This is my goto also.
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I like the LEE 140 SWC for both 38 and .357. The Lyman 358429 for heavier leads in the .357. I have shied away from full power loads.
Shiloh
OK, since nobody voted for it, I like the 105 gr Lee SWC. No recoil at all, great for double tapping and young shooters! Really nice snubby round, and we need to practice to become proficient with those guys!
Other than that, I use the Lee TL 158 SWC. they do shoot fine in my 38's.
Bill boy
I have a few 357 caliber molds. The one that shoots the best is the MP359640.
Im leaning strongly towards the NOE 360180 wfn, because I can get it with one cavity cut for gas checks, and the other plain base. That appeals to me as I do push the 357, especially out of the rifle and i'd like the option to use checks.
I like the looks of the mp359640 also, its a hard choice.
At any rate, I know I must get something that is round nosed as my rifle wont feed 38s in swc. It has no trouble with 357s though in swc.
The guys over at marlinowners LOVE heavier boolits in their 357 rifles. I also like the NOE 360180 BUT my mould has 1 gas check and 4 plain base since I shoot mostly pistol. I prefer the five cavity for production and set up most of the moulds with the 1/4 ratio.
Swede and the elves at NOE make great moulds.
I do hear tell the rifle will like a heavy bullet. I have not tried anything heavier than 158 yet. I have a 358429 im going to try, but it wont cycle as its too long without modifying the carrier. Which i dont fancy doing because i dont want to chance semi wad cutters not feeding in 357s.
The heavier bullet will be used mostly for the rifle I think
lee 158 wnfp pb 7gr true blue rcbs 158gr gc 8.5gr of true blue or 13.5gr of 2400 .rcbc sil 180gr gc 11.5gr 2400 ,i dont load 38 just .357 mag
Another vote for the Lee 158gr SWC. Cast soft and loaded light there is no need for a lighter boolit. Cast hard and driven hard they work good too.
Motor
SAECO 382. They call it a Keith style, it looks more like a Sharpe to me. Nobody knows exactly what a Keith bullet is supposed to look like anyway, since Lyman kept screwing with the design until it lost its identity.
Hensley & Gibbs #51. 160 gr swc. It has a lube groove as wide as the Panama Canal so no leading. If I need to REALLY drive them hard, I use a gas check version of that bullet.
I have a plain base 4 cavity and a gas check 4 cavity mould in that bullet design.
The other is a Hensley & Gibbs #39 158 gr RN gc bullet for the Rossi 92 rifle. The RN feeds much better than the swc.
The 105 gr Lee's are probably my favorite as well for light recoil rounds, I also like the Lyman 358101 (77 gr WC). I have used both to introduce people to shooting. I shoot the 105's in my Air Weights for practice.
For heavier work I like the NOE 360-180 WFN I have the RG-2 HP version.
Mine had always been the Lyman #358429 Keith, but recently I have come to like the Lee 358-158-RF. It has a big wide meplat!
Lyman #358429 Keith and I am partial to the Lyman 141 grain wadcutter for plinking and for rabbit
For target work the 358395 hb or 358495, plinking gets the 358477 out and hunting the 180 wfn from the blackhawk. The DW likes NOE 160 fn and the Mod 15 the 358429. Rossi 92 gets the 358156 in 38 cases. I now ask why I have the other dozen pistol molds.
Now im thinking about a lyman 358665. I can always us my 358156 If im going to need a gas check. Still looking at the NOE 180 grain wfn too for heavy stuff. But not sure what else is out there yet.
Lee 158 grain tumble lube semi wadcutter.
I never have tried tumble lubing. I always pan lube. I made a homemade cutter that makes it easy to get the bullet out. Seemed to me tumble lubing would be slower, if not more aggravating than pan lubing. Especially having to lube twice. I do have some LLA that I could give it a try with one day.
Lee 125 for 38S, 358429 175 gr Kieth for 357.
1Shirt!