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Thread: Lee 358-125-RF

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Lee 358-125-RF

    Has anyone used this cast bullet in a 9mm? Would like to be able to have a buddy do a "mass cast" on a single bullet style and be able to use them in both 9mm and target 38 Special loads.

    Would they need to be sized for either or can they be used as cast?

    I haven't bought the mold yet, so I am interested in any opinions.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

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    I never had much luck with it as it requires being seated very deeply. Others have had other experience however. If you want a Lee I would suggest the 120TC for 9mm and the 158 RF for 38/357.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    I have FEG HP9 and a P95 . The Ruger is good to go with standard lengths and sized 357 . The FEG requires deeper seating but it does so with almost every bullet I've tried in it .
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  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master tazman's Avatar
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    Lots of different opinions on that boolit. Mostly it depends on your individual gun.
    It will almost certainly need to be seated deeply into the case for it to chamber properly. This may cause problems feeding. Again, it depends on the individual weapon.

  5. #5
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    It is my No. 1 9mm boolit .Powder or Hi-Tek coated and sized to .357. I don't remember the oal and my load notes are down in the barn. I shoot it in my M&P 9, Kel tek pf9, Hi point 9 and Hi point 9 carbine. I had to send the M&P 9 to Doug Guy to be throated as it would not take anything bigger than .355. It shoots excellent in all these guns. I am in the process of loading up another 5k of them.
    Sized .359, I also use it in my 38's and 357mag.

    Just got back from the barn, OAL is 1.029, and they kerplunk in all my guns at that length.
    Last edited by farmerjim; 03-11-2017 at 07:04 PM. Reason: add OAL
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  6. #6
    Boolit Bub
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    They work in my Taurus PT99AF. Seated so that crimping groove is not visible.

  7. #7
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    I've shot it quite a bit in a BHP MKIII, a Ruger LC9, two S&W M&Ps, one M&P Shield......zero problems. Only 9mm mold I own, and yes I also load them in .38s.

  8. #8
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    I load and shoot them from a BHP, a G19 and a G26 (Lone Wolf barrels). Shoots perfectly, seated to 1.03" OAL and sized to .358. I shoot them plenty in .38 specials as well. Don't go crazy loading until you make sure they work! Good luck.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
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    Very good 9mm and .38/.357 boolit
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  10. #10
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    I shoot this bullet in my 38 super and 357 mag. Sized to . 357 for the super and . 358 for he 357 mag.
    Also powder coated. For my 9mm's I use the 120 TC also powder coated.
    Floydster

  11. #11
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    I like the 358-225-RF in my Ruger P89 and My Hi-Point C9. But I had feeding/chambering issues with a stock 1980s Browning Hi power and a Glock with factory barrel.
    A "mass cast" might not be prudent, til you test 'em in all the guns you want to shoot 'em in
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
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  12. #12
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    Yes and it works well.

    You must exercise caution as it will seat MUCH deeper than a 9mm RN boolit.

    Here is my data. Use as a REFERENCE only!!


    LEE 125 gr RF Sized .358 (38 .357 Boolit) Seated 1.05"
    AA#5 Unique
    5.4 gr. 3.5 gr. 4.0 gr. 4.4 gr.
    low 967 939 993 1092
    high 1007 989 1059 1164
    avrg 988 963 1030 1124
    ex sprd 41.21 50.16 66.82 72.1
    st dev. 14.35 13.52 20.73 21.54

    Shiloh
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  13. #13
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    Works VERY well for me.
    I seat to just hide the crimp groove and taper crimp. I use 4.9gr of Hod. LongShot for just under 1,200 fps (5"bbl). Very accurate sized to .357" for my Performance Ctr S&W's and "knock around" Taurus PT99.

  14. #14
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    It's a great 9mm boolit as well as .38. As cast? if they fall out the right size, sure. I size mine .358 for the 9mm and the .38. Got to run them thru the sizer anyway to grease 'em.
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  15. #15
    Boolit Master


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    I too use it in 38Spl, 357Mag, and 9mm.

    My 9mms include a S&W M&P Shield, a Star 30M, and an Astra A-70. I load to an OAL of 1.050, to chamber in all, the Astra being the shortest chamber.

    At that length, the crimp groove is about 1/2 covered. No problems feeding or firing. I don't load them hot, usually to no more than 1000fps - there's not much room left in the case after stuffing that boolit all the way down in there, and I don't want to risk problems.

    The round is quite accurate at 10 yds, which is the longest distance I do for self-defense practice.

  16. #16
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    I can only echo the admonition to "try before you buy." That boolit does not work at all in my P6, is troublesome but can function in My S&W M-39-2, it does work in my Luger, and in my Firestar. You will have to seat it short-1.05 for me.
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  17. #17
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    I shot some more of these today. I chronographed some, too, with 700-x and longshot.

    If you're using data for some other longer-nosed bullet of the same weight, back off by at least 15% of maximum to start with. You're dealing with a tiny case and you're putting a bullet very, very deep in that case.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by C. Latch View Post
    I shot some more of these today. I chronographed some, too, with 700-x and longshot.

    If you're using data for some other longer-nosed bullet of the same weight, back off by at least 15% of maximum to start with. You're dealing with a tiny case and you're putting a bullet very, very deep in that case.
    Sage advice here.
    I took them to 4.4 gr. Unique a step at a time.

    Shiloh
    Je suis Charlie

    "A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves."
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    “Any government that does not trust its citizens with firearms is either a tyranny, or planning to become one.” – Joseph P. Martino

    “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert , in five years there would be a shortage of sand.” – Milton Friedman

    "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns; why should we let them have ideas?" - J. Stalin

  19. #19
    Boolit Master reloader28's Avatar
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    I size mine to .358 and seat to 1.015. Works great in several different 9mm's for us.
    I also use it in 38spl and .380 all sized .358. Actually it shoots good in 380's

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by reloader28 View Post
    I size mine to .358 and seat to 1.015. Works great in several different 9mm's for us.
    I also use it in 38spl and .380 all sized .358. Actually it shoots good in 380's
    What powder and OAL are you using in the 380? I would like to give it a try.
    There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide. Ayn Rand

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