Lee 358-158RF

[Whitedog]

I'm thinking of purchasing this mold for my 1894C. I'd like to drive it about 17-1800 fps. Not being a gas check design, will it accept a gas check?

[JIMinPHX]

Catshooter recently came up with a gizmo that lets you add a gas check to a non-gas check designed mold. You might want to look that up. The 358-158RF is a great general purpose boolit, even if you don't manage to get a gas check on it, you will probably still want to have that mold anyway.

[EDK]

Go to lasc.us and read Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 Marlins...and the others also. John Taffin did an article in AMERICAN HANDGUNNER (Sep/Oct?) and there is more data on their web site in "web blast."

If you want high end velocity, get a gas check mould. I'm very happy with the NIGHT OWL ENTERPRISES 360 180 WFN, sized to .360+ in my ballard rifled Marlin Cowboy rifles. I use lower end loads with plain based and go to a gas check with the rifle specific loads.

The conventional wisdom is that accurate loads in Marlins require gas checks, larger bearing surface to engage the rifling, larger diameter, harder alloy and higher velocities.

Marlinowners web site has some forums with info that might also help.

:redneck::cbpour::Fire:

[Gohon]

Just this week I ran ten of the Lee 358-158RF casts out of my 1894C through the chrony. Casts were air cooled WW with 2% tin added and lubed with LLA ahead of 14 grains of 2400 and they clocked at 1756 fps. I shot them as dropped from the mould at .360 dia. The main reason I tested them was to see what speed they were and check for leading. At 25 yards the grouped into a single cluster a little less than one inch. Most importantly is there was no leading what so ever. I had been shooting these same casts with 12.5 grains of 2400 for 1617 fps with no leading so I wanted to see how far I could push them. You don't need gas checks if you have good bullet to bore fit and don't get carried away with BHN. Like I said I'm shooting them as dropped at .360 and they work fine from my rifle.

[MtGun44]

I have shot this boolit at about 1400+ (book says over 1500, but I doubt it) in a Sec Six
and 586 over 16.3 of H110 with excellent accy and no leading.

I tend to agree with Gohon that with proper fit,design and alloy you don't need GCs until at least
around 1400-1500, no experience with hotter so far.

Bill

[lwknight]

I like the Lee 358-158RF mold. It is easy to get good boolits and they drop out easily.
Sorry I can't help about the velocities. I use hardball mix and light loads so far.