IDEAL 358477

[Ben]

I realize that with , 3 cav., 4 , 5, 6 and even 10 cav. bullet moulds this is like going back to 1947.
However I really like my single cavity IDEAL 358477.
Some .358 cast revolver bullets will let the nose of the bullet protrude from the end of the cylinder of a 357 Mag. Smith revolver when you crimp in the crimp ring. Not this one.

This one is a nice general purpose bullet in the 38 Special and the 357 Magnum. As you'd expect with most of the old IDEAL moulds this one throws a bit large at .359" My Lyman 45 lube / sizer sizes to about .3572" . Works real well in all of my revolvers. A lot of people will thumb their nose at a single cav. mould, however this one will cast 100 nice bullets pretty quickly. This single cavity mould will be a nice mould to use while teaching my grandson to cast.

When the 357 Mag. was first introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1935, it was known as the Registered Magnum. The model was essentially a custom-order revolver. Barrel lengths could be had in one-quarter-inch (6.4 mm) increments from 3 1⁄2 to 8 3⁄4 inches (8.9 to 22.2 cm) inches in length.

I guess yrs. ago, you'd park your 47' Chevy and get out your Ideal mould and start casting. It would keep your Registered Magnum in ammo. We have a lot of casting luxuries that the old timers didn't have.

Notice that the mould ID numbers are not in a straight line.

 

[Rockydoc]

I have a 2 cavity version.

Glynn Fryxell in his book declares that this bullet is his favorite and most accurate for plinking. I only shoot wadcutters in my S&W K38 Target Masterpiece due to arthritis in my wrist. I am about to work up a load with the 358477 for my 1892 carbine. I would be happy to hear any suggestions y’all might have for that application.

Happy New Year to all.

Rocky

 

[Ben]

Many , Many yrs. ago when I was in my teens, I'd stand in a drug store reading the gun magazines. The 358477 was praised by many , even then.

Ben

 

[Ben]

I would be happy to hear any suggestions y’all might have for that application.

You might want to start out with 5.0 of Unique in 38 Special cases in your rifle with the 358477, That load is a long time favorite with many shooters.

 

[Joshua]

You might want to start out with 5.0 of Unique in 38 Special cases in your rifle with the 358477, That load is a long time favorite with many shooters.

^^^^^
I've been using this same load in my revolvers too good effect.
^^^^^

In 357 Mag brass I’ve been using 13 grains of 2400.

Josh

 

[Ben]

Josh,

Yes, both are fine proven loads.
Ben

 

[Rockydoc]

Thank you Ben and Josh. That looks like a good place to start. I have a lot of Hercules Unique and Red Dot left over from my skeet shooting days long ago.

 

[fiver]

I suggest you use 357 cases in that Rossi/Winchester rifle,
unless your good at the double clutch, or want to single feed.
they'll feed in either rifle at the longer length but the 38 case aims them wrong coming out of the rails, and you end up double clutching the lever to jiggle them in place.

 

[Rockydoc]

I have not had that experience with 38 Spl cases in my Win 1892. It runs them like butter.

Edit: I am speaking of bullets from M-P 360640L and M-P 357 Carbine moulds. I have not yet loaded any 358477 bullets if that is what you were referring to specifically.

 

[Ben]

Fiver may very well be onto something.
The 477' nose isn't very long.

Ben

 

[L Ross]

Anyone with experience with this one? I thought I had a 358477 but maybe it was this 357446 I was thinking of. I've have never cast with this mould, it is just laying around.

 

[Ben]

I have a 2 cav. in that design.
https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/lyman-357446.6605/
I like it.

Ben

 

[358156 hp]

I have perhaps three or four single-cavity 357446 including the HP version that Brad is replacing the hollowpoint pin on. I also have three(?) two cavity moulds, including one of the hard to find version with the Keith style front driving band. 357446 is one of those designs that seemed to change a bit every time Ideal/Lyman got a new cherry in from their vendors.

 

[CZ93X62]

Lyman #358477 has been my go-to bullet for 38 Special since 1981. It is one of the first three molds I bought that year from Berman's in San Bernardino. Later on, it has served well in 38 S&W also--it will 'clean up' in a .359" H&I die for the Colt Police Positive, and doesn't lead things up in the S&W RegPol if I cast its bullets in pure lead and run them at 700 FPS; I guess it bumps up enough. I have never used the "477" in any 357 Magnum.

 

[L Ross]

I have a 2 cav. in that design.
https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/lyman-357446.6605/
I like it.

Ben

Oh man Ben, thanks for that reminder. At the time it was current, I didn't remember specifically looking to see if I had that mould.

So many moulds, so little time. Then I got all caught up in rifles with cast, now .22's again. I need to get back to some handgun work. Once I reretired I sort of lost any urgency to keep up with my handgun shooting.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Cast looks good!

I just have never been a fan if the rn profile.
I do like straight sided blunt "RN" like the 311440.

CW

 

[Ben]

Which mould is a " RN " profile ?
I don't view the 358477 as a RN.

Ben

 

[L Ross]

Cast looks good!

I just have never been a fan if the rn profile.
I do like straight sided blunt "RN" like the 311440.

CW

I have found that the RN profile bullets become flat noses for just a nanosecond as they impact with my steel targets. Which they frequently did because they are accurate.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

There is no more "universal" bullet for 38 Special/357 Magnum than a 158(ish) grain LSWC, In my opinion.
I keep two molds on hand for that style bullet, A RCBS 38-150-SWC and a SAECO #382 in four cavity. They both make excellent bullets.

The RCBS mold makes a fantastic bullet but the 2 cavity limit forced me to purchase the SAECO #382. I keep the RCBS on hand as a back up, but I'm seriously contemplating selling it and acquiring a second SAECO mold.

The Ideal 358477 is perhaps the most classic form of that style bullet.
If I was restricted to a single mold for a 38/357 bullet, it would unquestionably be a SWC of that style.

 

[fiver]

yeah, the short length and square frontal shape is what I'm referring to.
some guy's have done 'okay' with whatever version they have of the 477, but the two versions I have are not happy campers in the shorter cases.

the 665 RNFP does fine [it was designed for lever guns] but even it does better in the longer cases, and feeds like there isn't even a case there in the longer hulls.

airc the 466 is a slightly longer [sorta modified drive band] version of the 477 and weighs about 10grs. more.