Lee tumble bullits in 357Mag

[Boogieman]

Any one shooting Lee 158gr SWC TL with full bore 357Mag. loads? I've tried them lubed with LOX & powder coated, both ways they tumble about 2 out of 5 shots . They are not leading with the powder coat , the LOX are. this with 38Spec.+P & higher. Could this be gas cutting through the base band? It is rather thin.

[Bzcraig]

Tell us more about the load and gun you are shooting. I have shot full power loads from my GP100 using 2400 and Lee 358158TL with no problems at all.

[Boogieman]

Tell us more about the load and gun you are shooting. I have shot full power loads from my GP100 using 2400 and Lee 358158TL with no problems at all.
Ruger Security six 4" Lee 158gr. SWC 5gr Tite group ww sp primers bullets sized 357 & 359 9Bhn. Load should crono. about 1150 fps.

[sandman228]

that's real close to 1 of the loads I use ( I think im 4.7 titegroup) ive got a s&w 686 6 inch ported ,a ruger Blackhawk convertible, and a rossi 92 all in 357 mag and its never tumbled out of any of them . I do make my bullets harder than 9 bhn though and I size mine to 358 and lube twice

[Larry Gibson]

Add 2 % tin to your WWs, lube with LLA as per the instructions, size at .358 and lube again as per the instructions and as sandman28 does......same as I do and they shoot fine. I shoot lots of them out of my Ruger Security Six with 6" barrel. I load them over 4 gr Bullseye in .38 SPL cases or 5.5 gr Unique for a +P load. In .357 cases I use them for a mid range mag load over 6 gr Unique.

Larry Gibson

[Boogieman]

Thanks fellows , I think my alloy is too soft for PB mag. loads. Lyman 358156 GC shoots good over 2400 at 1250 fps actual crono. speed. I was trying to go cheap no, gas checks & half the powder. I haven't worked much with TL style bullits ,am still learning. When 2400 was $ 3.75 a pound we just filled the case & seated the hardest bullits we could find.

[sandman228]

this bullet also shoots well over 6.0 gr of herco or 10.5 gr of 4227

[161]

These work well also.
http://www.sagesoutdoors.com/index.php?id_product=59&controller=product

[Groo]

Groo here
If it will fit , do not size at all.
Cast,lube and load.

[Wally]

I've used the Lee 158 SWC-TL in my .357 Magnums loaded to 1,100 FPS maximum...I had leading issues when shooting them, so I no longer use it.

[c1skout]

I use them in my GP100 with good results. I load a charge of 2400 to run them just over 1200fps. I don't know what the hardness is, but I use both wheel weights and range scrap. Mine won't chamber as cast, so I size to .357(I haven't got a .358 sizer yet). My gun is happy with this load so I'm sticking with it. If I push them into the 1400fps range I get lotsa leading.

[Boogieman]

I loaded some in 38 cases with titegroup @ 770 fps got a 9 shot group at 50ft (2 hand standing) 1 1/2in
#10 made it 2 1/8", had a bifocural gotya , I think titegroup burns too hot for heavy plain base boolit loads. going to try 2400.









9

[JWFilips]

Any one shooting Lee 158gr SWC TL with full bore 357Mag. loads? I've tried them lubed with LOX & powder coated, both ways they tumble about 2 out of 5 shots . They are not leading with the powder coat , the LOX are. this with 38Spec.+P & higher. Could this be gas cutting through the base band? It is rather thin.

Are you sizing these? I shoot these boolits TL'ed "As dropped" from the mould, Lubed with Recluse's 45/45/10 formula in my 1953 (Pre-27 ) S&W N frame 13 Grains 2400 powder Very accurate & no leading alloy mix is 50 % COWW /50% Pure lead then + 2% additional tin also shoot the same but sized in a .3595" custom Lee push thru sizer in my S&W 19 with the same results Not sure the velocity but it's up there. Oh Yes I don't use Mag primers just plain SPP

As A side note I started Pan lubing the TL boolits in Ben's Red ..a bit messy to load but after a hundred rounds or so a few dry patches and the bores sparkle not to mention my groups tightned

[Treeman]

Used to run that bullet ahead of 9.7 grains of BlueDot with excellent results. Likewise with 6 grains of Unique or 13 grains of 2400. It isn't my favorite .357 boolit but it has never been problematic for me.

[Boogieman]

I just finished a checkmaker for 35 cal.PB boolits. tried some on Lee 158gr SWC TL. loaded them over . titegroup 5.1 gr. grouped under 2" at 50ft, 2 hand standing, The same load that tumbled without gaschecks Crono. said 950fps This jug of TG heaver & slower than some I've used. Want to try some loads with 2400 trying for 1250fps with no leading.

[HiVelocity]

Boogieman; I cast and load the same bullet for my 2 handguns.

In 38 special, I lube with 45/45/10. If I load, the few that I do, in .357, I add a plain based gas check with the same lube so I don't have to deal with leading issues, regardless. My 38 Spl loads are only around 800fps; the 357 loads exceed 1200fps.

There are several on this forum who can sell you aluminum gas checks to fit, well worth the money to me. Just food for thought.

HV

[Boogieman]

Thanks for the info. glad to see 1200+fps is possible with this boolit. I built a check maker & use .006" al. disposable pie pans. They work good but every time I want to make some checks I have to eat another pie

[Ubet]

I just picked up a GP100 last weekend, and have been looking at a Lee mold to cast bullets for it. After reading some of your posts above it's given me some more ideas on which mold to order, as I plan using tumble lube.

[N4AUD]

I use that exact same boolit, cast with plain COWW lead, tumble lubed with Alox and unsized with no problems.

[Lefty Red]

I used that TL bullet for my 38 loads only. I use the GC bullet for my 357 hunting loads only. It helps me keep the alloys and hardness straight.