Brad,
Yes, I have that " 640 " in .44 cal., but unfortunately ( at least for right now ), I don't have it in .358".
A fine design that I'd love to own soon ! !
Ben
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Always wanted one of these ! !
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
Brad,
Yes, I have that " 640 " in .44 cal., but unfortunately ( at least for right now ), I don't have it in .358".
A fine design that I'd love to own soon ! !
Ben
While not a " 640 " per say, I do like my SAECO # 353 HP that I had Buckshot HP for me. Mine is a double cav.. The mold cavity that was not HP'd cast a solid at 180 grs. My HP version cast at 168 grs. with a generous HP cavity. I've shot this bullet into wet sand and found perfectly mushroomed bullets .700 " in diameter.
My HP pin goes all the way down to the crimp ring on this bullet.
Extremely accurate from my 38 Spec. Marlin 1894 CBC and shoots real good from my 358 Win. I'll include a target ( below ) shot with my 358 Win. , range was 50 yards , 5 shots, with the HP version of the bullet, load was 10.8 grs. of Russian Unique.
Considering the increased cost of g/c's , this bullet has a lot of potential in both full power pistol and reduced .35 cal. rifle loads .
If you have a SAECO # 353, you might want to consider sending it to Erik as I believe that Buckshot ( Rick Tunnel ) is no longer hp'ing bullet moulds . I'm glad that I have mine, it is a KEEPER ! !
The Hp's that you see below are accurate and deadly ! !
My HP pin goes all the way down to the crimp ring on this bullet.
Extremely accurate from my 38 Spec. Marlin 1894 CBC and shoots real good from my 358 Win. I'll include a target ( below ) shot with my 358 Win. , range was 50 yards , 5 shots, with the HP version of the bullet, load was 10.8 grs. of Russian Unique.
Considering the increased cost of g/c's , this bullet has a lot of potential in both full power pistol and reduced .35 cal. rifle loads .
If you have a SAECO # 353, you might want to consider sending it to Erik as I believe that Buckshot ( Rick Tunnel ) is no longer hp'ing bullet moulds . I'm glad that I have mine, it is a KEEPER ! !
The Hp's that you see below are accurate and deadly ! !
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SOME EXPANSION TEST WITH MY SAECO # 353 Hp
The 1st test was a 357 mag. case loaded with 3.9 gr. R-Dot and the SAECO #353 HP weighing 168 grs. The bullet showed partial expansion and zero weight loss. The velocity of the round was 900 fps.
The 2nd round fired was a 357 mag. case loaded with 13.5 grs. 2400 with the SAECO #353 HP weighing 168 grs. Est. velocity was 1,250 fps. Recovered weight of this bullet was 108 grs.
All bullets tested were fired into a 5 gal. bucket of wet sand.
Here are photos of the results :
Here is the " As Cast SAECO # 353 HP:
Recovered weight of the bullet below was 108 grs.
The 1st test was a 357 mag. case loaded with 3.9 gr. R-Dot and the SAECO #353 HP weighing 168 grs. The bullet showed partial expansion and zero weight loss. The velocity of the round was 900 fps.
The 2nd round fired was a 357 mag. case loaded with 13.5 grs. 2400 with the SAECO #353 HP weighing 168 grs. Est. velocity was 1,250 fps. Recovered weight of this bullet was 108 grs.
All bullets tested were fired into a 5 gal. bucket of wet sand.
Here are photos of the results :
Here is the " As Cast SAECO # 353 HP:
Recovered weight of the bullet below was 108 grs.
It has been some time since I did this test, but I think my alloy was air cooled WW's mixed with about 20% pure dead soft lead.
I was very pleased with the outcome of the test.
I have about 400 of these " in my stash ". A fine self defense bullet.
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Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Going to try a few of these in my 686 , 2.5 " revolver.
Will keep recoil down.
Since I have adjustable sights, the weight may work in my favor.
I'm sizing to .3575 " and shooting these out of W-W , 38 Spec. Cases.
.360 " as they drop from the mould......Got to love those old IDEAL's.
I load this bullet in my Ruger 357 LCR with Unique in magnum brass and it does keep recoil down in a 17 ounce gun. Given the weight difference, between the stainless Smith and the polymer framed Ruger, I wouldn't hesitate loading 180 grainers in the former. But then again, I don't shoot 38's in a 357 magnum....have 38's for that application.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Ben,
I really like your load that you were thinking about for SD - 5 Unique and 358477. Should be really
a good one.
When I was trying to find a good self defense load for a S&W 342 (aluminum J-frame with Ti cyl) I tried
about every one of the fancy high dollar modern miracle HP loads. All shot into about a dinner plate or bigger at
25 yds and some were 9" high and some were 18" low, none were on the sights for elevation AND shot
a decent (even 6" would be OK at 25 yds!) group.
Finally tried some HP Lym 358429, which come out right at 160 gr, over 5.0 Unique. Instant perfection.
First test at 10 yds on a Millpark showed a 2" group in center of A zone! Further testing verified about 3-4" at
25 yds (2" bbl and DAO) and right on the sights. Wet phone book testing showed excellent expansion.
Problem solved, although in a 11 ounce gun with small grips recoil is pretty unpleasant.
Bill
I really like your load that you were thinking about for SD - 5 Unique and 358477. Should be really
a good one.
When I was trying to find a good self defense load for a S&W 342 (aluminum J-frame with Ti cyl) I tried
about every one of the fancy high dollar modern miracle HP loads. All shot into about a dinner plate or bigger at
25 yds and some were 9" high and some were 18" low, none were on the sights for elevation AND shot
a decent (even 6" would be OK at 25 yds!) group.
Finally tried some HP Lym 358429, which come out right at 160 gr, over 5.0 Unique. Instant perfection.
First test at 10 yds on a Millpark showed a 2" group in center of A zone! Further testing verified about 3-4" at
25 yds (2" bbl and DAO) and right on the sights. Wet phone book testing showed excellent expansion.
Problem solved, although in a 11 ounce gun with small grips recoil is pretty unpleasant.
Bill
Ian
Notorious member
Picky these are. I'm having similar problems. For some reason I don't happen to own a decent .358" SWC bullet mould, maybe I should rectify that. Already tried several powders with the Lyman cowboy bullet and several other RFN designs and no joy. My GP-100 eats everything I feed it and makes pretty decent groups.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
I have three S&W 38 caliber snubbies, two with alloy frames. I have exactly two bullet molds for these.....the RCBS 158 SWC GC and 160 RN PB. I have been loading 5.0 grains of Unique for 38 SPL for as long as I've been reloading.....about 40 years......no need to fix what isn't broken. Prints to the sights, with all of them.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Another good load worth trying is 5 gr of Power Pistol, with up to 6 gr OK at +P pressures.
I actually dropped the 6 gr load because my soft cast (8 BHN) 358429s would shed the mushroom
in wet phone book testing, too high a velocity. Alliant says 1037 fps in a 6" bbl and 158 LSWC.
It also had a noticeably less pleasant recoil in the super light J-frame. For a 4 or
6 inch .38 Spl, I think it is a winner.
With a bit harder alloy or smaller HP, 6 of PP would be a good one.
Ian - get a 358477 that casts 150 gr or a HP version of 358429 for good SWCs. Another
that is just wonderful, but not a SWC is the Lee 358 158 RF, but it is a BB design,
slightly a pain with a lube ring in the BB in Lyman or RCBS lubrisizers, but no issue in a Star.
Bill
I actually dropped the 6 gr load because my soft cast (8 BHN) 358429s would shed the mushroom
in wet phone book testing, too high a velocity. Alliant says 1037 fps in a 6" bbl and 158 LSWC.
It also had a noticeably less pleasant recoil in the super light J-frame. For a 4 or
6 inch .38 Spl, I think it is a winner.
With a bit harder alloy or smaller HP, 6 of PP would be a good one.
Ian - get a 358477 that casts 150 gr or a HP version of 358429 for good SWCs. Another
that is just wonderful, but not a SWC is the Lee 358 158 RF, but it is a BB design,
slightly a pain with a lube ring in the BB in Lyman or RCBS lubrisizers, but no issue in a Star.
Bill
Ian
Notorious member
Thanks, Bill, I've been looking at Accurate's existing designs and a -477 is sort of what I was after. I need to go back and read Glen Fryxell's article on the "other" semi-wadcutter and study some of the photos there.
Has anyone ever shot Power Pistol at night or in a dim indoor range? It's quite an experience with the 45 Super! I assure you I won't be using any PP in SD loads.
Has anyone ever shot Power Pistol at night or in a dim indoor range? It's quite an experience with the 45 Super! I assure you I won't be using any PP in SD loads.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Hmm. Never tested PP at night, huge flash would not be a good thing. Seems likely with a 2 in bbl flash would be bad. Actually,
I haven't fired the Unique loads in dim light, either.
Also, if you are partial to the fine RCBS molds, they have an absolute clone of the 477 design, used to call it 150 KT for Keith type,
It is now sold as 38-150-SWC. The only significant difference between this and my older Lyman 358477 molds is the round lube
groove in the Lyman vs square in the RCBS. A bullet from one will essentially drop in the cavity of the other they are that close.
Both are quite accurate in both .38 Spl and .357 Mag loads.
Bill
I haven't fired the Unique loads in dim light, either.
Also, if you are partial to the fine RCBS molds, they have an absolute clone of the 477 design, used to call it 150 KT for Keith type,
It is now sold as 38-150-SWC. The only significant difference between this and my older Lyman 358477 molds is the round lube
groove in the Lyman vs square in the RCBS. A bullet from one will essentially drop in the cavity of the other they are that close.
Both are quite accurate in both .38 Spl and .357 Mag loads.
Bill
Speaking of SWC moulds, my friend Steve wanted to try some of my NOE 358156 ( Al calls it the 360160 SWC ) Plain base bullets in his Rossi, 357 Mag. lever action rifle.
He loaded them in 38 Spec. cases. He used 11.0 grs. of 2400.
He shot this group with my bullets at 100 yards with factory sights.
Not bad UUhhhh ?
I have a 2 cav. aluminum NOE mould that drops these bullets at .360 " with ACWW's and is very consistent in weight from cavity to cavity. This is a mould that is certainly very easy to use, the mould has about a 3% - 4% rejection rate..
This mould has a deeper lube groove than the Lyman 358156. It certainly doesn't seem to harm it in the accuracy dept.
He loaded them in 38 Spec. cases. He used 11.0 grs. of 2400.
He shot this group with my bullets at 100 yards with factory sights.
Not bad UUhhhh ?
I have a 2 cav. aluminum NOE mould that drops these bullets at .360 " with ACWW's and is very consistent in weight from cavity to cavity. This is a mould that is certainly very easy to use, the mould has about a 3% - 4% rejection rate..
This mould has a deeper lube groove than the Lyman 358156. It certainly doesn't seem to harm it in the accuracy dept.
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