New .357 mould wanted

[flyboy]

I have the RCBS 150gr. Semi wadcutter mould, and would like to try a heavier bullet.  The RCBS 162 gr. SWC seems about ideal, but is no longer manufactured, and is scarce as hen's teeth. The Lyman 358429 170 gr. SWC  also seems a good choice,  as does the Lee 358-158 RF.  Nobody has much good to say about current  Lyman mould quality, though, and that is concerning. 

Does anyone have recommendations regarding bullet weight? 

Would the extra 8-12 gr. be an advantage, or even be noticeable?  I will load my 357 magnum 4 inch to what I call "mild magnum" levels, about 1100-1150fps.  This is just the fun stuff, and I use factory ammo for defense. 

Would I be better just sticking with common the common 158gr.  weight , and buy something available, like a Lee 6 banger mould, rather than haunting 'da Bay, and hoping for a find/reasonable price?  (probably faster, but I did find my 150 gr mold there, and at a reasonable price, too.)

What say you guys? Thanks.

[Graybeard]

The difference between 150 and 158 grains is of no concern. You can change the weight of the bullets you drop from your own mould that much by changing alloy. If you're happy with the way it shoots I vote leave things alone if it ain't broke why try to fix it.

I have the Lyman 358429 and it's a good bullet that weights a bunch more from most alloys. I think it's supposed to drop about 172 with #2 alloy. It's a really long bullet with a full diameter driving band in front of the crimp groove and can give problems chambering in a lot of guns. Over the years I've owned several guns that would not chamber it. I really like the Lyman 358156 GC mould perhaps better than any bullet I've ever shot in the .357 Magnum and with that gas check have driven it to the old maximum before the .357 became the wimp it is today.

I've also got the LBT moulds in 160, 180 and 200 grain weights to use in the .35s and I've got an old RCBS two holer that drops a 180 RN I used to use on silhouettes and it sure put the smack on them.

[rbwillnj]

You might want to try the Lyman 358156 Gas Check bullet.   This bullet has given me the best results I have ever gotten from a cast bullet.   1/2" group at 25 yards

[Anduril]

If you want something heavier the Lyman 358429 would be a good one. But like GB said, it may be too long for the cylinders of some revolvers.

Me, I went the other way for my fun shooting. I got the Lee 105 grain SWC mould.
With wheel weights being 60cents a pound, my thinking was that that I could get 300 light bullets from 5 pounds of WW instead of 200 of the heavier ones. It would be easy enough to reach 1100 fps with them, but I kind of enjoy shooting them loaded with relatively light charges of Bullseye or Clays powder.

Or you could contact the forum sponsor, Lead Bullet Technology, about a good heavy bullet mold.
..

[Argonaut]

I happen to have one of those 162 gr molds and one of the 150 molds. I find i like the 150 gr. bullets enough that I almost always use them.  Maybe we need to work out a traide, you gotta buy a nearly full new bag of gas checks from me with it though!

[flyboy]

Argonaut: 
I just bought one of the 162 gr. RCBS moulds off 'da Bay for a rather good price.  The guy was a bit vague, but I think it is a gas check design, from what I could find in my manuals, etc. 

I will need some gas checks...how many do you have, and how much would you want for them, shipped?

Thanx; flyboy