Lyman , 2 cav., 358477

Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
In the past several years, I've owned 4 or 5 Lyman 358477 moulds.
I've found it interesting that each of them was slightly different.

The particular one that I was casting with today throws a little bit heavier bullet than some of my other 477' moulds. This mould is a real pleasure to cast with as bullets just jump out of the mould when the sprue plate is opened. There is absolutely no need to tap on the hinge of the mould handles. The bullets are nice and round at .3590". I size to .3575" . The mould is also unique in that the end of the meplat is slightly rounded vs. my other 477' moulds.
I don't find that objectionable because I'll be shooting these out of my Marlin 1894 , CBC, 38 Spec.

EOzCVmR.jpg



DRdChqt.jpg



The rounded meplat will simply help facilitate smooth feeding in the rifle.
Many reloaders swear by this bullet style.
This mould also offers a wider and considerably deeper crimp groove vs. my other 477' moulds. The 358477 is used a lot by owners of 357 Mag. revolvers. The 358477's nose is shorter than the 358429 and does not protrude out of the end of Smith and Wesson N Frame cylinders like other cast bullets will in 357 Magnum loadings.

Oh, did I mention....No pesky gas checks to install either.
Do you have experience with the Lyman 358477 ?
What are your thoughts ?

Ben

kb3xywe.jpg


EA6UazV.jpg


rhQ9Zel.jpg


GgIeHVt.jpg


WZcutLc.jpg


XarmMZH.jpg
 
Last edited:
Spindrift

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
That rifle is a gem! Special, indeed.
I have no experience with the .38/357 myself, but I am confident you can make it shoot small groups, Ben!
I like that beefy rear driving band.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
GREAT BULLET. My most-used 38 Special bullet, and it now gets some use in my Colt 38 S&W (Police Positive X 4") sized at .359" to fit its throats.
 
Cherokee

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
The 358477 was my most used cast bullet from 1969 until a few years ago. Worked with Unqiue, 2400, Herco, 231, AA9, 540/HS6, WST for mild to hot loads (the 2400 stuff) in 38 Special and 357 Magnum. Mine had a more squared off nose and more shallow crimp groove than the pic you show. My old 358477 cast 150 to 155 gr, depending on the alloy and was sized to .358. It performed well, not sure why I quit using it and sold the 4Cv a few years ago. I switched to the Lee 358158 FN and the NOE 357135 FN which feed better in lever actions and are just as accurate.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I understand.
In 38 / 357 cast designs there are a lot to pick from.

Ben
 
Cadillac Jeff

Cadillac Jeff

Well-Known Member
I have 1 in a 4 cav.,makes bullets that look just like your's Ben,& they just fall out too ,very eazy to make a bunca bullets !! 360 X 150 gr. from the stuff I cast
Yes good in everything I shoot it in.
 
Reloader762

Reloader762

Active Member
I have a Lyman 358477 mold I picked up at an estate sale years ago for $25 with handles, also got another mold the Lyman 357443 at the same time for another $25. Both mold still had the last set of bullets cast with each mold still in them which I proudly display on my reloading bench shelf in remembrance of the old caster.

My 358477 is slightly different that your Ben as it has a longer and sharper nose profile. It's drops a bullet at around 150 gr.

im5nh63.jpg
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
I got a pair of them one with a nose rounded like Bens only not as rounded at the edge so it has a flatter meplat.
and one closer to the one shown by 762 only with a round lube groove, and a more tapered crimp groove.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
In speaking with the Lyman "historian" oldest guy still around, they didn't contract out for cherries. However, their machinists would anneal the cherries and recut them and then harden. Many 452374's became 452423's and went back in service. New cherries were made "by eye" for profile and after 93 years, there are variations.
 
Joshua

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
3724D872-E713-435F-ACCE-EE7713DED2BF.jpeg
I sure like my 358477. It was my second mold and my first iron/steel mold.

I have an embarrassing story to tell about this bullet. The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th ed. lists the OAL with this bullet at 1.510” when loaded in .357. Now if you seat it this deep you will be crimping over the front driving band. Well the manual said to, so I did about fifty like that. My Ruger Security Six doesn’t need them seated that deep. I now seat to the crimp groove, like you are supposed too, unless you have a very short cylinder.

I just noticed how large that nick on the front driving band looks when you blow up the picture. Also, my nose is different from the other two posted above.

Josh
 
Last edited:
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
My Lyman example has the more-radiused and shorter-nose profile that Ben's "OEM" pic displays. An NOE clone (4-banger) is a bit less-radiused, so is easily told apart from the Lyman castings.

Lyman mould design poetry? Surely you jest.
 
mattw

mattw

Active Member
I love this bullet, I have a few examples of moulds in 2C that I use. I have the slightly rounded one, the square one and an odd one marked 358477 that drops perfect .356 bullets. I suspect they cherry was worn out and they cut the mould anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.