Lee 358-185-RN Six Cavity Close-out

[jim4065]

Saw this listed for $30 on the Lee site so I ordered one - question is: What did I buy? It was closing time and I ordered it as everyone was going out the door, so there was no time to get a description. Should be a plain base, but that's all I know. Kinda hoping it works well in a 357 Maximum rifle. :???:

[Ben]

I think ( although I don't know it for a fact ), that these molds are either " extras " that Lee did on an old group buy or molds that were slightly " out of spec " with the group buy specifications.

Ben

[TaylorTN]

I was jsut about to post a thread about these......

I am wondering about these......maybe in my 357 Herrett.......

It loves the Rem 180 SJHC bullet. I just hate paying what they want for them.

I need a couple of parts from Lee anyway so I may try one too.

Any Idea if they were out of spec and to what end?

---keeping an eye on these,
TM

[Bob Krack]

Saw this listed for $30 on the Lee site so I ordered one - question is: What did I buy? It was closing time and I ordered it as everyone was going out the door, so there was no time to get a description. Should be a plain base, but that's all I know. Kinda hoping it works well in a 357 Maximum rifle. :???:
Hard to tell.... Gotsta be .358 (or so) and 185 grain (or so) round nose.

No mention of gas check... - too big, size it down? too small, beagle it?

Cavities not uniform? just use the good'uns.

[Buckshot]

...............I do not think Lee would be intentionally selling unuseable stuff. If these were kicked back for poor alignment or other problems similar to this, they would not be for sale as this would just be added headaches for Lee when they started getting them back.

If they're labeled 358 - 185, then I'd bet that that's what they mic and how much they weigh with Lee's alloy. If they were smaller then a useable OD (like .356") Lee wouldn't sell them unless they noted as a 9mm boolit, yet the weight is a tad out of bounds for the 9x19 :-).

Maybe 5-6 years ago I bought an un-cataloged 6 cavity mould they had listed. It was a 41 cal SWC plainbased and called out as 410 - 240 SWC. And that's what I got. My intended use was to see if I could get a very light short range load for my Pedersoli 40-65 Super Match rolling block. I think it's 34" bbl may have been a bit much, but there were certainly NO faults with the boolit the blocks dropped.

The mould went to live with 9.3x62Al, and so far as I know must be earning it's keep for him?

...................Buckshot

[Blazin]

Saw this listed for $30 on the Lee site so I ordered one - question is: What did I buy? It was closing time and I ordered it as everyone was going out the door, so there was no time to get a description. Should be a plain base, but that's all I know. Kinda hoping it works well in a 357 Maximum rifle. :???:

Please let us know what bullet the mould produces and how you like it.

[The Dust Collector]

I have A LEE mould that I purchased many years ago. It is a 358-178-1R. It is not a gas check design. It works well in my 35 Rem. as a light load and in my 357 mag rifle I shoot it hot with an under the bullet waxed card with good results. .042" thick.
I really don't know if LEE still makes the mould anymore or not. To tell the truth, I never weighed a boolit made by it. Cast soft it may be 185 grains. Anyway, It always shot well for me...
For more info on the waxed card replacement of gas checks, Check this out.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=31212

[jim4065]

It came today and looks like a Lyman 358315 with a shorter nose and plain base.

[Ben]

Jim4065:

Any chance that you could post a few photos of the cavities with a few close-ups.

Thanks,

Ben

[jim4065]

Jim4065:

Any chance that you could post a few photos of the cavities with a few close-ups.

Thanks,

Ben

Here ya go - Naked Cavities!

(I feel like such a shill........) :oops:

[lathesmith]

Haven't you guys figured this out yet? These are the rejects from Happy 7's group buy. They were supposed to be .362, but came out .359. They were supposed to be bigger for the 38 S&W. These smaller ones should work fine for other .357-ish cartridges, so long as you don't need a gas check.
lathesmith

[Ben]

Here ya go - Naked Cavities!

(I feel like such a shill........) :oops:

Many thanks for your efforts Jim.

May have to get on the phone Monday and get one of those headed my way.

Ben

[Shotgun Luckey]

Those look awful long nosed.....I bet they are WAY to long for a .38 spl or .357 mag.

Could you let us know the length from tip to crimp groove, please?

[jim4065]

Measured it five ways from Sunday - getting .538 to .540 from nose to crimp. :roll:

[Shotgun Luckey]

Yeah, Thats a bit long for .38 or .357

[Ben]

I thought about ordering one of the molds, but I've about talked myself out of it. Too much nose for my applications in 38 / 357 revolvers.

[Alchemist]

Looks like it oughta work in a 35 Remington....

[GrizzLeeBear]

Looks like it oughta work in a 35 Remington....

That's what I was thinkin'

Might work well in a .357 mag. Contender, too.

[bandit7.5]

just got that 6cav mold in the mail and holy snokes those cavities are big, held up a 35 rem brass to one and it looks like it will be just right.

[Possum]

I ordered one last week for a Christmas present from my mother-in-law to myself and had it shipped to her. :-D

I can imagine the surprise when she opens it up! I think I have this Christmas present thing figured out finally. [smilie=l:

I figured it would work great in my .35 Rem.

[TaylorTN]

CRAP!!!

I went to order one of these a few minutes ago and they're sold out.......:(

oh well, I guess I'll just have to find something else to shoot in my 357 Mag and Herrett Contender Barrels

[TAWILDCATT]

from the looks its for a 35 rem as sugested a light bullet.

[Newtire]

I got mine & it casts at .359 in Wheelweight metal and feeds thru the Marlin 336 .35 Remington when crimped in the groove.

Think that Round Nose would be safe in the Marlin magazine though when stacked one behind the other?

[xringshutr]

This was an old thread, but I managed to get one of these molds and plan on using it in a 357 Max Contender Super 14. This are some cool looking bullets. My mold drops them a little heavier than advertised. Around 196.4 gr or so. Right at .359". Might be fun in the 35 Whelen too. I'll have to keep the velocity down though. I'm thinking around 1300-1400 fps. Anybody have a good load that would work in the Whelen? Thanks.

[home in oz]

So THATS how it is done with Christmas Presents!

And here I had been buying them all year....