Lyman #358156

[Reloader762]

Picked up the mint condition Lyman 2 cavity #358156 mold with handles for $75 on eBay last week. I bought quite a few Lyman mold off eBay with no issues, just make sure the seller has a good positive feedback and has lots of pics. Mold was listed as used, but other than a little lead residue on the sprue plate, it looks brand new.

 

[Jeff H]

Nice mould. Handles and all? That's a deal.

Great bullet. A fella could just about get by with that one mould if he had to.

 

[Reloader762]

Nice mould. Handles and all? That's a deal.

Great bullet. A fella could just about get by with that one mould if he had to.

I already have one just like it, it pretty much become my favorite mold for 38/357 loads. When I saw this one which is in much better condition with handles for the price, I had to jump on it. I have been loading up a lot of Skeeter loads using 38 special cases with 2400 taking advantage of the double crimp groove.

 

[MW65]

I have a 38-162 rcbs which I haven't played around with yet.... was thinking about it as a fun 35rem as well as 357 load.

 

[JonB]

I have one like that as well. I only bought it cuz it was a super deal, it's in great condition but has sticky cavities. I was gonna remedy that, but didn't know if it was worth the effort...if one of my revolvers would like it or not?

 

[KeithB]

I have a four cavity version of that mold. I'd use it more cuz it's a really good bullet for .357 mags but I hate messing with gas checks and most of my ,38 shooting is Specials and no GC is needed. But it is a really good bullet. I bet it would be great in a rifle.

 

[Reloader762]

I have a four cavity version of that mold. I'd use it more cuz it's a really good bullet for .357 mags but I hate messing with gas checks and most of my ,38 shooting is Specials and no GC is needed. But it is a really good bullet. I bet it would be great in a rifle.

I have an NOE 4 cavity HP clone of the Lyman bullet, I just PC and leave the GC off those for up to 38+P loads, no leading excellent accuracy and expansion.

 

[Bret4207]

The 358156 has shot so good for me in so many 35's that I think it's worth the hassle/cost of GC's. Truly a classic mould IMO.

 

[fiver]

hey Keith give a few a run without the gas checks at 38 special bulls-eye type loads.

i've run some light loads in my 41 without gas checks and they shoot as good as a plain base at the same speeds.
when i find some get-to-it i'm gonna give them a run with a coat of powder.

 

[358156 hp]

358156 also makes a decent heavyweight 9mm bullet. Try this sometime, set a 147 gr Hornady 9mm bullet next to an as-cast 358156 and look at the similarities. The primary differences are the gas check shank vs the boattail, the shoulder, and diameter of the meplat.

 

[fiver]

that boat tail is because of the case taper.
the sans gas check shank might just serve the same purpose?

 

[KeithB]

For a slightly heavier than normal 9mm bullet I use a four cavity Lyman 358480. It is a 2 grease groove no crimp grove SWC that is a nominal 133 grs. Also makes a good lightweight .38 Spcl bullet. I have used 158 gr RNs in 9mm and got them to work fine in my HiPower but honestly I think anything much over 135gr in a 9mm is not really optimal for that round.

 

[358156 hp]

that boat tail is because of the case taper.
the sans gas check shank might just serve the same purpose?

That it does. Thank you for saying that, I forgot.