What Diameter

[ACC]

Does anyone have this boollet mold? It's a Lee 147 TC and I was wondering what YOUR average diameter is when you mold boolets with it. I would like to mold some for my .38 Specials.

ACC

[schutzen-jager]

diameter will vary with alloy + plus the Lee quality varies greatly lately - only accurate measurement is the one your particular alloy + mold gives you - - the averages will be all over the spectrum -

[405grain]

There's no crimp groove on that bullet. Not saying that it won't work with a 38 special, but revolvers generally need to have the bullet crimped to keep them from getting pulled from the case by recoil and causing the tip of the bullet from extending out the front of the cylinder and locking up the action. Also, that bullet supposedly casts at .356" so it was made for the 9mm. If the diameter is on the small side, and there's no crimp groove, it might not be the best choice for a 38 special.

About the closest that you're going to get from Lee for the 38 Special to the bullet that you posted would probably be the 358-158-RF. Not a truncated cone style, but a big meplate none the less.

[Dusty Bannister]

While the Lee 356-147-TC does not have a crimp groove, the roll crimp can be adjusted so it just butts against the forward part of the lube groove. I do this with the Lee 356-120-TC in 38 special. If your revolver is a 357 mag and you want to shoot 38 special cases, I would think this would work well. The issue again is the as cast bullet diameter. It can be a problem, but by lapping the molds, even that issue can be resolved.

You do not address conventional bullet lube or powder coating. If powder coating, you will be adding sufficient diameter that this will not be an issue.

That said, for most purposes, the Lee RF would be preferred in a revolver as the wide meplat will not be an issue as it "might" be in the Semi-auto pistols.

[fredj338]

I use the mold for 9mm but they cast avg about 0.357" with range scrap, then I PC & size. So depends on your mold, alloy & casting temp but they might work in 38sp. Just roll crimp below the shoulder in the first lube groove.

[firefly1957]

I have a 6 cavity mold for the Lee .355 120 TC bullet the bullets come out of the mold from .355"- .359" 125 to 130 grains from straight wheel weight alloy .
I paint the bullets with spray enamel paint and bake them size them to .359" and load them in .357 Magnum . The .355" bullets end up at .358 so they go though sizing die easy the largest are .362" . I crimp in the lube groove they shoot very well loaded over H-110 to 1617 f/s (average) in a 6.5" PORTED Taurus Model 608 . I was worried about the weight range but they shoot quite well .