Which .357/158 cast?

Random 8 · Nov 25, 2021

Looking for a new all purpose cast bullet. Been using up random stuff so far, so I don't have a particular favorite. The ACME 125 TC wax lubed is what I've been shooting for bread and butter. Been quite satisfied with them, but availability seems to be mixed at best from ACME lately. I like that they are 15 BHN so I can run them a little faster in the rifle with no worries. Accuracy seems to hold "good enough" at slower speeds. Shot some long nose style Magtech 158 RN. They were ridiculous from my rifle. Great accuracy, I didn't dare push them too fast, they seem soft. Absolutely not interested in a coated bullet. I don't like them, and you won't talk me into liking them.

My uses are .357 snub, .357 6", and .357 20" single shot rifle. All casual plinking, all loaded to .38+p speeds or lower and mostly in .38 brass. The kicker is I'd like something with a little better aerodynamics as I like to stretch the rifle's legs quite a bit. Not sure if SWCs will do it for me. Feel free to educate me on that point if you've played long golf with SWCs. Bam......clank is a fun game for me.

What's out there and what do folks like?

AJC1 · Nov 25, 2021

Are you looking to cast or are you looking to buy. I'm quite fond of my noe rnfp mold and the lee cowboy was similar and very good.

Bazoo · Nov 25, 2021

I've been wanting to try the saeco 158 grain Rnfp, I think it's #358 from memory. No experience with it yet.

bcook4321 · Nov 25, 2021

I like Missouri hi-TEK coated cowboy #15 rnfp 158 grain 12 bnh for cowboy / target velocities and hi-tek ranger # 1 rnfp 158 grain 18 bnh for moderate magnum. They are both pretty much the same profile, and feed well in my Henry lever. Plus work well in my 686 and gp 100

Random 8 · Nov 25, 2021

AJC1 said:
Are you looking to cast or are you looking to buy. I'm quite fond of my noe rnfp mold and the lee cowboy was similar and very good.

Not interested in casting. Looking to buy someone else's blood, sweat and tears.

Rodfac · Nov 25, 2021

Missouri Bullet Co....excellent bullets, hard cast for top end velocities or mid level hardness for target level loads. Excellent quality. And BTW, if you have trouble with leading when using commercial cast bullets, the cause is often that they're too hard and the lube used is also too hard. Try swirl lubing them with Lee Liquid Alox (LLA) diluted by a ratio of 1:3, paint thinner to LLA. I've had great success using this method. Best regards, Rod

EMC45 · Nov 25, 2021

I cast and I like the Lee 358-158 Cowboy RNFP. It shoots well out of everything I load it in.

CoalCrackerAl · Nov 25, 2021

I like the Hi-tec coated bullets. I buy mine from Summers enterprises and what he don't carry i get from SNS casting. I find them to have the best prices.

PapaG · Nov 25, 2021

In order of my preferences, all cast from ww metal, Lyman 358156 gc, Lyman 357446, and RCBS 38-150 KT.
The first is used in my close to max 357s. Next for mid range. Last, mostly plinkers but has been surprisingly accurate in Smith 38, 357, and a couple of 9s

Armored farmer · Nov 25, 2021

I'm shooting a lnfp lee 158 that I cast myself. I shoot it in everything. 357.
Snubs to carbine.
Look for a long nose flat point style swc. Elmer liked them too!

KY DAN · Nov 25, 2021

https://tbbullets.com/

Travis's bullets are top notch and he gives free shipping, I have up casting 38 and 9mm bullets and just buy from him.

bcook4321 · Nov 25, 2021

KY DAN said:
https://tbbullets.com/

Travis's bullets are top notch and he gives free shipping, I have up casting 38 and 9mm bullets and just buy from him.

Those bullets look interesting. Do you know what the hardness is? I couldn’t find it on their website.

KY DAN · Nov 25, 2021

bcook4321 said:
Those bullets look interesting. Do you know what the hardness is? I couldn’t find it on their website.

I do not, I would say it falls between soft and hard cast.

My pistols do not lead with full power loads, notice I did not say "HOT LOADS". I load my cartridges to their full potential as each one was designed to be, I REFUSE to down load a round to make it more pleasant to fire.... if I can't take it I will find another caliber I can.

While I am ranting hardly any commercial caster understands that 9mm bullets do not need to be hard as steel and have hard lubes. Travis bullets metal and lube are not too soft nor too hard. Travis understands this and the results I have shooting are the proof I need to state this.

Travis's bullets are amazing and I have purchased them up to 500 magnum and I have nothing but positive things to say.

CoalCrackerAl · Nov 26, 2021

KY DAN said:
https://tbbullets.com/

Travis's bullets are top notch and he gives free shipping, I have up casting 38 and 9mm bullets and just buy from him.

Thanks for the link Dan. Im ordering some of these. https://tbbullets.com/30-165gr-rnfp-polymer-coated/

lightman · Nov 26, 2021

I'm a big fan of the Keith type SWC bullet. I cast both the 150 grain bullet and the 170 grain bullet. I use straight clip-on wheelweight alloy. I also cast a 148 grain full wadcutter for mild loads in 38 special.

AJC1 · Nov 26, 2021

lightman said:
I'm a big fan of the Keith type SWC bullet. I cast both the 150 grain bullet and the 170 grain bullet. I use straight clip-on wheelweight alloy. I also cast a 148 grain full wadcutter for mild loads in 38 special.

Are you feeding any through a lever gun? I try and find shapes that feed well.

mdi · Nov 26, 2021

I have had excellent results from Lee 358-125-RF. I understand you want to purchase bullets but my cast are similar to a bullet offered here; https://tbbullets.com/bullets/traditional-lubed-handgun/38-357/ https://tbbullets.com/38-357-125gr-rnfp/

I use my 125 RNFP bullets, coated and nekkid in 9 guns, just size for application (4, 9mm pistols, one 9mm revolver, 3, 38 Specials and one 357 Mag revolver). Perhaps the T&B 38/357-125-RNFP would work well for you too...

Random 8 · Nov 26, 2021

Thanks KY and mdi. I was not aware of TB bullets before. God bless America and so many small and diverse shops existing. Says on their site that their alloy is in the 15ish BHN range which should be perfect for my .38+p-.357 mid speeds. That was always the problem I had with MB or Penn. They were either "cowboy" or "hot" alloys. Nothing for the mid range where I prefer to do my shooting. I've had really good luck with ACME at 15 BHN, but I'm not a super fan of their designs and they seem to have at least temporarily phased out non-coated offerings. God bless you guys that like coated bullets. I just don't like the way they shoot vs traditional.

lightman · Nov 26, 2021

AJC1 said:
Are you feeding any through a lever gun? I try and find shapes that feed well.

They don't feed well through a lever action. At least not in mine.

Bfh_auto · Nov 27, 2021

Random 8 said:
Not interested in casting. Looking to buy someone else's blood, sweat and tears.

Mbc 158 swc is very good in my varied 38s and 357s. I've since moved to 180s but I had good results from 800-2000 fps.

bcook4321 · Nov 27, 2021

Bfh_auto said:
Mbc 158 swc is very good in my varied 38s and 357s. I've since moved to 180s but I had good results from 800-2000 fps.

Do you really push those up to 2000 (rifle I assume)? I’m creeping up my loads with the 18 bnh swc but I’m probably pushing near 1400 in my 6 inch 686.

Bfh_auto · Nov 27, 2021

bcook4321 said:
Do you really push those up to 2000 (rifle I assume)? I’m creeping up my loads with the 18 bnh swc but I’m probably pushing near 1400 in my 6 inch 686.

Yes. It's a lapped 20" barrel with 1/32 twist.
I got faint leading at 2100. Then I switched to coated 180s and run them at full power in a 35 Whelen without loss of accuracy.

I can't give higher praise to a cast, coated bullet than anything MBC makes.

bcook4321 · Nov 27, 2021

Deleted my post.. hadn’t fully read details of post above.

Which .357/158 cast?

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads