Question about Lee 6-Cavity C358-158-SWC mold

[DaveO]

New member here, hope I am asking this question in the correct forum.
Lots of great info here, so here goes my question.

Am new to casting, but not reloading.
I am interested in this mold for loading 38spec and 357.
Question is, do I have to use a gas check for those calibers?
I just want the SWC profile without the gas check.
Can I just use the boolit without the gas check?

How will not using the gas check affect the performance of this boolit?
Is there another company's mold that will give me this style boolit, in multiple cavity molds?

Anyone use this mold without the gas check, and how does it perform in your pistol?
Thanks for the advice,
DaveO

[Rcmaveric]

You don't "need" gas checks for 38 Special and low end 357 Mag stuff. I use them if the bullet is designed for them though.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[rockshooter]

As noted, you don't need a GC bullet for .38/.357 handguns. I see that apparently Lee doesn't offer a non-GC version of this bullet. For a wider choice of molds- more expensive but far better molds, look at NOE. You might also consider the Lee 358-140 WC or the Lee 358-158RF altho the latter has some issues when powder coated.
Loren

[RogerDat]

Any Lee mold that is designated TL is designed to be tumble lubed so no gas check. They have a 158 SWC in that style. Does fairly well PC'd and sized, although with tumble lube the bullet can supposedly be used without sizing.

[Maven]

I have the Lee TL-358-SWC, which Roger mentioned, and tumble lube them without sizing for both my .38Spl. and .357Mag. Accuracy has been VG -> Excellent and bore leading minimal.

[TjB101]

... the Lee 358-158RF altho the latter has some issues when powder coated.
Loren

Do tell... I’ve only loaded about 50 of this bullet, coated, and shot them out of a Marlin and didn’t notice anything problematic. Your referring to the RNFP bullet with crimp groove?

[megasupermagnum]

Does it have to be 158 grain? Arsenal makes a pretty good example of a plain-base version of that Lee bullet. The 358-158 KT. $83 plus shipping

If it doesn't have to be 158 grain, the NOE 360-176-SWC is a great bullet, my favorite anyway. This one can be had in hollow point too if you are into that. It runs $99 plus shipping for the 5 cavity.

[Misery-Whip]

Its a great bullet in revolvers. I get better accuracy with Lee Alox in 38s, than with powdercoating. Cuts nice round holes in targets. And I size every bullet I cast and there is a fat one every so often.

My handgun alloy is 16-1. (8lbs soft lead to 8oz tin) if I stay under 1200fps, and the bullet is sized properly I dont get leading. I use this alloy without checks in 380, 45 auto, 38 special, mild 357s powdercoated, and 9mm powdercoated.

[DaveO]

Thanks for all the replies.
Lots of other molds to consider, I’m liking the NOE mold.
Seems like a lot of you still use lube, and have not jumped on the powder coating bandwagon.
I lucked into a Lyman lubersizer recently at an state sale for $10, also included 2
Lyman molds, with handles. One was single cavity, other one was 2 cavity.
Tried casting with them, just too slow for me.
Will update when I decide which mold to purchase.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

New member here, hope I am asking this question in the correct forum.
Lots of great info here, so here goes my question.

Am new to casting, but not reloading.
I am interested in this mold for loading 38spec and 357.
Question is, do I have to use a gas check for those calibers?
I just want the SWC profile without the gas check.
Can I just use the boolit without the gas check?

How will not using the gas check affect the performance of this boolit?
Is there another company's mold that will give me this style boolit, in multiple cavity molds?

Anyone use this mold without the gas check, and how does it perform in your pistol?
Thanks for the advice,
DaveO

Dave,
Welcome to the forum.

I have a early version (360-160-SWC) of the NOE mold linked to below (360-165-SWC-T5)
It is very close to the Lee you mention, but the NOE has two crimp grooves, which is very handy if you have a S&W 357 mag revolver with a short cylinder.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35_308&products_id=2239&osCsid=ro0bi0ok2298gqo24d4ducukq3

NOE can cut up to a 5 cavity mold, which is what I have, and it is a great performer.

[rockshooter]

TjB101- yup, that's the bullet- the problem I have is that the bullet sometimes needs to be seated a little deeper because the PCd nose is a little too straight/fat- it hits the throat. I like the NOE 155 because it has a slight taper on the nose and feeds just fine.
Loren

[rockshooter]

TjB101- yup, that's the bullet- the problem I have is that the bullet sometimes needs to be seated a little deeper because the PCd nose is a little too straight/fat- it hits the throat. I like the NOE 155 because it has a slight taper on the nose and feeds just fine.
Loren