Thinking of a new mold

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Tom Acheson posted this 3 weeks ago

I will soon have a S&W Model 10 with 4" bull barrel and fixed sights. This is a .38 Special only revolver. I see it as a companion to my Model 58 .41 Mag.

Currently I load for a Model 52 which requires a flush seated wadcutter. An unusual semi-auto that shoots a rimmed case. I will be selling the Model 52.

I suspect the full wadcutter mold might not be a good one for the revolver. There are no plans to "magmatize" the loads I'll be using.

If there was a specific mold to acquire, what are the suggestions? I get along well with aluminum molds. 2-cavities are OK but no more tgan 4-cavities.

Thanks for any feedback!

Tom

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RicinYakima posted this 3 weeks ago

Full wadcutters are excellent for use in the revolver, just seat it half as deep and use full 158 powder charge.

Having shot Model 10's for 55+ years, the first thing you need is a 155 to 160 grain bullet, lighter bullets shoot low and heavier shoot high, for most folks. Load to an honest 800 to 850 f/s and adjust for POA and POI coincide.

You are off on a great adventure! Lots of luck!

Ric

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delmarskid posted this 3 weeks ago

My 38’s have all shot 148g button nosed wad cutters very well. I load mine flush with the case mouth. 3.2g of Bullseye was excellent and stayed on a12”x12” target paper until I got tired at 100 yards.

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Pigslayer posted this 3 weeks ago

The Lyman 359495 wadcutter or . . . 358156 semi wadcutter I've found to be very accurate.

If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.

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Tom Acheson posted this 3 weeks ago

My mold is a RCBS 38-148 full wadcutter.

I like using my Little Dandy powder measure. I've used a lot of Bullseye, some WST and will be trying some Tite Group.

Tom

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Tom Acheson posted this 3 weeks ago

PS....I plan to try Ric's suggestion for seating a wadcutter half way in. After that I might still want to find a more tradional looking bullet nose mold.

Tom

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gnoahhh posted this 3 weeks ago

I, along with generations of .38 Special shooters, have shot bazillions of 148 wadcutters crimped in the crimping groove as shown in Pigslayer's illustration, in fixed sight revolvers. Powder charges jockeyed to induce POI at the sights for practical field/plinking/target accuracy. I'll betcha that 3 grains Bullseye will be the beginning and the end of the experiment.

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RicinYakima posted this 3 weeks ago

The purpose of the shallow seating to increase the working volume of the case. If that volume is the same as the RN/SWC bullets, you can use the same data. A full WC at 850 f/s is an excellent field load.

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Aaron posted this 3 weeks ago

I am partial to the Lyman 358429 Bullet. An alternate would be the RCBS 38-150-KT if you can find one.

Here is an image of the Lyman 358429 bullet in a 38 Special case.

These shoot very well in my M10 which I have had for decades. They can be cast in various alloys for various velocities. My defense load uses this bullet at a respectable velocity with Lyman #2 alloy. A wonderful bullet with a large lube groove.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Tom Acheson posted this 3 weeks ago

Aaron,

Very nice looking bullet. What doe it weigh?

Thanks!

Tom

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Aaron posted this 3 weeks ago

About 160 depending on the alloy.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Tom Acheson posted this 2 weeks ago

Will be ordering a mold from Accurate soon. A copy of the Lyman 358429. Cylinder throats are 0.357. Surprised to learn that the twist rate is 1:183/4, same as my Model 58 .41 Mag. and maybe my Model 25, 45 AR.

Tom

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Aaron posted this 2 weeks ago

I am curious to know which Accurate mold you have ordered.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Tom Acheson posted this 2 weeks ago

Aaron,

I really like the photo of the Lyman 358429 that you posted. That bullet nose section is what a revolver load should look like.

So I asked for a copy of that bullet, but weighing 150-155 grains, with 0.359" driving bands. The Model 10 cylinder throat exit holes measure 0.357". A 0.358" pin gage will not enter the holes. I have Saeco 0.357" and 0.358" sizing dies, so I can experiment a bit.

When you look at the Accurate website, there are a TON of .38 bullet mold designs. It is almost dizzying!

My experiebce with Lyman molds over the years has been 50/50, so I won't bother looking into a Lyman mold. I own several Accurate molds and absolutely no complaints.

Tom

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Aaron posted this 2 weeks ago

Tom,

I think you will like that bullet a lot. It performs exceptionally well across the velocity spectrum from paper punching to hunting. With softer alloy, paper targets fall like leaves. With Lyman #2 or heat treated WW metal (the old stuff), one can move it at 357 Mag high-end velocities for deer sized game. It cuts a full caliber hole and will shoot clover leaves all day long.

I agree with your observation too....it looks good!

\\ Aaron \\

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Tom Acheson posted this 2 weeks ago

Going back to 1977, I started going to Wyoming the first week of October for Mule Deer hunting. In all those years I shot one deer with an old 1903 Springfield "sporter". All other deer (23) were shot with a S&W Model 57 .41 Mag, every deer with a cast bullet. While some insist that the .357 is good for deer, there was, in the early days for me in Wyoming, the Game and Fish rules requiring any handgun to have 500-foot pounds of remaining energy @ 100-yards, using a factory load. There were none. But you could always argue with a game warden but I doubt he would believe your handload was adequate. Maybe today the rules are different.

So my Model 10 will not be used for hunting. Gosh knows, I've killed my share of deer, Mule and Whitetail. I do like venison roast and summer sausage. I no longer make the annual trip to my favorite state. My son now goes to Wyoming, so maybe I can fleece some from him! He uses his grandad's 1976 Rem 700 in good old .30-06, using my jacketed bullet handloads.

Tom

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Pigslayer posted this 2 weeks ago

Tom, What is your groove diameter? Cylinder thoats need opening up? Just curious.

If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.

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Tom Acheson posted this 2 weeks ago

Piggly,

My friend bought the gun for me @ the Tulsa gun show. He used his pin gages to check the exit openings of the cylinder....0.357 will just barely enter, 0.358" will not enter. (see earlier post here) I am asking Accurate to make the mold with 0.359" driving and base bands. I have Saeco 0,357" and 0.358" bullet sizing dies. Leaves me room to experiment a bit. The throats do not need to be opened up as far as I know. Only shooting some test loads will shed more light on that. Do not know the groove diameter, have not attempted to measure that.

Anxious to shoot the gun....and get the new mold that I ordered!

Tom

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Aaron posted this 2 weeks ago

All other deer (23) were shot with a S&W Model 57 .41 Mag, every deer with a cast bullet.

I LOVE my 41s. Like you, I have placed many a deer on the table with my M57 8". That revolver was one of my first purchases. I did trade it in about 6 years ago since I had not used it in a while and the lever actions were calling my name. I have been leaning towards my Contender calibers of late for hunting. Of course a 41 Mag is in that line up. My Ruger 41 was never as sweet a shooter as the S&W but I still have it and shoot pins with that 4" NMBH. I hunt with the 10'" tube on the Contender.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Tom Acheson posted this 2 weeks ago

Kind of a “full circle” thing. In 1974 I bought my first revolver, a S&W Model 19 (.38 Special and .357 Mag.). My dad bought for me my very first set of dies for it. Still have them, RCBS. Traded that for a Model 66. Wandered into a gun shop and saw a Model 25…yikes a bigger bullet than the .38! Traded for that. Sent it to S&W and had a .45 Colt cylinder made for it…..I had a convertible! A friend in the club and saw it and just had to have it. He had a nickel plated Model 57 8 3/8”. I wanted to start deer hunting with a revolver so we traded. That went back to S&W to be blued and get rid of the “shiny finish”.

I shot MANY handgun silhouette matches using that Model 57 and took a bunch of deer with it. ( I shot my first silhouette match using the Model 25, my dad spotted for me, he thought I was nutz shooting a .45 @ 200-meters.)

Liked the .41 Mag so much that I tracked down two Model 58’s. Shot one a lot, the other one has the correct box and hasn’t been fired…..yet. Sold the one I shot.

And now 50-years later the circle is finally closed with the Model 10…..38 Special. Life is interesting…..

Tom