IDEAL 358432, 160 gr. W/C

Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I went to the range a few days ago trying out different loads in my New Ruger # 1, 357 Maximum. I took along a box of 357 Magnums that was loaded with 3.5 grs. of B'Eye and the 358432 ( the 160 gr. version ) , sized to .358 ".

Cy1kuC2.jpg


This was shot at 40 yards. 5 shots ( I'm fairly certain the " low round " is me. )

syuHrq5.jpg


I decided to get outside today and make more of these.
I've never met an IDEAL mould that I didn't like.
This one is certainly no exception.
A single cav. mould with no vent lines.
This mould will cast about 98 % keepers ( the other 2% is my fault for having an inadequate amount of alloy in my ladle ) .
A single cav. mould, but you're assured of good weight consistency, bullet to bullet.

I've always wondered just how old this mould is ? ? ?
Anyone want to make a guess ?

O1ZRCA8.jpg


Ot1b25S.jpg


wT8YbZU.jpg


SBa0hye.jpg


2yMHbvT.jpg
 
Last edited:
KHornet

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Have that mold also Ben, and it is my favorite wadcutter. Shoots well in any
ctg I load it in. Need to load a batch of them for my 94 358, and see if it will
make it head on to 50. Will try with your BE load. Would probably be a dandy
for chicken killing fox, coon or yote. Love wadcutter holes in paper. They just
plain look cool compared to ragged holes.

Paul
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
The late Jim Cirrillo, of NYPD Stake Out Team fame, favored this boolit in a S&W for "social purposes." He was quoted (Very Politically Incorrectly now!) to the effect that "applying 160 grain wadcutters would cease hostilities."

Ben
 
Last edited:
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
I got no idea on age.

but I do got a little tip.
these old ideal single cavity molds respond to pressure pouring like no other mold out there.
the old connect and spin ladle technique was invented for these guy's.

but I like to use a LEE 10 lb pot about 2/3 full to pressure them up.
I put the nozzle up to the plate, open the pot's spout and leave it open for a 5 count, back the mold off and fill the sprue hole with alloy.
the bullet won't be drawing any of that second pour but the weight pulls the sprue free from the plate.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
but I do got a little tip.
these old ideal single cavity molds respond to pressure pouring like no other mold out there.
the old connect and spin ladle technique was invented for these guy's.

I could not agree more.
Mine cast beautiful bullets.

Ben
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
IIRC, the 358432 was Ideal/Lymans most popular wadcutter design for decades. It had an extraordinarily long production span, from approx. 1931-1990 for the 160 gr, with a few temporary pauses and 1951-1978 for the 148 gr (off and on). At times, both designs spent time either in hiatus, or bouncing back and forth as Group A or Group B offerings. The changing popularity of bullseye shooting, and of revolver shooting in general are the likely causes of the roller coaster ride. BTW, 160 gr. 358432 has always worked for me with speedloaders. It's been a great bowling pin bullet.

Group A: Shown are our standard bullets and roundball diameters. These are always in stock and immediately available. Four-cavity blocks are available only in Group A and in certain designated roundball diameters.
Group B: Although these designs are less popular than those in Group A, they are produced regularly and may be had after only a brief wait.
Group C: These moulds are custom-made and available only direct from the factory and only in single cavity blocks. Hollow-point and hollow-base designs are not available in Group C.
 
Glen

Glen

Moderator
Staff member
As I understand it, Lyman/Ideal first advertised interchangeable mould blocks in 1927 in the American Rifleman. The first interchangeable mould blocks were single-cavity, and unvented. I believe that they added the vent lines in the early 1930s, so my guess is that your mould would have been made between about 1927 and 1932.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I'd read that the " 2 lines below the T " on an IDEAL mould can be used to determine the approx. age the mould ? I'm not certain about that, however.

Ben

EUALXCx.jpg
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Strange how things happen some times...I've been following this post with some interest..I have a tricked out 686 that I haven't used for quite a while...probably because my nephew has the majority of my handgun molds and lives in another state....

We got to talking about having a shoot out when he visits this month..in order to do that I wanted some light loads I could use in my 686 that is set up for PPC...."that'll get him" I thought..but I needed a mold ...so I went on E-Bay...low and behold there it was... a good looking mold ..$28.00 delivered..I pushed the button ..and it arrived in yesterdays mail..it's in much better condition than I thought it would be ..as a matter of fact it looks new..the pictures don't do it justice...nice light plumb color on the outside , nice blue cavities, little signs of use..now if it cast as well as you guys say AND it shoot like you say..I'll be very happy...the serial number is a couple of digits lower than Ben's...
KWSrftd.jpg

nW0DOGf.jpg

k6atddi.jpg


You guys can sure go through my SS check in a hurry...I'm happy though..now to find a nice Ruger #1 to send to Jess...:D
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Dan,

That is a shade over 1/2 of the price I paid for mine.
You got a great deal on that mould.

Yours appears to be the 160 gr. version.
I have a double cav. 148 gr. also.
I think they are a great design.
BTW, did you notice that your mould and mine both have
a " A A " stamped on them ? They may be the same approx. age ?

Ben
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
The Ideal address line with the "equal" sign has perplexed me for years. I still can't find that answer, and I've done plenty of looking.
429422-1.jpg
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Might want to check early abbreviations of Connecticut if they had the Conn on their there wouldn't be enough room
 
You must log in or register to reply here.