Lee 358 150 1R load suggestions .38 special

[wbrco]

Bought this mold here and had my first casting session, and was much easier than my Lyman 358156 mold.

Now how about some nice target load suggestions?

Started with 6.8 of bluedot. I have H4227, H110, and Universal

Lubed twice with 45 45 10.

Any pet loads out there?

[Frank V]

I am reluctant to give loads out on the internet a load I've had great results with is a starting load of Bullseye. This will be a fun, accurate, & pleasant shooting, load. I've also had great results using starting loads with WW231, & Hodgdons Titegroup. Probably most of us would like a range report when you get to it.
Good shooting

[imashooter2]

3.9 grains of Winchester Super Target. This is a max load. Work up.

[mdi]

I'm in a motel in Oregon so I don't have any manuals with me. But Unique and slightly faster powders work great with .38 Special. I've loaded hundreds (mebbe thousands) with W231. Second is Bullseye, but most powders around this speed are a good choice. H4227 and H110 are way too slow for the .38 (H110 should not be down loaded below manual starting loads) . I have loaded a bunch of 160 gr. LSWC with Unique and Universal with excellent results.

I'm with Frank V. on giving out load dat and FWIW; I pay no attention to any forum expert, range rat, gun counter clerk, pet loads website, or gun shop guru. I occasionally get data from Powder Manufacturers web sites, but 98% of my data comes from old fashioned reloading manuals. Been working quite well for 30 years and plenty of variety...

[GooseGestapo]

3.1gr Bullseye. Shot my first 480/480 in PPC service gun with that bullet. Cast from single cavity mold. Slow, but good mold/load. ~750fps.

[Ed_Shot]

Don't have the 358-150-1R but I like Blue Dot under the 150 gr. Lyman 358477 in 38 Spl. I recommend you try working up from Blue Dot 6.2 gr. to Blue Dot 6.4 gr. to Blue Dot 6.6 gr to Blue Dot 6.8 gr. under your 150 gr. boolit and see if you don't find a sweet spot for your weapon. Be safe, have fun.

[Lefty Red]

I used a mild range loading of Bullseye and WW231 and Unique. I really liked that bullet and mold! Second only to Lee's discontinued 150-SWC.

It made good looking bullets and helped me out in training for reloading with and without a speedloader or strip.

Jerry

[BCB]

Yep, Bullseye--2.5 to 3.5 grains are the charges I use...

569 fps to 746 fps...

The lightest charge is the most accurate in an old Victory series S&W...

Good-luck...BCB

[bedbugbilly]

I've had excellent results with that boolit - TL in Alox/Paste wax. I use either Bulls Eye or Red Dot - the low end of the loading data for a 150 gr. lead boolit. Good results out of all of my 38s and a great plinking round.

Add Note: I don't size mine - I use them as they drop from my mold which is tad over .358.

[jonp]

Although I have a pretty nice supply of Unique I use Promo for my target loads. Works great for plinking and is cheaper than the others. Don't overlook Vectan powders as they are in stock in several places and work well besides the price being right.

[wbrco]

Hmm. Lots of Bullseye.. I've used Universal but it's dirty and leaves a have all over the gun. Not knowing the volumetric stats on bullseye, does 3-4 grns fill the case well? Universal comes no where close. Bluedot does fill the case about 3/4 full.

I agree on how this bullet casts. This is my first Lee mold and it sure was easier to get good bullets compared to my Lyman 358156. I'm still ladle pouring over a turkey fryer with straight ww. I'm thinking a pro pot is in my future.

I just can't get the bases in the Lyman to fill out nice and crisp. I've considered having someone mill the gc out of the mold to see if that helps.

[BCB]

You will barely see 3 grains in the case!!! It goes without mention that it very easy to double or even triple charge a case...

Bullseye has become one of my favorite powders for reduced loads in many cartridges...

Good-luck...BCB

[Ed_Shot]

"I just can't get the bases in the Lyman to fill out nice and crisp. I've considered having someone mill the gc out of the mold to see if that helps."

Sounds like it might be a venting problem. Do you have your sprue plate adjusted so it swings freely? Don't know which dipper you are using but it sometimes helps to keep the dipper in contact with the mold while pouring. I once had a problem Lyman mold that was cured by simply switching out the sprue plate from another Lyman mold.

I have a great shooting bare-bottomed Lyman 358156 done by Erik at Hollopointmold.com. There is a reason your mold is not filling out it would just be cheaper and quicker to figure out why.

[P Flados]

I have shot a bunch of the Lee 150s.

For standard 38s, Bullseye got super popular long ago as it has the right burn rate & meters great.

However, I have never used it.

Based on cost and versatility, my "fast powder" is the economy version of red dot (Promo bought in a 8 lb jug).

It has about the same burn rate as BE but does not meter as well.

It also "bulks up" pretty good making me feel confident in my visual check of case fill.

All of my 38s get used in 357 magnums or maximums. The guns I shoot most won't give me the same accuracy with 38 cases (ok but not great).

For these guns, I have tried weighing charges a number of times for 38s, magnums and even some hot maximums. It has never noticeably improved the accuracy as compared to just dropping charges. Therefore "not meter as well" does not matter to me.

For regular 38s I use 4.0 grains of Promo with the Lee 150. Works fine with regular lube and with Lee tumble lube.

I also like 4.3 grains as a +P load. Just to be careful at keeping them easy to spot, I use some of my red PC bullets & seat them out more (crimp in the top grease groove).

FYI, when I first got my Lee 150 mold, I was really disappointed at how bad my Stainless Dan Wesson supermag leaded with anything hotter than a standard 38. Thanks to the guys on this forum, ASBB PC coating changed all of that. No leading even at full power maximum loads.

With PC'ed 150s, my full power load of choice (for now) for the Magnum revolver (6" DW blued) is 17 grains of 296.

For my maximums, I will be using heavier bullets (a Lee 150 converted to a 180, or my new Lee 200 - see below :smile:) for full power loads. However, I do expect to use 7.3 grains of Promo behind PC'ed 150s in maximum cases for a medium load. It shoots as good as anything in the DW and I am sure it will work in the 10" contender.


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Lee Precision Double Cavity Bullet Mold 358-200-RF
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[crackers]

What is that? People are too afraid to give up secret loads out of fear? Inferiority? Yet they would like a range report from the OP when he gets done reinventing a wheel.

[Frank V]

wrbco

If the GC fits on the base ok & is straight it just might take care of that problem. The 358156 is one of the better .38/.357 bullets out there & is usually super accurate. I wouldn't mill it off till I'd experimented with it casting & with the GC in place.
Let us know.

[Kraschenbirn]

I've put a quite a few of those Lee 150 gr. RNs through several different .38/.357s. For target/plinking loads, my powder of choice is 700X followed closely by Bullseye. As previously mentioned, H110 and 4227 are too slow burning and, while I've successfully used Blue Dot for +P jacketed loads in .38 cases, recommended starting loads for CBs are 'warmer' (in the 800-850 fps range) than what might be considered 'mid-range'.


Bill

[tazman]

I have used that boolit with great results. Normally I use 3.0 of Bullseye with it for target/plinking. It makes an easy shooting, accurate load in my revolvers.
If I was going to go full power, I would work up a load with CFE Pistol.

[Frank V]

I have used that boolit with great results. Normally I use 3.0 of Bullseye with it for target/plinking. It makes an easy shooting, accurate load in my revolvers.
If I was going to go full power, I would work up a load with CFE Pistol.


I can't find either of the CFE powders around here.

[zomby woof]

I use this boolit for our steel pin league. 2.7 WST 3.0 Red Dot just enough to knock the pin over and super light.

[tazman]

I can't find either of the CFE powders around here.

That is just bad to hear.
CFE Pistol is an excellent powder for medium to full power loads in 38 Special, 9mm, 40S&W, and 45acp. I get an extra 100 fps in 38 special without increasing the pressure to +P levels.
I don't know about it's professed ability to reduce copper fouling since I really don't shoot much jacketed or plated. I haven't used the CFE223 at all.
The data for CFE Pistol on the Hodgdon's data site worked exactly as it was listed. My tested velocities were nearly an exact match for theirs in the cartridges I tested(9mm, 38 special, and 40S&W).

[Frank V]

That is just bad to hear.
CFE Pistol is an excellent powder for medium to full power loads in 38 Special, 9mm, 40S&W, and 45acp. I get an extra 100 fps in 38 special without increasing the pressure to +P levels.
I don't know about it's professed ability to reduce copper fouling since I really don't shoot much jacketed or plated. I haven't used the CFE223 at all.
The data for CFE Pistol on the Hodgdon's data site worked exactly as it was listed. My tested velocities were nearly an exact match for theirs in the cartridges I tested(9mm, 38 special, and 40S&W).


I have looked at the ballistics of CFEPistol & am impressed. I've used Unique, Bullseye, WW231, Titegroup, & 2400 for years, I'm starting to use Red Dot (it's UNDER RATED). I would like to try CFEPistol.
One day I'll run onto some.

You ought to try CFE223, it's a great powder in the .222 & .223. It works well in the .308 too!

[tazman]

For light target loads I have less expensive powders to use(Bullseye, Tightgroup). CFE pistol was notable for it's ability to give extra velocity without increasing pressures to +P ranges.
In full power 38 special loads it shines. Very consistent velocity. Very accurate. Consistent through the powder measure.
I am using 5.0 grains of CFE Pistol with 150 grain cast boolit(358477) in my 38 Special and getting chronograph readings of 975fps consistently with a 6 inch barrel. Very good accuracy and no leading.

Currently the only CF rifle I have is a 30-06. The Hodgdon data site doesn't list any loads for the bullet weights I normally use(180 grains and heavier).

[Frank V]

For light target loads I have less expensive powders to use(Bullseye, Tightgroup). CFE pistol was notable for it's ability to give extra velocity without increasing pressures to +P ranges.
In full power 38 special loads it shines. Very consistent velocity. Very accurate. Consistent through the powder measure.
I am using 5.0 grains of CFE Pistol with 150 grain cast boolit(358477) in my 38 Special and getting chronograph readings of 975fps consistently with a 6 inch barrel. Very good accuracy and no leading.

Currently the only CF rifle I have is a 30-06. The Hodgdon data site doesn't list any loads for the bullet weights I normally use(180 grains and heavier).

If I find some CFE Pistol I'm going to try a can. More velocity in the .38 Special with std. pressure interests me especially in the small J frames. A good 150-160gr cast SWC at even 850 is a nice load & will take small game quickly & reliably not bad on the hand to shoot either.[smilie=w: