38 RNFP Comparisons?

[Michael J. Spangler]

Does anyone have a picture of a bullet from all of these Moulds?
RCBS 38-158CM
Lee 358-158RF
Lyman 358665

I like the lee I have but it’s a little fat. I’m thinking a slightly smaller meplat would feed better in my 1873.
Also the barely holds any lube.
Thanks all!

[RedHawk357Mag]

358665. Pretty handy little bullet. Cast smallish. Double lite coats of BLL helps quite a bit. Gonna try Beagling one side next time I fire the pot up. Bought new three or four years ago.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190113/d2d662c2cfd4128fbb135dd867a66b05.jpg

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[RedHawk357Mag]

This is a favorite of mine. Of course it casts exactly spot on. Accurate in about everything I own.233855

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[MrHarmless]

This is a Lee 158gr rnfp on the left233856

[Conditor22]

I know, wrong RCBS
https://i.imgur.com/BGiEOVi.jpg

RCBS 38-158CM

https://i.imgur.com/A5Z7fyA.png

[Michael J. Spangler]

Thanks all
As far as i can tell there is a smaller meplat and a slightly longer nose to the RCBS and the Lyman.
The lee being short and fat like most of their molds. I'm guessing they do this to make a more robust cherry that will last longer.
Me thinks I need a new bullet mould

Anyone have a meplat measurement on the RCBS or the Lyman?

thanks again!

[Tim357]

Thanks all
As far as i can tell there is a smaller meplat and a slightly longer nose to the RCBS and the Lyman.
The lee being short and fat like most of their molds. I'm guessing they do this to make a more robust cherry that will last longer.
Me thinks I need a new bullet mould

Anyone have a meplat measurement on the RCBS or the Lyman?

thanks again!

Pretty sure Lee uses lathe boring as opposed to cherries

[Michael J. Spangler]

Pretty sure Lee uses lathe boring as opposed to cherries

Either way I was more or less getting at the same point. They want to save money somehow and not have mistakes. I imagine machining less detailed mould saves lathe bits just as well.

[Shiloh]

I use the LEE 125 gr version in 9mm.

Shiloh

[beagle]

The RCBS mould feeds and shoots extremely well in my M1894 Marlin. HP'd and with one of Pat Marlin's PB checks, it is very reliable accuracy wise./beagle

[Walks]

I have had all 3 molds. All 3 fed without a hitch in my Kids 1866 - .38spl, I only have the Lee now. Others were stolen.

[brewer12345]

I shoot the 358665 and a Accurate mold (133 MAX) that are RNFP. They play nicely with my Rossi lever and of course all the revolvers. If I were to buy another it would be the Lee 125 grain rnfp.

[GARD72977]

Lead bullets usually shoot the best with the least amount of unsupported length. Lee is just making a mold with the best chance of accuracy. Having said that im not a Lee anything fan.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Lead bullets usually shoot the best with the least amount of unsupported length. Lee is just making a mold with the best chance of accuracy. Having said that im not a Lee anything fan.

That's weird. Because Lee used to have a 125 grain RNFP that had a very short nose, looked like a 1-Radius ogive. I had one and it was awful. None of my guns could throw it with any sort of accuracy. It went in the garbage. I got their new 125 RNFP with a longer unsupported nose and it works excellent.

On the 158 RNFPs - I have two Lee molds. The 6-cavity mold seems to throw a bigger meplat than the two-cavity mold. I never measured the difference but it is just enough to be visible. The difference is enough that I cannot mix bullets from the two molds. They don't seat to the same depth and accuracy suffers. Sorted, both bullets perform well although the wider meplat is more finicky about cycling through my Rossi '92s.

[OS OK]

This is the Lee 358-158 RF thrown from a 6 cavity...

https://i.imgur.com/18JvevX.jpg