Lee 358-158-RF questions?

[GrizzLeeBear]

This boolit seems to be very popular with everyone here for 38/357 revolvers and lever guns. I have a Lyman 358156, but I want to get a 357 boolit without a gas check for shooting Bullseye and IHMSA Field Pistol with my GP100. From what I have heard I expect it should work well for this, but I have some other questions about it.

1. I would like to try some light loads (Unique, 4759, etc) in my Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. Will this bullet feed through the Marlin OK? My worry is that the nose is too fat?

2. Whats the highest velocity you have shot it at (in what caliber)? Thinking about the 35 Rem. and also a 14" 357 Herrett contender. The Lyman 358156 shoots great at around 1650 fps (I use it out to the turkeys at 150m). I know I probably won't get to that kind of velocity accurately & without leading, but what would the top end be, 1400 - 1500 fps?

3. Have any of you shot deer with this bullet? The wide flat nose on this bull seems ideal for hunting if it can be driven at 1400 - 1500 fps for deer at say 75 yds. or less. I plan on getting a 357 mag. barrel for my contender to shoot Production class silhouettes and I could also use it to hunt with (MI requires a straight wall case .357 or bigger for handgun hunting in the shotgun zone).

4. Would removing the small bevel on the base allow it to be driven a little faster or shoot more accurately? I have seen a few posts to this effect.

[Blammer]

I just got this mold and shot a few.

I got a video about it and someinfo, read the threads titled "reeezultes" and the other one "reeeesults, with video" if you have not already.

I did crank it (this bullet) out of my 35 Rem with 20 gr of 2400, after the third shot leading took over and accuracy went out the window.

[GrizzLeeBear]

Blammer, saw you video. Cool! Does your load data give you any idea of the velocity?

[Blammer]

for the 9 gr of bluedot out of my 357 mag Win 94 is 1263 fps

the load out of my contender in 35 rem, have not chronied it yet and don't remember what the "book" says.

[Blammer]

Just for grins, I took a lee 358-158-RF and stuck a Gas check on it sized it and put 20 gr of 2400 behind it in my 35 Rem 14" contender and chronoed it.

1594 fps! SMOOOOOKIN!

[Blammer]

the ones I was shooting with out the GC were leading the brl after the 3rd shot and accuracy went to pot quick!

[GrizzLeeBear]

Cool! Didn't think about putting a gas check on the bevel base! That would let you use the same boolit for loads below 1400 fps or so, and slap a GC on it to shoot it up to what, 1800 - 2000 fps? 2000 might be a bit fast for deer, but 1700 - 1800 would probably be dandy.
Ordered the mold from Midsouth today, so I'll be playing with it in the 357 mag, Herrett and 35 Rem. shortly!

[Blammer]

I got a brainstorm about the GC on it.

They are a bit tough to get on then afer I sized it with the GC on it didn't stay on, it fell off. So I put it back on and ran it through the sizer again, this time it stayed of for whatever reason.

I made sure to NOT put the base of the bullet below the neck into the case so it wouldn't fall off inside the case.

I'll have to experiment a bit more with it for accuracy and reliability.

but I'm really hedging my be with the 180 gr GC FP bullets....