bedbugbilly
12-02-2013, 11:15 PM
I finally had a good day yesterday to open up the shop door and get some boolits molded up. I recently purchased a Lee 356-120-TC for use in 9mm in my SR9. So . . . I cast about 300 out or range lead that I had. Tonight, when I was sorting through some things I pulled them out and discovered that they dropped at .358. So . . . that got me to thinking. Has anyone ever loaded this particular boolit up in 38 spl. and given it a try? I know . . . it's intended for 9mm, but it isn't a whole lot different in shape than a SWC and still has a squarish profile similar to a RN. If they are dropping at .358 - is there any reason they shouldn't work? At least to give them a try to see the accuracy and if it is feasible? I'm thinking the worst would be that it might do some leading but at .358, they should work out of my Smith pre 15 or pre 10 without a problem in regards to being .358 and my bore size (I now size my rounds at .358 for my 38s and they work fine).
They are 120 gr. and I'd like to give them a try with Bullseye, seat and a light crimp. But, I can't find any data on what the min/max should be with a 120 gr. lead. The closest is a Lee 358-125-RF that's 125 gr. I just purchased a copy of Lees New Reloading Manual - over all satisfied with it and some good reading - but, I'm a little disappointed that they produce molds and don't have data for some of them in the book in terms of more powder choices (especially with the hit and miss of what powders are on the shelf at the LGS). But, perhaps I am misunderstanding and the powders they are showing are the only ones that should be used with them? I'm not being critical as I am fairly new to smokeless reloading and still have much to learn. Can you look at what they have, determine the burn rate on the burn rate chart and see what falls in or next to what you have on hand and substitute?
At any point, if these 356-120-TCs of mine are dropping at .358 - any reason I can't try them in a 38? And, can someone suggest a min/max load of Bullseye that would work? I'm primarily interested in just trying them out as a target load - nothing high pressure or hot. I'm not sure what would be a safe minimum grain wt. to start with and what a max should be to avoid.
And yes, I have .358 RN, WC and SWC molds but just looked at these and got curious. Thanks.
They are 120 gr. and I'd like to give them a try with Bullseye, seat and a light crimp. But, I can't find any data on what the min/max should be with a 120 gr. lead. The closest is a Lee 358-125-RF that's 125 gr. I just purchased a copy of Lees New Reloading Manual - over all satisfied with it and some good reading - but, I'm a little disappointed that they produce molds and don't have data for some of them in the book in terms of more powder choices (especially with the hit and miss of what powders are on the shelf at the LGS). But, perhaps I am misunderstanding and the powders they are showing are the only ones that should be used with them? I'm not being critical as I am fairly new to smokeless reloading and still have much to learn. Can you look at what they have, determine the burn rate on the burn rate chart and see what falls in or next to what you have on hand and substitute?
At any point, if these 356-120-TCs of mine are dropping at .358 - any reason I can't try them in a 38? And, can someone suggest a min/max load of Bullseye that would work? I'm primarily interested in just trying them out as a target load - nothing high pressure or hot. I'm not sure what would be a safe minimum grain wt. to start with and what a max should be to avoid.
And yes, I have .358 RN, WC and SWC molds but just looked at these and got curious. Thanks.