Smuggling 358156 from north of the border

Elric

Well-Known Member
Though I have a one cavity 358156, two cavities will make things faster. I can mix it up with some 410610s for a 41 Mag. Get that cadence going. Maybe add some 421427s [with a 470 Top Punch :embarrassed:] for a 32-40.

If only a 452490 would drift by...
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I would look at Accurate Molds for a "clone" of the Lyman #452490. I do understand your desire for one, though--it has been a good performer in my Ruger BisHawk, even when the revolver's throats were undersized. Until I opened the throats, it was the ONLY bullet that shot well through the BuiltBackwardsBisley. After surgery, it still shot very well, and "cleans up" in a .454" H&I die.
 

Elric

Well-Known Member
I would look at Accurate Molds for a "clone" of the Lyman #452490.

It seems the original 452490 was 230 grains. Modern one is 255-ish. Methinks the 230 version would be a better "fit" in a 45 Auto Rim....
 

Elric

Well-Known Member
The little bundle of joy [358156] arrived Monday. Blue cigars for everyone!

Well, maybe not cigars... Mold halves are in primo shape, consistent deep blue-brown, a little fleck of lead on one face, but it came off with a thumbnail... It uses the split washer to tension the sprue plate, and I will smooth the ends down with a belt sander so it won't dig into the upper side oft the sprue plate. No noticeable "wallowing" on the top of the sprue plate due to the split washer.

Doesn't look like this mould was used much. Only real adjusting is to set one alignment pin out a little more, then the halves won't move at all. No light between the halves, cavity edges look minty. A little surface rust in the noses of one half.

RCBS describes the adjustment in their Cast Bullet Manual. I'm sure Lyman did as well in the 3rd CBH.
 
Last edited:

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
My #454490 is an older one, ~40 years old. As-cast weight in 92/6/2 is 252 grains unchecked. I agree that a 230 grain weight-range might be more amenable to a fixed-sight 45 Auto Rim, but the Lyman #452423 already does that (book weight 238 grains in #2 alloy) and saves the gas check expense in the bargain. No sane load in 45 Auto Rim should require gas-checking.
 

nitro-express

New Member
A gas check has several benefits, depending on what you are trying to do.

First and more common reason to gas check is to drive a already hard bullet faster without leading. The gas check kinda scrapes off freshly deposited lead. The gas check also grips the rifling to prevent skidding.

It will also allow you to drive a soft cast bullet at normal hard cast plain base velocity. It will still clean the barrel and grip the rifling, those benefits are always there.

The other benefit of a gas checked design is that it will let you cleanly shoot slightly undersized bullets. On the chrono I'm seeing some velocity spreads as the bullets are not sealing uniformly because of the size variables, but they are still fairly accurate, and don't lead at lower to mid velocities. And undersized plain base bullet will lead in most instances, add a gas check and it probably won't.

IMHO, a gas check is a gift to amateur casters, a crutch to obtaining immediate success with less than ideal bullets.

The casters that can shoot plain based bullets at high velocity with good accuracy and no leading have all my respect, that can be like searching for the Holy Grail for a podunk caster.

I've run some pretty ugly 358156 bullets in oversized bores with decent results. I also just ran some C429-240-SWC LEE at 1000fps with hardly any leading, and my alloy was only about 14 BHN.

My pet peeve: LEE molds for the 44 cal pistols are designed to drop 429 bullets, which is the minimum spec size for a 44 Mag bullet. Saami max bullet for 44 Mag bullets is 432. I've asked the arrogant tech support persons at LEE why, but all I got was a lot of attitude.
 

MW65

Wetside, Oregon
My pet peeve: LEE molds for the 44 cal pistols are designed to drop 429 bullets, which is the minimum spec size for a 44 Mag bullet. Saami max bullet for 44 Mag bullets is 432. I've asked the arrogant tech support persons at LEE why, but all I got was a lot of attitude.
I've always had to polish up my lee 44 moulds... a touch of compound in oil, properly centered wood screw... and doesn't take long to get it to size. Works in all my 44-444
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Full agreement with Nitro Express' text. I do love sending Lyman #358156 to 1550 FPS from my Bisley Blackhawk x 7.5". WAY FUN.

But there are times--in my case 90%+ of the time--where moderate velocities and their attendant thunder & lightning aren't required. Those circs place the gas check into The Nice But Not Mandatory column. I have run dozens of pure-lead #358429 at 900-1000 FPS from that same BisHawk and 2 other 357 Magnum revolvers, and proper sizing with low-tech lubes (Alox/BW 50/50) to fit the throats prevents leading. To paraphrase Mark Twain. gas checks can cover a power of sins.