks in the heavy 357's and the max.

Yeah, it does. My next custom mold I'm thinking about is going to be a 4 cavity 358156 with two of the mold's gas check shanks machined out. That way I can throw a good supply of both. Maybe cramer HP one of each with extra pins to take them back to stock configuration.... It'll be a $200+ mold, but think about the possibilities...

[Zim]

What are you guys doing for lube on the ones you are shooting bare butt? Are you tumble lubing, or cleaning the lube out of the gas check groove?

I'm using a star sizer and don't have much (if any) lube in the GC shank. Push them through butt first and lube the crimp grroves.

[Tazman1602]

Exile what did you end up buying?

All the suggestions I've seen look good but then again since I've found this forum I believe I *need* all the different designs for every caliber I've got..............

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Like Wilbird mentions I would go with a 158g RNFP. If you ever want to use them in a lever action rifle the RNFP is a better choice that a SWC. Some will, some won't feed SWC.
The 158 I beleive to be the bullet choice for 38/357.
I use the Lee 6 cavity mold and Lee sizing die with Liquid Alox.
Inexpensive, quick, reliable.
CF

[Nate1778]

I'm going against the grain and vote the Lee 124g RNFP .358. Bullet flies true out of my GP100. Casting wise they use up less alloy. I pan lube mine. I think it will also work well in my 9mm but I am still in load development. They also punch a very clean hole in paper.

[cabezaverde]

I'm going against the grain and vote the Lee 124g RNFP .358. Bullet flies true out of my GP100

Is this bullet bevel base?

[Nate1778]

You know I say its not, but all the pics I can find shows a bevel, Although I am 90% sure the ones at the house have no bevel. I would link to Midway but their site is down. They also make a 6 cavity for it although its relatively new. Its 125 not 124, sorry, what is grain between friends.

[Nate1778]

Just looked and its not beveled. Here is a link to the mold


http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=916523




http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w157/nate1778/DSC_0075.jpg

[Sky King]

I use a Lyman 358477 in my Model 27. Lyman's 358429 using .357 brass and crimped on the crimp grove is too long for the cylinder of a Model 27. Best to check that your Model 686 doesn't have a short cylinder too before purchasing the 358429.

[Freischütz]

I too would vote for 358156. Two crimp grooves, gas check, and they even fed through my Steyr M1912. Hard to beat.