My next Lee mould

[awaveritt]

Just ordered the Lee TL-358-158-SWC. Any opinions or observations on this one?


http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=164178

[TAWILDCATT]

what spec did you want to know and what did you want to use it for?It should shoot as well as any of that style.

[Wally]

I have used one for years..it is an accurate and good bullet for the .38 Spl & the .357 Magnum .

5.0 grains of W-231 gives me 940 FPS in a .38 Special--7.0 grains gives me 1,200 FPS in the Magnum pistol and 1,400 in my 1894C Marlin Carbine.

[bigboredad]

I use that mold for my wifes vaquero and it works great only shooting about 800 fps but tumble lubed we get no leading from straight ww's

[Nate1778]

I have used one for years..it is an accurate and good bullet for the .38 Spl & the .357 Magnum .

5.0 grains of W-231 gives me 940 FPS in a .38 Special--7.0 grains gives me 1,200 FPS in the Magnum pistol and 1,400 in my 1894C Marlin Carbine.





Man that seams like a lot of powder, I shoot a 124 grain with 4.6 of HP38 and it feels pretty heavy. Whats that load feel like?

[Wally]

I find that the loads are quite comfortable..lately I am using 4.0 grains of Bullseye in the .38 Special.

[ghh3rd]

Ahh, I call those my soup cans :-) I use that boolit in my .38 Snub, over 2.7 gr of Bullseye, and get good groups at 10 yards, some 1"- 1 1/2". Better than I expected from such a short barrel. Funny thing is that if the sun is shinning just right I can see the boolit zip toward the target!

Randy

[awaveritt]

ghh3rd: 38 snubbie- that's what I'm going to use them in. I'm currently running 3.5grains of Bullseye with all my 158's.

[Shiloh]

This boolit as well as most of my experience with the TL line of molds shoots well.
A very convenient design for casting and lubing a mountain of boolits in a hurry.

Shiloh

[jdgabbard]

I like that boolit. I load it over 4.0g of Unique in .38spl brass. At 25yds in my 65 S&W it gives me anywhere from .80" to 1.25" groups from a rest.

That said, I hate Lee molds. I think that what little quality they had has gone down hill. I think that few molds I've seen lately didn't come from the factory with galled tops. I've not seem one lately that dropped boolits at the right diameter. Any I've just been very unpleased with their molds all together as of late. I do still love their reloading equipment and their casting pots.

That said, when you get the hang of it. And feel like investing a bit more money into this hobby, invest in a real mold. I.e. Lyman/Ideal, RCBS, ect... You'll wonder why you ever messed with a Lee.

[Wally]

I have used Lee molds as well as Saeco, Lyman, & RCBS. I enjoy using the Lee molds the most--they are lighter and do a fine job IMHO. I have sent some back to Lee, but for the most part they work well and produce good bullets. Granted one has to use them with greater care, as the aluminum blocks are quite soft, compared to steel molds.

[jdgabbard]

I have used Lee molds as well as Saeco, Lyman, & RCBS. I enjoy using the Lee molds the most--they are lighter and do a fine job IMHO. I have sent some back to Lee, but for the most part they work well and produce good bullets. Granted one has to use them with greater care, as the aluminum blocks are quite soft, compared to steel molds.

IMO, tools should be made to be used, not pampered. If a tool won't hold up under general use (not to be mistaken with abuse) then it is not worth the money paid.

[Wally]

You make a good point $18~$20 for a lee mold or $60~70 for a Lyman or RCBS...I use all three.

[Crash_Corrigan]

That Lee TL 158 WC was my 1st mold and the SWC the 2nd. They are still going strong 15+ years later. I have both of them in 6 bangers and they have made many thousands of boolits of good quality from both radiator solder droppings and wheel weights alone and combined.

Lubed and shot with LLA or Lubed sized and lubed again it doesen't seem to make much difference in my guns. Many years later I got a RCBS 4 banger that puts out a 174 gr SWC boolit. It is heavy to use but does make a fine looking projectile. Those loaded into my Smith 586 in a 357 Loading are excellent rounds.

I have shot 3" groups or better at 50 yds with those and I can hit the 12" gong at 100 almost all the time with these. Loaded down to .38 Spcl. velocities my results are more spotty.

[ghh3rd]

ghh3rd: 38 snubbie- that's what I'm going to use them in. I'm currently running 3.5grains of Bullseye with all my 158's.

Sounds like that's at the top of the load range, I guess you're loading +P

[Prince555]

JD-Do you have a 4 inch barrel in the S&W model 65 and does it shoot to
point of aim with that load ?
About what velocity do you think you might be getting ?

Thanks

[jdgabbard]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1504

Here is one at 25 yards. Yes mine does have a 4" barrel.

If I were to take a guess about the velocity, I really couldn't tell you. Data would suggest about 800 to 830 fps. However, I know this load is particularly stout in my guns. Honestly, I have shot many magnum loads in my 65 Smith. And this load feels +P at minimum. When I shoot it in my 38spl SP101 or my Taurus 85 Ultra-Lite it is actually quite painful. That is with the addition of Hogue grips on the Ruger. I use standard primers with this load, and I size to .358 and lube with either LLA or Old NRA (beeswax, parafin, and vaseline). In my guns its is accurate and stiff. Others have reported good accuracy and moderate recoil. But that is not what I experience with it. But then again, maybe I've just got a hot batch of unique...

[awaveritt]

Ghh3rd: Sounds like that's at the top of the load range, I guess you're loading +P

It hovers around the top of most standard pressure loads I have listed for 158 gr. lead boolits (referencing the Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook, 3rd ed.)

It seems to be very accurate out of my little gun and I've not noticed any abnormal pressure signs.

Would welcome comments from others on this. (3.5 gr. Bullseye/158gr. lead boolits)