Which mould?

Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I need a new mould for general use in 38 and 357 loads. My old standby was a Lee 158 swc from a 6 cav mould but that mould is about worn out. If the 158 swc plain base was still made I would replace it.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=35_293&osCsid=h77mmj0i883hus367r8pcnglg6
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=35_305&osCsid=h77mmj0i883hus367r8pcnglg6

These are the two I am looking at right now. Leaning to the wfn style. I like the nose profile and it is currently available in a 4 or 5 cav mould. Production is important as this will be used in large numbers.

Many suggestions?
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
Of those two I would go with the second one because it has a more substantial front band for support and will cut cleaner holes in paper. Either go with a RFN, WFN, or a full-on SWC with a small-diameter nose. Bullets with a step in the front, but nose base at about bore diameter, offer no advantage IME yet have the disadvantage of making ragged holes like an RN or RFN.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
the second one.
there is a lot I don't like about that wfn design.
that front drive band will kill you when casting, and the rear drive band is too narrow for my tastes.

a copy of the 358477 [158 gr swc] would be real handy, it stays stable out to over 200yds at some real slow muzzle velocity's.
or a 148gr. wad cutter like the 358091 [ I shoot this little guy on top of 6 grs of bulls-eye with just half the front band sticking out of the 357 cases] if your just shooting out to 50 yds.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
Since you were happy with the Lee & high volume is the purpose I'd go for the Lee 90306,90317, & 90692. All good performers for high volume low cost fun. The light weights are perfect for ladies too. Wife & mom do well with the 90306. Of the 2 you listed I'd go fer the second.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I went back and looked, NOE has a 5 cav copy of the Lyman 358477. That would be about perfect.
I have the Lee 6 cav heating now, I want to see how bad the flashing on the bases is. I made a new pivot screw for it last year but don't recall how well it cast after that. I hate to think of how many bullets that mould has made.
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
Probably blasphemy .........
I really like the Lee 358-158 RNFP . It runs great in 38/357 4,6&18" barrels . It has a .250 nose flat and when run in a Marlin CB at 1400 fps with the barrel bandin the bottom of the rear sight and the bead on an 8" plate ,later gauged at 375 yd it , stayed in side 24" .
The 6c makes a pile of bullets and as much as I'm a fan of NOE I'd buy another of this particular mould twice first .
 
KeithB

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
I was just on the LEE site and noticed they have a factory second six cavity 358-158 RF mold for sale at $36. Listed defect is that it isn't vented. Must have missed that processing step somehow. I really like their 358-125 RF in my 9mm HP and every .38/.357 I own.
 
Pistolero

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
RCBS 38-150-SWC, formerly 38-150-KT is a really fine design, and a very high quality mold. The bullet
is a near duplicate of the early 150 gr version of the Lyman 358477, with the RCBS having a Keith type
square bottomed lube groove and the Lyman a round bottomed lube groove. I have also had very
good results with the Lee 158 RF although the BB is a slight pain in a Lyman/RCBS type lubrisizer,
but no issue for a Star. I have a extra Lym 358477 four cavity mold with handles that I picked up a
a gun show, have cast with a few times, if you are looking. All three work great for .38 Spl and .357,
will work in short or long cyl guns in either caliber.

Bill
 
JonB

JonB

Halcyon member
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/produc...cts_id=2243&osCsid=h77mmj0i883hus367r8pcnglg6

The NOE 360-160-SWC with two crimp groves is probably one I would not have bought...But a couple years ago, someone on the other website listed a 5 cavity as a problem child for cheap. I bought it, cleaned all the burnt on stuff (WAX?) I tried casting with it, bullets would stick in cavities, so then I Lee-Mented it. It is now a mold I love. It casts round bullets which now drop from cavities nicely. The single lube groove goes through the Star nicely. two choices for crimp groove if that is your thing. Loading ammo into the gun's cylinder with a speedload works good. Cut's clean holes in the target paper. I haven't done any thorough accuracy testing...just my usual off-hand plinking at 25 yards or less.

While I do like Lee's 6 cav design and have several. If A NOE 5 cavity is functioning as it should, I think I can cast more bullets faster than with the Lee...maybe it's the steel Sprue plate?
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Might want to consider SAECO #382 150 gr PBSWC. Best shooting light load bullet I've ever tried in a Marlin 94.

SAECO # 382 150 Gr PB.JPG
 
Pistolero

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Wow, Rick. That looks like it would drop right into the cavity of a RCBS 38-150-SWC mold.
Not surprised is would be a top performer, like the 358477 150 gr and the RCBS near clone.

Bill
 
Rally Hess

Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
I have both the 160 and 180 WFN RG4 versions and love them both. I use the 160 DP in my .38's and the 180 DP in my .357 rifle. Just cast @ 500 of the 160 DP's two days ago.

Rick,
I have two of the RCBS 38 150 KT like Bill mentioned. I had a lot of trouble getting them to feed crimping in the crimping groove. I had to crimp over the front driving band to get reliable feeding in my 1894. Does the Saeco feed in your 1894 crimped in the crimping groove?
 
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Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I still have the mold but haven't had the rifle in over 20 years, if my memory is correct it did yes.
 
Rally Hess

Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
Looking at your picture of the Saeco, it appears the RCBS has a sharper transition from the front driving band to the nose. I smoothed the feed ramp up on my 1894 and that helped some, but at the beginning it would shave some lead off the RCBS, which is quite sharp, or appears to be. The crimping groove on the Saeco also seems to be wider and easier slope to it.
 
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