.357 mold suggestions, please

[RayinNH]

I'm looking to you all for help. I've have a Ruger .357 Flattop Anniversary Edition that I'm waiting to come in at my local shop, that I want to get a mold for. Another shop that I also go to has a couple of used mold that are possible candidates. One being RCBS 38-158-SWC a two cavity gas check bullet for $35. The other mold being a Lyman 358477 a four cavity for $40. At present I have a Lee TL358-158-SWC that I load in .38 Specials lubed with Rooster Jacket Film. Rooster suggest you not go over 1000 fps with this lube. I realise I could use Lee Liquid Alox, but the stuff is messy and would rather not use it. One bullet that I kind of like is Lee 358-158-RF.

In my .45 Colts and .44 Mags., I've never used a gas checked bullet so I'm wondering if would be worth the extra work and expense to go with the RCBS.

So if you have suggestions I'd love to read them...Ray

[Willbird]

I have been running a Lee 6 cavity 358-rf, it drops the little gems at .359 in WW and they fall right out doing the BruceB, to the tune of 1370 for the first two hours I ran the mould, 5 selected at random were within 1 grain total of each other.

they seem to shoot good so far, 6 inchish at 100 yds from 4" iron sight ruger security six atop 18.00 LilGun for 1250 fps, shot as cast finger lubed with Felix Lube.

The whole boolit ends up inside the case if you seat to the crimp groove, by that I mean you can easily shoot a .359 boolit with .358 throats and have the ctg. easily enter the chamber.

Bill

[beagle]

Ray, I'd go for the 358477 and forget about the GC mould.

I have one that has one solid cavity and one HP cavty and it's my light .357 bullet...the heavy being either the 358429 or 358439.

Shoots well from eithet .38 Special or .357 Magnum cases./beagle

[Bass Ackward]

Rooster suggest you not go over 1000 fps with this lube. I realise I could use Lee Liquid Alox, but the stuff is messy and would rather not use it.
So if you have suggestions I'd love to read them...Ray

Ray,

Life can be pretty simple sometimes. If I use liquid alox anymore for pistol bullets, I tend to use some mica over it.

So use the same principal with the rooster jacket. (floor wax) Can you thin the rooster jacket like we did floor wax in the service so that it could be sprayed on with a pump bottle? That would be a nice even application and less disturbance for the LQA from NOT having to move your bullets until the rooster is totally dry.

Wal la! Double lubed bullets with rooster on the outside.
Now. How does this affect your mold choice?

[44man]

It all depends on the boolit the gun likes best. I have bought and made molds that cast almost the same weight and size boolits and one will shoot sub 1" groups at 50 yd's and the other will not. I don't think anyone will ever figure out why. The more boolits you have to play with the more fun you will have. Beg, borrow or steal boolits from the guys to try and then you will know what to shoot and which mold to buy.
Sorry I don't have anything for .357 or I would send you a bunch.
I would try Felix lube too, you will love it.
OK, Felix, do the dance!

[MT Gianni]

The 358477 over 5 gr unique is a classic 38 special load and accurate in alli've tried it in. I think a gas check is necessary when you push 1400 fps or more in the 357. This should eliminate GC's in almost all cases. Sounds like a good price for a 4 cavity. I would buy it. Gianni.

[Buckshot]

..............I'm gonna jump in the boat with Willbird and recommend the Lee 358-158RF. I also have to add that both those other moulds have a real nice price tag. I think I'd do without lunch or pickup a bunch of aluminum cans to swing the deal, but I'd buy the moulds FIRST!.

With that Lee 6 banger you can make a freakin' mountain of boolits in jig time.

..................Buckshot

[RayinNH]

Lee 358-158-RF ordered earlier this morning. The 358477 has been there for a while so it may also follow me home some day. In fact they had three copies of it. Thank for the suggestions...Ray

[fourarmed]

I finally got around to loading some of my 358429 with 6.0/Unique. It shoots very well in both the M19 and the 586 I've tried so far. Shouldn't be any problem about penetration at 170 gr. with WW.

[LAH]

The RCBS 38-158-SWC is a good bullet. It's easy to cast, lube, and check. It shoots well in most sixguns. My only fault is it comes in a 2 cavity mould.