What are some of the best mold options for the .357 sig ?
What are some of the best mold options for the .357 sig ?
Take a long hard look at the neck and ask yourself how stable a bullet would be held by it. I find that cartridge rarely mentioned in any reloading manual with cast. High pressure like 9mm and 40/10mm with out the stability of a straight wall case.
[The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze
I have been using the Lee 358-125-RF bullet, coated, sized to .356". Seated at 1.143 I can use the crimp groove and give it a slight roll crimp to ensure no bullet set back. I worked up a load using AA#5. Started at 8.0 gr. up to 8.8 gr. Western powders listed 8.8 gr. as max with a 125 gr. FN. Settled on 8.6 gr. as a good load. Shot out of a M&P 4".
I liked the Lee 358-125-RF ,but wondered about a bullet mold that had straight sides like a NOE mold. Just not sure of mold number like that.
Were I to go that direction, I would try an NOE HTC359-129-TC, and powder coat. However. I have to say that none of the rounds I have reloaded for my Sig 229 were cast. I am a little too concerned over the possibility of bullet setback causing an over-pressure event and damaging me or the pistol.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
I powder coat all my cast boolits now. I'm mainly looking for a good cast boolit mold for plinking .
This is the one I use. TL356-124-TC
https://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-tl356-124-tc.html.
I powder coat mine and have easily pushed them to 1300 FPS, haven't tried any faster, but they have been perfect. I also use the Lee FCD die for .357 sig which is the collet type crimper. Never had any setback issues.
Rosewood
Evangelical, deplorable redneck and proud of it.
I've used this Saeco mold since day one, for 357 SIG & 9MM 122-GR TCFP-BB, SAECO TWO CAVITY #377 MOULD.
Never had a feed issue. With the TC nose there is sufficient bullet bearing surface which you need for this case.
Any round nose bullets loaded on the bearing surface will result in the O.A.L. being well over the maximum of 1.140".
I powder coat all my cast boolits now. I'm mainly looking for a good cast boolit mold for plinking .
I think the TL356-124-TC is a good choice for me. I can use it on my 9mm and .380 .
Thanks Rosewood
Don't remember, but it works fine. The boolit has a long bearing surface and allows you to seat deeper than a round nose boolit. Works in my p229 and s&w sigma, and glock 33.
Rosewood
Evangelical, deplorable redneck and proud of it.
I haven't tried in 380, but a 124 is heavy for a 380, will not have much room for powder.
Last edited by rosewood; 12-31-2022 at 10:32 PM.
Evangelical, deplorable redneck and proud of it.
Pics.
1.145"oal
Evangelical, deplorable redneck and proud of it.
Has anyone tried the LEE PRECISION 356-120-Tc 6 Cavity Bullet Mold in the sig ?
I use Smokes clear powder coat. No smoke and no leading at over 1300fps.
Evangelical, deplorable redneck and proud of it.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |