140 gr. LEE SWC Load Data.

[Shiloh]

My latest mold is a LEE 140 gr. SWC. They are sized at 358 and lubed with Larsens's
BAC. Need data for .38 Special and .357. I'm particularly interested in Unique.
These boolits weigh 142 gr.

There is no load data for this boolit in any of my load books.
In the Lyman 48th edition there is a load for the Lyman 358091 150 gr WC boolit.
It lists 3.7 grs. Start, to 4.2 gr. Max. This is for .38 Special. Nothing for .357.

In my One Book/One Caliber Complete manual for .38 Special there is additional info.
For the Lyman 358495 141 gr. WC, it lists 3.8 gr to Start and a Max load of 5.3 gr.
For the Lyman 358212 146 gr RN, it lists 3.7 as Start and 5.4 gr Max.
This boolit is closer to the profile of my SWC with about the same bearing area.

Today I loaded up 4.5 gr of Unique under my 140 gr SWC. Accurate, mild recoil, no extraction problems, no flattened primers. 4.3 gr gives 892.1 average velocity when run across a chronograph. Did not have the chronograph with me today.

From what I understood for years, it is safe to use a powder charge given for a heavier boolit for a lighter boolit.

Anyone have any reloading info on this boolit?? 38 Special and .357 mag if you have it. Thanks in Advance.

Shiloh

[RayinNH]

Seems you can never quite find what you want in the load books. In the .357Mag. the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual #1 lists a load for their 38-150-SWC using Unique at 7.9 grs start to 8.4 grs. Max.. Nothing using Unique in the .38 Special. With this and your load for the 358212 should put you in the ballpark...Ray

[sagacious]

As far as tried-and-true cast bullet recipes are concerned, the Lyman #48 is a huge disappointment. The Lyman #47 is considerably more comprehensive. If you can find the #47 used, buy it, even if you own the #48 book. You'll see what I mean.

Lyman #47 lists 5.8 to 7.9grs Unique with the 141gr 358495 for the 357Mag.

Flipping through the Lyman #48, one sees numerous pages left half-blank. Why those spaces were left blank, and not filled with more load data for the shown molds-- or data for other Lyman molds-- is left open to complete slack-jawed astonishment.

[rayzer]

I know it's not a load using Unique powder, but. I use the Lee 140 SWC. sized .358 dia. in .38 special cases, with 3.5 gr. Win 231. this load shoots petty good in my .38's

[skimmerhead]

in hornady reloading manuel they have a load for a 140gr lead fp cowboy boolit with unique, it shows 3.9gr all the way up to 5.3gr max you should be able to work up a load from there i think, and thats 7th edition hope this helps. skimmerhead

[Dave B]

I shoot the 140 Lee with 5gr Unique in 38 and 7gr Unique in 357. Thats pretty warm in the 38. Not so much in the 357.

[dualsport]

Lyman 45th Reloading Handbook; .38 Sp., 141 gr.#358495, Unique 3.5 gr. 739 fps. Max load =6.8 gr. Unique/1295 fps. Gun: S&W 14 6".