IDEAL 2 cav. 356402

[Ben]

I have a nice single cav., but thought I could use a double cav.
It arrived today.
I'll make a few " test cast " with it today.

Ben

A little bit of rust that I'll clean before I cast with the mould :

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Its a good 'un! ‍

 

[Ben]

 

[bruce381]

looks nice does that pointy nose feed well? or is for wheel gun?

 

[Ben]

Feeds real well in a Browning High Power.
However , dropping from the mould at .359 ", it will serve double duty in my many 38 / 357 revolvers.

Ben

 

[CZ93X62]

What luck, Ben!

Must have been a new mould cherry that cut that one. .3598"! I would be ecstatic. It would fit well in all of my 38/357 revolvers and at least one of my 38 S&Ws at this diameter.

If I'm not mistaken, this design corresponds to the form of the Wehrmacht's WWI 9 x 19 bullet, a T/C form FMJ--much like Lyman #452374 is a good match to our GI 1911 45 ACP's ball ammo bullet form.

 

[bruce381]

.359 thats a big size for a 9mm are they more in the .356 range? I do not shoot any 9's

 

[Ben]

ALLEN,

You are spot on.
Many say that if a 9x19 won't function with this one....you need to start asking some questions.

 

[Ben]

I own several Ideal moulds. Not a single one of them throws an undersized bullet.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

Same here Ben...

Does that get crimped just above the top band ?

 

[KeithB]

My HP loves .358 bullets as long as they don't stick out too far.

Interesting to compare that to the Lee truncated cone 9mm bullet.

 

[358156 hp]

I own several Ideal moulds. Not a single one of them throws an undersized bullet.

Shhhh... quit telling people this. Demand will go up.

 

[Ben]

I own several Ideal moulds. Not a single one of them throws an undersized bullet.

Shhhh... quit telling people this. Demand will go up.

UUUmmm, You're right !!!!!!!!!

 

[beagle]

The key to an accurate 356402 is that it has a distinct seperaration between the front driving band and the sides of the meplat giving you a distinct driving band. This one does. Many of the new one just have a front band that blends in with the side of the meplat. Not near as accurate. Those old machinists that Ideal employed know how to make moulds. Not some "wet behind the ears" youngster with a CNC mill and no cares./beagle

 

[KeithB]

FWIW - There are several two cavity 356402 molds on eBay right now in the $55-70 range.

 

[Ben]

Same here Ben...

Does that get crimped just above the top band ?

Yes

 

[beagle]

I seat mine on the front edge of the band and hit it slightly with a taper crimp die.Got a sizer that runs .3575” and it feeds and shoots well in a FN High Power clone using modified military Beretta M9 magazines./beagle

 

[CZ93X62]

I have both the Lee 120 TC and the Lyman #356402. Both feed wonderfully, and shoot within or better than the given pistols' J-word accuracy potentials. I have not noted Beagle's stated accuracy difference between the mated TC/drive band and the stepped junction on my Lyman castings, but that could be my pistols and/or me on the steering end. I always reserve the right to be wrong.

In that spirit I apply my light taper crimp with the case mouth about .020" below the drive band origin on both bullets. This keeps OAL below the 1.169" OEM limit and the cartridges feed smoothly.

 

[beagle]

It may be that the ones with the more pronounced driving band are larger overall. I never sat down and did a close measurement. I do know, on one, there is a pronounced “step” at the driving band. On one of the others, the driving band kinda fades into to ogive. There’s a third that’s a HP and I don’t recall how that one is cut. HP in a 9mm is kind of a waste unless you’re close so I don’t use it much.
The one with the pronounced shoots better for me./beagle