Cast bullet for .38, .357, .357 max

[teamnelson]

Wanting to get into casting bullets for .38 spl, .357 Mag and Max. What's one good bullet for all 3? Will be shot in Contenders, Handis, Smiths and Tauri, target, plinking and hunting. So all around use.

Thanks!

[Gohon]

You can never go wrong with the time proven 158 grain SWC.

[Graybeard]

I like the Lyman 358156 GC bullet for such use. The GC isn't really needed for a .38 Special but when you begin pushing it to the max velocity in the others it really helps and is a super accurate bullet.

[ButlerFord45]

Bill's choice is a good one, I have that mould and the bullets shoot well but so far I'm leaning toward the Lyman 358429,  out of my alloy it is 168gr plain base semi wadcuter that is easy to cast and shoots exceptionally well.  I haven't loaded it in the Max yet but is next on the project list.

BF

[Graybeard]

That's another good one and I own a very old four cavity mould in it that once belonged to a friend of mine who is long since dead. He gave it to me saying to keep it until he returned for it. He died before returning for it so I figure it's mine. It's a bit rusted and the bullets from it aren't that pretty but still shoot just as well as when it was new.

They are a bit long in the nose and not all revolvers will chamber them in .357 magnum cases. When cast from my super hard alloy they must be sized smaller than normal or they buldge the sides of cases badly and don't chamber in most S&W revolvers I've owned. Cast softer ro sized down enough they do fine.

[45-70.gov]

180 grain  WFN friom LBT  see  it here on  GBO

my  mould  has 3 plain base and 1 gascheck cavity[for the hot stuff]

[mechanic]

My 357 has digested every load I've tried in it very well, but some better than others.  The ones it DOES NOT like, are those over 180 gr.  I tried some 200 grain, and accuracy was poor.  The most accurate was the 158 gr. semi-wadcutter with gas check, and a middle of the road powder charge.  Second best were some cast bullets from an old can of my Dad's, source unknown, that weighed in at 176gr. on my scale.

[chg]

Lyman's #358156 is never a mistake for those calibers. 

[jhalcott]

 With THAT many mouths to feed you will need at least a six cavity mold to keep up with demand.! Lee makes a nice 158swc in 6 hole for about $50 to $60 .

[454Puma]

I'll second the Lee 158 gr SWC it has a wide nose so it make for a great hunting bullet! It's not GC'd so you can't push it super fast but I run it to about 1600-1700 out of my Marlin '94. Makes it good enough to wack deer out to 100 yards! 

[Buckwheat Jack]

For some years, I have used a Lee mold that casts a 15 grain round noseed bullet in six guns and a Rossi 92SRC. They are great. I have used loads from light 38 Special to medium Magnums. Using light loads in 357 Mag cases for cowboy action now.

[lee1954]

The 158 SWC  -maybe a 158 round nose work better with speedloaders   -- I've liked the Lee 105 SWC for a second mold, and lighter loads. But the first would be 158 gr.

[Mikey]

Actually, a 200 gn round nose falt point works just as well if not better in speed loaders than the swc design....jmtcw.

[blhof]

Depending on the twist rate in your Max guns; you might be better off with a 180 or 200gr for Max's.  I have a DW revolver and a 14" Contender and they both do better with the heavier bullets.