Load for Lee TL358-158-swc for 357 Mag

[ruger-p94]

Going to start to load above CB. I'm looking for a good target load that will work with a brinell of about 12-14. Is that to low for a 357. The bullet mold is a Lee tumble lube The books have a good listing of loads but most are high velocity and I am worried that my lead will be too soft. I found a nice load in the data base with a velocity of 1100.

[Bret4207]

No, 12-14 is fine. Remember that Bhn doesn't tell you everything about your alloy. In fact, it tells you almost nothing about your alloy. If you started with something like WW and added a bit of tin or enrichment alloy then you have something to work with. Fit is waaaaaaay more important than a relative number.

With a PB TL design, assuming you have your static fit in the acceptable range to start with, I'd use a book load of Bulls Eye to start with, somewhere around 3.5 grains. That should get you in the 800-850 fps area

[Larry Gibson]

+1 on Bret's suggestion of Bullseye in the 3.5 to 4.5 range.

Larry Gibson

[Rangefinder]

What I'm using for that boolit is 3gr. Red Dot in 38Spl. and 5gr. Red Dot in .357 Mag. Runs really clean and accurate as all heck in a GP100.

[ruger-p94]

Thanks guys..will be heading to the store next week and pick up a pound of each. cheers from the south.

[smkummer]

I use that bullet and 7 grains Unique for 1100 FPS out of a 6 in. Python. The bullets are water dropped wheel weights ( at one time these were measuring about 20 on the BHN scale). A very small amount of leading after 50 to 75 rounds that is easily removed with Hoppes 9 and a brush. 5.2 grains Unique gives me a Plus P load with the same bullet in 38 special and about 900 FPS. Its my do all load at the range with medium frame Colts. I am considering going to 231 though because it appears to meter better out of the Lee powder measure on my Pro-1000.

[Wally]

While this is an accurate bullet in my .357 Mag pistols, past 900 FPS I get leading. As it has a bevel base, I found that I can GC it with a modified GC made on a Freechex tool...that eliminates the leading...however I find it preferable to use a Lyman 358156.

[Loki610]

I shoot this boolit in my .38special with 3 grains of Clays, slow but very accurate!

[gwpercle]

My favorite load in 357 ruger black hawk is Lyman # 358156 with GC or # 358477 plain base, cast of wheel weights and sized .358 over 5.2 grains unique powder.

I have never tried Lee's 158 gr. tumble lube design but it should work fine.

This is not a hot load, it's probably a +P or +P+ 38 special at best. But out of my blackhawk it groups 6 shots into one ragged hole and is pleasent to shoot, burns clean and doesn't lead the bore.

This load works fine for targets, tin cans and dirt clods.

gary

[Ole]

I made a coffee can full of these powered with 6.5 grains of Unique for my 4" GP100. They were reasonably accurate and had no trouble with leading, but I never got the chance to shoot them through a chronograph.

[sparky45]

What I'm using for that boolit is 3gr. Red Dot in 38Spl. and 5gr. Red Dot in .357 Mag. Runs really clean and accurate as all heck in a GP100.

Mind saying what the OAL is with these loads?
Thanks.