Lyman , 2 cav., 358477

[CZ93X62]

The #358477 has design aspects for plain-based castings that I deem essential for success. Chief among those is a thick base band, followed closely by healthy front and center drive bands. Very Keith-like, I know--I think Mr. Keith was correct. The "477" has a generous lube groove, but not ridiculously so like some Keith clones have. We no longer use bear tallow as bullet lube. It stinks anyway.

I have a Lyman #358429 that annoys me greatly. 163-163 grains (depending upon alloy), huge lube groove, and thin base band. In 92/6/2 it shoots well, degrades a bit in 30/1, and flat will not shoot at all when cast in pure lead. I'm not talking stalwart loads here--3.5 grains of WW-231 in 38 Special, 700 FPS stuff. It gets worse at 4.0 x 231. Same test sequence with "477" showed results to remain accurate and tractable throughout the shooting series. The only variables were bullet design/weight and base-band strength/thickness. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Ben]

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

And a great one to stick with !

 

[waco]

My recently acquired 358477 mold is a hollow point version.

 

[Ben]

OH.............That's a bad boy !

 

[Poppy42]

Yep I love my 358477! Always wondered why there’s no specific load data for that bullet in 38 special in either the lime in third or fourth edition Cast Boolets handbook. Mine drop at 147.5 with my pistol alloy

 

[CZ93X62]

The long-in-the-tooth RCBS Cast Bullet Manual, Number 1 (1986) shows data for a very similar design they call the "38-150-SWC" in 38 S&W, 38 Special, and 357 Magnum. If you have specific powders or loads in mind, lemme know and I will pass along what it shows. Powder choices aren't extensive, but the common fuels are featured.

 

[Poppy42]

Cz93x62,
Thanks for the pm. I have that book and use that data. I just find it unusual that such a popular bullet has no load data listed for 38 special in either the Lyman Bullet Handbook third or fourth edition. Plenty of data for the 357 magnum but none for the 38 special!
take care,
Poppy42

 

[Rockydoc]

" All with the 477 ".
Are you certain that is a 477 ?
The photo looks like a 357446.

Where can I find a reference or list or info that shows the Lyman bullets or molds. I see moulds for sale on Ebay, listed by mould number and I haven't a clue except for nominal diameter of the bullet.
I mean, like, Ben can look at a bullet and tell you the mould number! I don't aim to be that much of an expert, but I would like to be able to tell if a mould might fit in my ballpark.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I mixed these up and do so allot...

The 477 never much appealed as I like heavier and this one is 150ish. Two grooves one lube one crimp.



The 358446 is a prefered bullet for me. Two lube and ine crimp and closer to 160g



My favorite remains the 358429 with its 170+ G. Plus as a HP its still early 160g!



CW

 

[Poppy42]

Where can I find a reference or list or info that shows the Lyman bullets or molds. I see moulds for sale on Ebay, listed by mould number and I haven't a clue except for nominal diameter of the bullet.
I mean, like, Ben can look at a bullet and tell you the mould number! I don't aim to be that much of an expert, but I would like to be able to tell if a mould might fit in my ballpark.

Pm me your email address and I’ll send ya a copy

 

[Joshua]

Cz93x62,
I just find it unusual that such a popular bullet has no load data listed for 38 special in either the Lyman Bullet Handbook third or fourth edition. Plenty of data for the 357 magnum but none for the 38 special!
take care,
Poppy42

I was very safe and paranoid when I first started reloading. Since this was only the second or third bullet I worked with I sure read a whole lot about it. I too was annoyed that no data was listed for this fine bullet, in 38 special.

Basically, after all that reading, what I came away with was that it was always safe to use 148 grain wadcutter data with this bullet when loading it in 38 special brass. I found loads that had an OAL of 1.152” and loaded away. The bullet weights are almost identical and the wadcutter data was tested with a bullet that is seated deeper. So pressures should be safe.

Later on I read that a favorite load with many casters was this bullet over 5 grains of Unique. I went back to the manual. The button nosed 35891 wadcutter has a OAL of 1.317” and has a max load listed at 5 grains of Unique(in the Lyman 3rd edition). This wadcutter load still met the “seated deep & similar weight” criteria.

At this point I only own full size 357 magnum revolvers. This 5 grain Unique load is no where near 38/44 pressures. But it does however intrude into the +p range if you compare it to current Alliant data for a 158gr LSWC.

I feel safe with this load. In my guns. It’s also one of my favorites.

Josh

 

[fiver]

Doc you should be able to find one in the castpic's section over at Boolits, if they still have that particular section.
you can print out all 13 pages of what they have if it's still there.

 

[462]

Where can I find a reference or list or info that shows the Lyman bullets or molds. I see moulds for sale on Ebay, listed by mould number and I haven't a clue except for nominal diameter of the bullet.
I mean, like, Ben can look at a bullet and tell you the mould number! I don't aim to be that much of an expert, but I would like to be able to tell if a mould might fit in my ballpark.

Here ya' go: http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

 

[Poppy42]

I was very safe and paranoid when I first started reloading. Since this was only the second or third bullet I worked with I sure read a whole lot about it. I too was annoyed that no data was listed for this fine bullet, in 38 special.

Basically, after all that reading, what I came away with was that it was always safe to use 148 grain wadcutter data with this bullet when loading it in 38 special brass. I found loads that had an OAL of 1.152” and loaded away. The bullet weights are almost identical and the wadcutter data was tested with a bullet that is seated deeper. So pressures should be safe.

Later on I read that a favorite load with many casters was this bullet over 5 grains of Unique. I went back to the manual. The button nosed 35891 wadcutter has a OAL of 1.317” and has a max load listed at 5 grains of Unique(in the Lyman 3rd edition). This wadcutter load still met the “seated deep & similar weight” criteria.

At this point I only own full size 357 magnum revolvers. This 5 grain Unique load is no where near 38/44 pressures. But it does however intrude into the +p range if you compare it to current Alliant data for a 158gr LSWC.

I feel safe with this load. In my guns. It’s also one of my favorites.

Josh

I found what I think is a very nice load. 4.9 grns of sr4756. Boy do I wish Hodgdon still made st4756 and sr7625 great powders! Clean, and meters like a dream! I’ve got a Lyman 358346 115swc ( weighs more like 111 grns.) I load it over 3.9 grns of sr7625. It shoots like a 22 lr. Great for teaching the wife to shoot!

 

[Walks]

I think this was my 1st 2cav mold. I cast and loaded 1,000's & 1,000's of these for my old S&W Victory model, BOY HOWDY !! do I miss that old revolver.
Loaded 1,000's more for a M27 in the .357mag case.