Mould recommendations for the 38-40

[KirkD]

Men, I need to get my hands on a 2-cavity mould so that I can start feeding my Winchester Model 1892 38 WCF. I'm considering the following:

1. RCBS 401" 40-180 Grn 2-Cavity Cowboy mould

2. SAECO 190 grn RNFP 2-cavity mould w/crimp groove

Does anyone have experience with these moulds and feeding the finished bullet through a Model 1892?

[Sixgun]

Kirk, I can only tell you what I have heard on those bullets. That is I hear they are great.

Personally for me, I have a pair of 4 cavity moulds by Lyman and LBT that cast a bullet 175 grains that are tc in design. That means they were designed for the 40 S&W. No crimp groove. I don't have their numbers handy but I'm sure the Lyman website has it listed.

A Lee factory crimp die is a must. I load thousands of these bullets every year through various leverguns, pumpguns, and single action sixguns. Anywhere from 7 to 10 grains of Unique pushes these slugs to where I want them to go. A play load of 5.5 of Bullseye also gets used a lot. I even won a long range contest one time using my old Colt Lightning from distances of 100 to 300 meters. They shoot!

Am I weird for using these unconventional bullets in the 38 WCF? Well, yes, I am weird, but not in this case as in addition to the long range accuracy, you ought to see those babies glide from the mag. tube to the chamber! ------------Sixgun

[Don McDowell]

Kirk I've got the RCBS 180 cowboy on the way, maybe by this time next week I can tell you how it works in a Bisley Clone.
Doc says the new Lyman mold will throw a bullet just like the one on his old Ideal loading tool, and that bullet works great in both the 92 and the Colts.

[KirkD]

My understanding re. the Lyman mould, is that it has no crimp groove and the case mouth must be crimped on the olgive, which makes it highly likely that the bullet will be shoved into the case upon firing.

I've been wondering about the Lee factory crimp die, now I've decided to get one.

[runfiverun]

magma engineering makes a 180 with proper crimp groove
rnfp also.
it is what a lot of commercial guys use, it is what i use and love it
cast from acww with 1% sn comes out over .402

[KirkD]

magma engineering makes a 180 with proper crimp groove
rnfp also.
it is what a lot of commercial guys use, it is what i use and love it
cast from acww with 1% sn comes out over .402

I've heard of this bullet. I believe it is the one mentioned by Mike Venturino in his book Shooting Lever Guns of the Old West. He had a hand in its design. Two questions:

1. does it have a bevel base?
2. what does it weigh?

[Sixgun]

My understanding re. the Lyman mould, is that it has no crimp groove and the case mouth must be crimped on the olgive, which makes it highly likely that the bullet will be shoved into the case upon firing.

I've been wondering about the Lee factory crimp die, now I've decided to get one.

Kirk, No it does NOT get crimped on the ogive. here's a pic. The crimp is there and it takes many pounds of pressure to shove it in. Like I said, I load thousands of these bullets every year and I have yet to have one slide back in the case, whether the guns are 1892's, Colt Lightnings, or 1889 Marlins and all of which have strong mag springs.--------Sixgun

[KirkD]

Sixgun, I can see that that set up would work. Thanks for the photo.

[runfiverun]

kirk
it has avery slight bevel
i would have to go out and make some to weigh one
bu iirc it was pretty close to 180 plus lube
with previous mix.
i pushed it to 775 fps from ruger vaquero with unique

[38 WCF]

Kirk,
I had that RCBS mold but I sold it. I found the crimp groove to be very thin and got thinner after sizeing. It would not hold the bullet in place in the tubular magazine of an Uberti 1873 and a USFA Lightning. And yes, I was useing a LEE factory crimp die.
I would not reccomend it.

[KirkD]

Very interesting. I would have thought the Lee Factory Crimp die would take care of that problem. The SAECO might be my best bet.