New (to me anyway) mold

[KeithB]

Bought a two cavity RCBS 38-162-SWC used off eBay. I think I did OK for $57. I really didn't want a GC type bullet but I didn't see that in the ad. Oh well, I have 4-5000 .358 size gas checks, I'll cast some and give it a good try. It's in good shape, the only thing that marks it as used is the lead smear on the top of the blocks. No dings, hammer marks, or other signs of Bubba treatment anywhere.

If anyone has any experience with this bullet please share.

Box marking


Lead smear on top is only "flaw"


The cavities are nice and clean with sharp corners. I like the thick front band

 

[waco]

I had this mold back in the late nineties early 2000’s.
I bought it along with all of my Uncles casting and reloading stuff when he died. This bullet shot very well for me in my 14-2 Smith. 3.2gr of Titegroup shot lights out. Probably the best offhand 25 yard group I’ve ever shot.

 

[Jeff H]

I bet if you looked around, you could find a local machinist who could ream that gas check shank out of that mould.

 

[358156 hp]

Darn it! The RCBS is an update of a Lachmiller plain base design that RCBS added a gas check to. I have an excellet Lachmiller 2 cavity version of this available. Anyway, like Jeff H said, gas check steps can be machined out easily enough.

 

[KeithB]

I figure I've got four choices:
1. Use it as it is. I don't like messing with GCs but if it shoots better than anything else in one or more guns I can live with that. And I'll try it w and w/o a GC.
2. Ream out the GC shank. Reamers aren't all that expensive, it's something I'm used to spending money on and I have some good sources for tooling. Or open it up with an endmill in my CNC mill and orbit the tool using the proper code. No expense at all that way.
3. Mill off the top of the block to eliminate the GC shank completely and lighten the bullet by a few grains.
4. Put it back up for sale/trade if nothing seems like an attractive option.

I've always thought RCBS molds were quality products, I just hate two cavity pistol bullet molds of any make.

 

[RBHarter]

How about sticking in a 35 Rem, 358 , or 35 Whelen as a light serious plinker/rodent exploder ?

At 40kpsi in a 1-14 or 16 it should be up about 2400 fps MV and a kiss o copper should keep it together.

 

[shuz]

I just received a new NOE 260-118-rf BE3 IN 4 cavity PB to try in my .250 Savage Model 16.
Gonna powder coat them and see if I can get the same accuracy as my Saeco 25 100, but this time without gas checks!

 

[fiver]

RCBS sure likes that nose shape.

if i had your equipment kicking around i'd mill the mold down to make the base band the same thickness as the middle one,,, and then ream out the last little bit of check step left.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

Yup
& call it ....wait for it...
KeithB