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Thread: .38 Special load for Lee 358-125-RF

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Lead Freak's Avatar
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    .38 Special load for Lee 358-125-RF

    I'm having trouble finding a good load for the Lee TL358-125-RF .38 Special. The "as loaded" weight of the boolit is 129 grains. Would 3.5 grains of Bullseye be a good starting load?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lead Freak View Post
    I'm having trouble finding a good load for the Lee TL358-125-RF .38 Special. The "as loaded" weight of the boolit is 129 grains. Would 3.5 grains of Bullseye be a good starting load?

    I was having an issue for the TL356-124 RN using Unique. I sent Unique and email and within 24 hours they sent me a word document with the load data I wanted. Powder companies are a great resource as they are trying to get you to use their powder.

    Lyman has 120g RN, 1.450 OAL, Bullsye starting 2.8g-4.6g max

    That's my 2 cents for what ever it is worth. hope it helps.
    Better to be poked in the eye with a wet fish than a sharp stick

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I use 4.0 grains of Bullseye or Red Dot using the Lee # 90574 .38 Cal 125 RF...in the .38 Special. Very accurate in all my pistols and a Marlin 1894C. IMHO 3.5 grains of Bullseye is a great starting load...but be wary/careful of double charging. Red Dot is 30% bulkier, so I use it most of the time, in lieu of Bullseye.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master crabo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lead Freak View Post
    I'm having trouble finding a good load for the Lee TL358-125-RF .38 Special. The "as loaded" weight of the boolit is 129 grains. Would 3.5 grains of Bullseye be a good starting load?
    That's my go to load. It shoots great!
    Crabo

    Do not argue with idiots. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master reloader28's Avatar
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    I would start with 3gr.
    4gr Bullseye in mine shoots good.
    It didnt shoot as good in my brothers gun. 3.5gr shot better. We're going to try 3gr as soon as we get a chance.

  6. #6
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    3 gr is very accurate for me.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master Ohio Rusty's Avatar
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    My favorite load now is 3.1 grains of trailboss with that boolit lubed with 50/50 beeswax/JPW. It shoots like a dream and everyone I have given some of those to shoot want be to load them lots of them !! I love them as practice rounds for my snub ccw gun.
    Ohio Rusty ><>
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  8. #8
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    I would say 3.5 is perfect.

    I predict that if you start with 3.5, you will never try another load.


    ,
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  9. #9
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    I use 5.0 gr of unique. Come to think of it I use 5 gr of unique for all my 38 special loads.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    Just got through working up a load with that bullet at about that weight. I settled on 3.5 grains of Bullseye as the most accurate. Trying Trailboss now as I like to see my powder a little higher in the case.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master thehouseproduct's Avatar
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    .38 Special load for Lee 358-125-RF

    4.6grs of Winchester Super Target. Works for 38 special, 9mm, and my 45acp load. I like keeping my powder measure set at one measurement.
    Visit my page at www.echoarms.com for casting, reloading, and firearms accessories as well as FFL services in Southern California.

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  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    I Use 3.5 grains of bullseye in 38 special with any boolit from 75 grains to 170 grains. But I have shoot thousands of this load with the lee 105 SWC and thousands with several different 158 grain boolits. Always has been accurate. This is out of several different revolvers, my lever action dosent like it. But I think that is more to do with it likes 357 cases.

    Bardo

  13. #13
    Boolit Man
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    Re: .38 Special load for Lee 358-125-RF

    My model 60-4 3 in bbl likes 4g of bullseye with that same boolit.

    Sent with my Evo 4g from Tapatalk.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Re: .38 Special load for Lee 358-125-RF

    Quote Originally Posted by Mlcompound View Post
    My model 60-4 3 in bbl likes 4g of bullseye with that same boolit.

    Sent with my Evo 4g from Tapatalk.
    Same here for my S&W bodyguard snubby.

    Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
    scrap, smelt, cast, lube, load, shoot. repeat.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lead Freak View Post
    I'm having trouble finding a good load for the Lee TL358-125-RF .38 Special. The "as loaded" weight of the boolit is 129 grains. Would 3.5 grains of Bullseye be a good starting load?
    Thinking about getting that mould too Dana. Is it working out for you?

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    Every revolver has it's own likes and dislikes. Like we say so often every gun makes it's own rules. Find out what your gun prefers by testing.
    A load that works well in another gun is always a good place to start. It may work well enough that you won't need another load.
    Having one load that works well in all your guns is a great convenience. 3.5 grains of Bullseye is a good load in many if not most revolvers with a lot of boolit weights.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tazman View Post
    Every revolver has it's own likes and dislikes. Like we say so often every gun makes it's own rules. Find out what your gun prefers by testing.
    A load that works well in another gun is always a good place to start. It may work well enough that you won't need another load.
    Having one load that works well in all your guns is a great convenience. 3.5 grains of Bullseye is a good load in many if not most revolvers with a lot of boolit weights.
    This sums it up . Just to state this is a post from 2012 . Do not know if the OP is still looking for data.
    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    May be an old posting but helped me. Now to get ahold of some Bullseye.

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    I'm using 3 grains of Red Dot but I like my loads on the milder side.

    I have loaded them up as far as 4.5 grains with no issues, good accuracy in carbines and a handi rifle stubb barrel I have.

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy
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    Two S&W Mod. 66 love 3.6g of Bullseye with the traditional lube groove 358-125 RF.

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