38 swc

[AnthonyB]

Fellas:
I settled on the 358429 as my go-to SWC for 38 Special and 357 Magnum years ago. My short cylinder 357s were all gone, and the long nose was no problem in the M19. I even sold my H&G 51 double cavity because I just wasn’t using it.
And you know what happened. I now have a Kimber K6 Target and the 358429 is too long in Magnum brass. I have many other 38 moulds, but no other Keith-type SWC. I’ve done some research and came up with the Lyman 358477, RCBS 38-150 SWC, and Tom’s 36-155 K. I love Saeco molds, but none of the designs excite me. Are there any other mass-produced designs I should be considering?
Tony

[358429]

You have a k6 target pistol and no pictures

[Alstep]

The RCBS 38-150-SWC has been a favorite of mine for years. Shoots accurately in all my 38/357's. You'd be hard pressed to find a better all around mold design. Just wish it were a 4 cavity.

[Walks]

#358477 still available in 4cav

These days I'd go for a N.O.E. #360-154-SWC-T2 or,
Accurate #36-155K

[rintinglen]

I hold with them as roots for the 358-477. The RCBS mold previously mentioned is a clone, but only comes in two cavity molds. Either will make accurate boolits.

[dannyd]

The Arsenal 358-158KT is a good mold. I have 158 swc molds from Lyman, Saeco,RCBS, NOE, Lee. They all work good.

[derek45]

358477 or LEE 358-158-RF

[JoeJames]

I really like my Lee 358 158TL boolits. They are very accurate in my 10" TC, and in my 4" S&W Model 67.

[Maven]

...the 358429 is too long in Magnum brass.

Tony, Brian Pearce has recommended trimming .357Mag. brass to 1.25" to accommodate that CB. However, the shorter RCBS version of it is accurate, still available, and requires no trimming. Just a thought....

[derek45]

Lee 358-158-rf

EDIT better pic, now that I'm home

[358429]

I trim my 357 mag brass to 1.22" so that the loaded cartridges at 1.6" feed easily through a rotary magazine for a bolt action rifle, and fit the cylinders of my revolvers.

I am starting a load workup with 38 special brass and Imr4227, and the loaded length is still close to 357 oal. To be shot from the 77-357.

Have you seen the miha hammer or the round flat carbine bullets?
I have never loaded or shot any.. the molds look like they may make an interesting bullet...constantly out of stock.

This ( https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-...5-hp-pb-4-cav/ ) are the 359-125 miha bullets. I size 357 and load and shoot 9x19, 38 special, and 357 mag. My latest experiment, I was surprised the rifle and snubby both liked them

[AnthonyB]

Fellas, thanks for all the replies. I have the Lee 125 and 158, along with a bunch of the MP moulds that are still NIB, including the Carbine and Hamm’r. I need to get a roundtoit on casting with them.

The Accurate or RCBS moulds sound and look very good.
Tony

[derek45]

few more pics of the LEE 158

[JoeJames]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Boy howdy, those are very good looking bullets. Just when I thought I was quite content with my Lee molds for wadcutters and semi-wadcutters, one in 148 grain and the other in 158 grain, you show the RF.

[sundog]

Tony, you want some 358477 testers? I have some that are already coated Smoke's Carolina blue and some more HF red.

PM comin' atcha.

[Ed_Shot]

I consider the 358429, 358477 and 358-158-RF outstanding in both .357 and .38 Spl. For short .357 cylinders why not go for the 358156 either with or w/o the GC.