Marlin Hunter
01-05-2010, 01:23 AM
(Lee doesn't have a TL boolit for the .380)
I was thinking about converting one of my Lee tumble lube molds so it can be used in a 380. I would use either the TL356-124-TC, or the TL358-158-2R molds (for 9mm and 38/357). The TL-356-124-2R would NOT work because the ogive section is longer than .304, which is the length between the end of the brass (.680) and the OAL (.984) of the cartridge. Both of the mold I would use have a thick section between the base and the first (or last) lube groove. If I milled the mold blocks down to get a bullet weight of around 105 to 115 grains, the thick section would be removed. DO you think this would effect sealing? The PSI of the .380 is 1/2 the PSI of the 9mm, but just a little less than the 38 special.
I was thinking about converting one of my Lee tumble lube molds so it can be used in a 380. I would use either the TL356-124-TC, or the TL358-158-2R molds (for 9mm and 38/357). The TL-356-124-2R would NOT work because the ogive section is longer than .304, which is the length between the end of the brass (.680) and the OAL (.984) of the cartridge. Both of the mold I would use have a thick section between the base and the first (or last) lube groove. If I milled the mold blocks down to get a bullet weight of around 105 to 115 grains, the thick section would be removed. DO you think this would effect sealing? The PSI of the .380 is 1/2 the PSI of the 9mm, but just a little less than the 38 special.