Lee 358-158-RF 357 S&W + Rossi 357

[tnaz]

Just got a rossi 357 and a Lee mold so I would like to put the two together. This is my first time to cast and load hopefully some good plinkers. Boolits are dropping at 1585 to 160ish and air cooled ww. Is there a need to size? I have not shot the rossi nor have I slugged the barrel. I have several powders on hand and a couple manuals; Lees that came with my Classic turret kit and Lyman 49th.

My plan was to load some start low and work up for 6" revolver and rifle at the same time???
I want to shoot some tomorrow.

Thanks for any info,

tnaz

[Love Life]

Start low, work up. A safe and proven method.

[tazman]

I size that boolit to .358 just for the consistency and get great results in my 38/357 revolvers. Sometimes larger diameter boolits will not fit in the chambers on some guns.
I can't comment on the rifle since I don't have one.

[tnaz]

I size that boolit to .358 just for the consistency and get great results in my 38/357 revolvers. Sometimes larger diameter boolits will not fit in the chambers on some guns.
I can't comment on the rifle since I don't have one.

I guess my main question is do I need to resize? I was going to make a hand full and before I knew it I had 250+. At that point I thought I might as well make some 45-45-10, so I cooked the Johnson Paste Wax down, at Lee Alox stir that up, put boolits in mayo jar added mix. I can always melt them back down but would like to shoot them!!!! The fun part.

With out damage.

[Ed_Shot]

I get outstanding results with the Lee 358-158-RF in my Ruger SS and Blackhawk as well as my Marlin 1894C and H&R. For plinking it's hard to beat Red Dot/Promo 5.0 grs. in both pistol and rifle. I size my 38/357's to .358.

[robg]

7gr true blue with same bullet lla lube shoots very well with no leading in my1894 win ae.you need to keep oal to suit your rossi action my loads wont cycle in marlin 1894s to long.

[trapper9260]

I have a Ruger BH and the Rossi and I size my boolits to 358 and I shoot the same load in both and the OAL is the same I use the data from the Lyman cast manual.The one for handgun not rifle.Start with the starter load and work your way up.I start off with to test the round in the handgun and get that taken care of then test the same load in the rifle and go from there.

[GhostHawk]

I'm with Ed Shot, have used the .358 158 gr round nosed for almost a year now in my .357 Mag Handi Rifle.

4-5 grains of Red Dot and your choice of lube works great.

[chutesnreloads]

I size .358 too.Would suggest finding an accuracy load with the rifle and just take what you get in the handgun unless you just get lucky or want two different loads.

[Uncle Jimbo]

Lots of good advice given here. The only thing that might need some thought is the trying to develop one load for two different guns at the same time. Every change in the load will effect accuracy differently in the two different guns. If it was me, I would develop the best load for one of the firearms and then see how it does in the other. If they work well in both then you got it. If not, well the worst thing that can happen is you will have to shoot more rounds to develop the best accuracy for the other gun. What a hardship.

[tnaz]

Thanks for all the replies, I think I now have a plan.

terry

[quilbilly]

My Taurus 357 revolver likes both the Lee 150 gr RN and the 125 gr RNFP. The 150 gr. drops from the mold at 157 gr and the 125 gr drops from the mold at 132 gr. I shoot both with 4.6 gr of Bullseye which roughly makes it an equivalent of a 38+P.

[rsrocket1]

I've shot a few thousand 358-158-RF in my Ruger Service Six in both 357 mag and 38 Special loads. Never sized the bullets, just TL'ed in 45/45/10. The bore is so clean that I don't clean it most of the time. I simply wipe down the SS frame and cylinder of the external soot. The bullets drop out of the mold at 0.360".

[mongoose33]

I've run the same rounds through by my Ruger GP100 and my Rossi .357 with no difficulty; if I were you, I'd develop for the handgun first, then see how they work in the rifle. I haven't found anything that hasn't done well in the rifle.

I size to .358 as well. If you don't have a sizing die, get one of the Lee sizers. You can size a dozen boolits in a minute or less, which is enough to test.

[runfiverun]

you probably don't have to size them but [and there always is one eh?]
if you run into that one big one about 3/4 of the way from closing that rifle it's gonna be no fun knocking it back out again.
same thing trying to cram it into the revolver you might get it in there mostly but trying to turn the cylinder with the back of the round grinding it's way around the shroud makes for no fun either.

[farmerjim]

A lee push through die is cheep. get a .358 and you can open it up if needed. What size are your boolits coming out of the mold? You gave weight but not diameter.

[tnaz]

Well I loaded 16 38 specials with 4 grns Universal, 6 for revolver and 10 for rifle. They shot fine. Worked up to 4.5 and they worked as well. Went to 357 started at 4.5 went to 6 and they all worked well. I shot free handed, may go to club tomorrow use a rest and go for 50 and 100 yards with rifle and 50 ft. with s&w and see what happens. Bore clean as can be like stated above. Now I kind wished I bought the 6 instead of the 2 cavity mold.

Again thanks for all input,

Terry

[outdoorfan]

I worked up a load with the 360640 150 gr hp that works like a charm in my Rossi 357 and 686. I focused more on how the rifle shot to get that accuracy top notch, and the 686 ended up shooting it plenty well enough too. 6.3 grs Unique (close to Universal) is a fairly mild load and shoots wonderfully for me.

[Lefty Red]

Sized to .358", casted from range strap ingots, water dropped from my 6 cavity mold.
Dipped lubed with LLA.
I put a max load of Trail Boss (4.2 grains) for fun 2" groups at 100 yards through my Henry.
12 grain of IMR 4227, while not the fastest, would cloverleaf at 100 yards.

I tried these loads in my NMBH with 6.5" barrel, but just never could get it to shoot worth a damn. Friend's 4.75" barrel SS would spit these loads out and had great groups! I latter found the barrel in mine was measured at .363".

Jerry