Temptation.....again!

Glen

Glen

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Staff member
I can resist most kinds of temptation, except for a shiny new .357 HP bullet mould! Especially one that promises to give me something I can't get elsewhere. It's no secret that Miha Prevac makes some of the finest bullet moulds in the world. Recently, I was perusing his website and stumbled across one of his mould designs that I had glossed over previously, the MP .360-640 (so named because it uses a similar profile to the Lyman 429640, scaled down to .359). Reading through the fine print I saw that the HP version was listed as weighing 140 grains (presumably WW alloy). This piqued my interest because I knew from previous work with cast HPs in this weight range, a) standard pressure .38 Special loads shot them fast enough to reliably expand, even from 2" snubbies, and b) they shot to the sights in my fixed sight revolvers. What's more, the MP .360-640 HP has a RN-FP ogive that should feed from a speed-loader into a cylinder very smoothly. The order was placed right away, and the mould showed up just a few days later (yes, even from Slovenia!). When cast with 30-1 lead-tin, bullets weigh 146 grains, and they size down to .357" easily. They will be loaded over 7.0 grains of HS-6, which should give me about 925 fps from a 2", and about 975 fps from a 4" revolver, at standard .38 Special pressures. Cast of 30-1, these HPs should expand beautifully at these speeds.

With this weight and profile, I think I will try them in 9mm too. I knew I should have bought a 4-cavity mould....

MP 359-640 147 grain HP.jpg
 
Really like that design and it shoots amazing!
My favorite 357 plinking load with it is 5grns bullseye.
Real accurate out of my gp100 and 686 both 4”
 
I have a 6-cav solid mould, that is extremely easy to cast with. I powder coat mine, and use them for plinkers in the .35 Whelen. I like them!
 
I have that mold. I just learned from this post from Glen a lot more about it than I knew. Thanks, Glen.
I think it also comes in a 360-640L. A shorter lighter version.

I have not tried this bullet in 30 to 1 alloy. I believe that is the way to go.
 
You just cost me more money, Glen. This is the only unfilled niche in my 38/357 mould accumulation, and I don't know how I missed a 140 gr HP design since I'm unhappy with the performance of 160/150 gr moulds in 38 Spl at less than lightning speeds. I'm especially annoyed with myself since I have long favored 140 gr JHPs in 357 mag. 125 gr. recoil with 158 gr performance.

Thanks for the tip!
Bob
 
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358156 hp said:
It shipped today :) . Seriously, I should have thought of this approach.
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If it makes you feel any better, I cost myself some more money too. I sold the 2-cavity mould to a buddy of mine, and ordered a 4-cavity mould. It should be here in a couple of days..... ;-)
 
That's really strange,I ended up with a mold very close to that today.All it cost me was a few bucks and buying the guy some tacos....
 
Cast of soft alloy (I *think* it's 30-to-1), these came out 147 grains. I sized them .357" and lubed with 50/50 beeswax/moly grease. Loaded over 6.9 grains of HS-6 with Winchester SP primers. Standard pressure load, based on load data in the Hodgdon manual. Based on previous experience with similar loads, anticipated velocities are in the 925-975 fps range for 2" to 4" revolvers. Definitely a speed-loader friendly ogive!
38 special with MP 147 HP.jpg

For 9mm, I loaded them over 3.5 grains of Bullseye, which should give about 950 fps. We will find out later this week.

9mm with MP 147 HP.jpg
 
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The .38 Special loads were going 875 fps (2"), 885 fps (3"), and 925 fps (4"). Accuracy was good.
M64-2 with MP 147 HP target.jpg

The 9mm load was going about 1020 fps (5"). Accuracy was so-so (groups + flyers). I think next time I'm going to cast the 9mm slugs a little harder (maybe BHN of about 10). Velocities were nicely uniform (ES of about 20 fps, and SD less than 10).
 
Don't have any HPs/never cast any. But for the 38s, and espec a carry snub, looks good. So, like you Glen.. And, of COURSE, it is sold out - least for now. Oh well, too dang hot in AL to cast now anyway. Maybe it will be available about Sept and cool enough to cast!
 
oscarflytyer said:
Don't have any HPs/never cast any. But for the 38s, and espec a carry snub, looks good. So, like you Glen.. And, of COURSE, it is sold out - least for now. Oh well, too dang hot in AL to cast now anyway. Maybe it will be available about Sept and cool enough to cast!
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Guilty. I bought the last 2 cav Miha had in stock. I haven't even cast with it yet and I already wish I had bought the 4 cav. :)
 
I do not cast any hollow points cause I have 10 thumbs and figure it would be a nightmare to try but I may have to now.
 
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