Lee's new 356-147TC mold

[BC17A]

The mailman dropped off the mold today and I couldn't wait to try it out. Trued the sprue plate and milled .008" from under the attachment screw, then heat cycled it three times and it was off to the races. Whipped out 100 in no time with only two rejects. Cast using range pickups with a little tin added these dropped at 148 grains give or take a few tenths and measured just under .357". PC'd and sized to .357" I'm going to workup some 9 mil and 38 Super loads for next week. All the other Lee TC molds have been winners in my book and I don't see why these won't perform just as well.

[Outer Rondacker]

Looks good but why did you mill the plate?

[Txcowboy52]

Good looking projectiles ! Nice looking powder coat also! I have been very interested in this new mold from Lee , thank you for posting. Definitely on my want list now!

[BC17A]

Looks good but why did you mill the plate?

IME, Lee sprue plates are way too tight and gouge the molds. I like to heat the mold and test the tightness of the sprue plate, then remove just enough material under the plate so the wave (spring) washer can hold it snug, not overly tight.

[megasupermagnum]

Looks good but why did you mill the plate?

Its the easiest way to adjust plate tension on Lee molds. It can be done with a file just as easily. Most don't need it. Depends on the luck of the draw with the screw and spring washer that they come with.

[Dom]

Looks like a bullet that could be sized .355/.356 for the 9mm??

[BC17A]

Forgot to say these measure .655" long and need a generous chamber throat or they will need to seat real deep. Thankfully I purchased a 35 cal throating reamer recently and reamed 6 of my 9mil barrels so I no longer have to worry about loading different lengths.

[sukivel]

I want a 6 cavity in this!


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[jdgabbard]

Dang, I like the look of that one. I bet it would do real well in my 9mm SBR. Be sure to give us some feedback on your range experiences with it, and load data too if you don't mind!

[Krh1326]

Ohhhhhhhhhh Hot Damn ! Now I gotta get one. Quick someone text Eric at HollowPointMolds !

[Willie T]

Dang, I like those!

[Johnch]

Looks Great

I just ordered a 6 cavity of that Lee Mold from Midway

Mine will be John Deere Green as my brother bought me a container of it
We did a few parts and I got the rest

But I may order another of the molds and remove the grease groves
As I want a 160 gr ( about ) bullet

John

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I'd like to know more about that throat reamer. Where you got the tool and how you used it. I have more than a few guns that could use that cut.

[ACC]

Me too! Where did you get that reamer?

ACC

[BC17A]

Brownells. 35 cal (9mm) throating reamer. Very easy to use. Chuck it in a tap handle and give it a few turns in the chamber. I made a block that keeps from reaming too deep so I can get an exact throat depth.

https://www.brownells.com/tools-clea...?sku=184053380

[BC17A]

Had a good day at the range today with the new Lee 147TC boolit in both 9mm and 38 Super. Didn't do a lot of ladder testing but used several of the best loads I had from the 147XTP which is the exact same length as the 147TC and seats to nearly the same OAL. Testing was done at 15 yards from a bench rest using 5" 1911s.

[gwpercle]

Nice !
You know that 148 grain projectile might do well in 38 Special / 357 Magnum loadings too .
Taper crimp it like you do 9mm/38 Super and run boolit through a .358" sizing die for revolvers .
That would be a extremely versatile mould .
Awesome looking targets !
Gary

[Tonto]

I’m thinking this is Lee’s version of a 350 Legend plinker. I’ll get a 6-cav and try in the 9 and Legend

[jdgabbard]

Looks like that boolit doesn't like to stabilize below 1000fps. Judging from the groups the sweet spot is right around 1025fps at the low end.

[BC17A]

Looks like that boolit doesn't like to stabilize below 1000fps. Judging from the groups the sweet spot is right around 1025fps at the low end.

I agree. I had other poor grouping loads that I didn't post the results of and they were all sub-1000fps. Going to see what these will do in 38/357 as mentioned above by gwpercle, next time to the range.