A ? on Lee's 356-120-TC boolit - in relation to use in38 spl - just thinking . . .

[bedbugbilly]

I finally had a good day yesterday to open up the shop door and get some boolits molded up. I recently purchased a Lee 356-120-TC for use in 9mm in my SR9. So . . . I cast about 300 out or range lead that I had. Tonight, when I was sorting through some things I pulled them out and discovered that they dropped at .358. So . . . that got me to thinking. Has anyone ever loaded this particular boolit up in 38 spl. and given it a try? I know . . . it's intended for 9mm, but it isn't a whole lot different in shape than a SWC and still has a squarish profile similar to a RN. If they are dropping at .358 - is there any reason they shouldn't work? At least to give them a try to see the accuracy and if it is feasible? I'm thinking the worst would be that it might do some leading but at .358, they should work out of my Smith pre 15 or pre 10 without a problem in regards to being .358 and my bore size (I now size my rounds at .358 for my 38s and they work fine).

They are 120 gr. and I'd like to give them a try with Bullseye, seat and a light crimp. But, I can't find any data on what the min/max should be with a 120 gr. lead. The closest is a Lee 358-125-RF that's 125 gr. I just purchased a copy of Lees New Reloading Manual - over all satisfied with it and some good reading - but, I'm a little disappointed that they produce molds and don't have data for some of them in the book in terms of more powder choices (especially with the hit and miss of what powders are on the shelf at the LGS). But, perhaps I am misunderstanding and the powders they are showing are the only ones that should be used with them? I'm not being critical as I am fairly new to smokeless reloading and still have much to learn. Can you look at what they have, determine the burn rate on the burn rate chart and see what falls in or next to what you have on hand and substitute?

At any point, if these 356-120-TCs of mine are dropping at .358 - any reason I can't try them in a 38? And, can someone suggest a min/max load of Bullseye that would work? I'm primarily interested in just trying them out as a target load - nothing high pressure or hot. I'm not sure what would be a safe minimum grain wt. to start with and what a max should be to avoid.

And yes, I have .358 RN, WC and SWC molds but just looked at these and got curious. Thanks.

[Dusty Bannister]

Try dropping one through the cylinder and see if they free fall, or slightly stick on the way through.
That will be your answer.
Dusty

[MtGun44]

They will, of course, work fine in a .38 Spl. This is not rocket surgery. :bigsmyl2:

Bill

[blikseme300]

I use this boolit through my combi Blackhawks in 38spl and 9mm. Sized and lubed through a Star at .358 with Tac#1.

[NSP64]

I all depends on the gun.
if they stick in the cylinder mouths they should shoot fine.

Bullseye is great start @ 3.0gr and work up till you find something you like.

when going where most don't (really low end/not in the book loads), I shoot 1 in the cylinder at a time, then check the barrel to make sure the boolit left gun.

[Garyshome]

38 spl. 358-125-RF 3gr. Bullseye=540.9FPS No leading Wheel Gun!
Plinkin' load.




__________________________________________________ _________________

I can only be distracted if I let them distract me! I can only be lied to if I let them lie to me!

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks - I'll start with the 3.0 gr of BE and go from there. I should have mentioned it on my original post but i did check the bullet / cylinder mouth fit on my 38s. It wouldn't drop though so that was one reason I was interested in trying it out. The suggestion of trying new loads out one in a cylinder at a time is an excellent one. I have shot a lot of 38s, 9mm, 45, and 380 over the years - fortunately with no squibs - but they weren't mine either - mainly factory reloads. I may have had a half dozen FTF fut no weak ones as far as bullet leaving the barrel. But . . . there is always a first time for everything. Many thanks - appreciate the info.

[Prospector Howard]

Should work in a 38 spl just fine. I have a Lee 124 TL TC Mold that drops bullets at .358 that I shoot out of .38 cases all the time. I load them hot though at 4.7 gr of Bullseye and shoot them in my .357's. They are pretty fast at 1000 fps or so, which I kinda like.

[Bret4207]

They will, of course, work fine in a .38 Spl. This is not rocket surgery. :bigsmyl2:

Bill

Snort! Ha! Clever.

[Larry Gibson]

3.5 - 4.5 gr Bullseye for the 120 Lee TC.....been there, done that and they shoot quite well. Very fast loading with speed loaders in the S&W M15.

Larry Gibson

[fecmech]

Lee 120TC is THE most accurate bullet in my K-38 and what I use for Hunters Pistol Silhouette for all my targets except the 100 yd ram(not enough weight to reliably knock it over). I use 4.2/Bullseye for roughly 1000 fps and groups at 50 yds average less than 2". A slightly heavier BE load in mag cases is very accurate in both my Rossi and Winchester .357 levers out to 200 yds. IMO a great target/plinking boolit for the .38/.357. The Lyman and RCBS similar designs work just as well.

[mdi]

Measure your guns! Mebbe it's just me, but I learned long ago that bullets need to fit the gun they are being shot through. Slug or use a pin gauge to find the diameter of the cylinder throats. Your .358" bullets are the same size as 3, .38 Specials I have. I use Lee's 125 gr. RNFP, sized to .358" in my .38s, .357 Magnums, and two 9mms...

[fcvan]

I have that same boolt mold, mine drops .3585 and weighs 125. I size to .358 for 9mm and my S&W M13 with great success. Lately, I have been powder coating everything including this boolit. I loaded up some PCd with a plain base gas check in .357 brass at about 1250 fps. I compared them to the same load without the PBGC and although I did not get any leading the groups were tighter with the gas check. Loaded at 950 fps in .38 sp, either lubed or PCd the 356-120 TC works great!

[Harter66]

Mine drops 50/50 at .3595-360 .

[grampa243]

i just ordered that mold.. hope to get good shooting out of a tarus m905(the wife's carry gun)

and next year a GP100 :)