Lee 358-125 RF as cast weight

[Divil]

Hello,

I was wondering what the as cast boolit weight any members experienced when using the Lee 358-125 RF mold. Please include the alloy type used.

I would like to see if the mold has a propensity to cast heavy (which would be desirable to me) or not. I realize every mold is different, but I am curious if any pattern emerges with the as cast weights of that mold.

My Lee 358-150 RN cast pretty close to 150 grains using my normal softish alloy. I then used linotype and dropped the weight to 145 grains before powder coating.

My Lee 358-140 SWC was 140-141 grains with Missouri Bullets Hardball casing alloy. My Lee 358-148 WC was 147-148 grains with the same Hardball alloy.

I like bullet weights between 130-147 grains for the .357 (just my preference, no real scientific reason) and I can play with alloy mixes to push the weights up or down a few grains. I regard this as fun experimentation as I think it subconsciously scratches some chemistry itch I must have.

[quilbilly]

I have used that mold for 357, 38sp, 357max, and a 9mm carbine single shot and all have shot fine unsized. That being said, I still prefer sizing to 358 for uniformity. That mold has consistently dropped boolits at 132 gr with my alloy. My alloy is 60% pure and 40% hard birdshot which has proven accurate in my bottleneck cartridge calibers as well. Those percentages are approximate, of course, since I am not that picky.

[Soundguy]

harder is lighter..but shrinks less..softer is heavier..but shrinks more.

when it comes to cast..bore fit is king... I dont care if it is a grain or 3 light..but I don't want it to be skinny.. so I tend to cast harder..id rather have diameter than weight as my important metric..

[jonp]

I have it and that profile is one of my favorites. The standard WW and 50/50 plus 2% give or take comes in pretty darn close or at least so close I can't notice the difference in accuracy.

[Divil]

^with your alloy what is the as cast weight of your boolits

[ACC]

Hello,

I was wondering what the as cast boolit weight any members experienced when using the Lee 358-125 RF mold. Please include the alloy type used.

I would like to see if the mold has a propensity to cast heavy (which would be desirable to me) or not. I realize every mold is different, but I am curious if any pattern emerges with the as cast weights of that mold.

My Lee 358-150 RN cast pretty close to 150 grains using my normal softish alloy. I then used linotype and dropped the weight to 145 grains before powder coating.

My Lee 358-140 SWC was 140-141 grains with Missouri Bullets Hardball casing alloy. My Lee 358-148 WC was 147-148 grains with the same Hardball alloy.

I like bullet weights between 130-147 grains for the .357 (just my preference, no real scientific reason) and I can play with alloy mixes to push the weights up or down a few grains. I regard this as fun experimentation as I think it subconsciously scratches some chemistry itch I must have.

Mine drop at 127.8 grains. They always have since I got this mold. My 38 Specials and 357 mags love it.

ACC

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

SNIP>>>
I was wondering what the as cast boolit weight any members experienced when using the Lee 358-125 RF mold. Please include the alloy type used.

Before Lee started cutting mold cavities with a CNC, every batch of molds could vary a fair amount. Now that they cut them with CNC, they are pretty close to advertised.
With that said, my 15 year old Lee mold drops a 131gr with 10 BHN alloy (half COWW and half soft range scrap.)

[higgins]

With wheel weight metal my seven year old DC mold drops bullets a tenth or two over 127 grains, at an average diameter of about .358.

[ozonebob]

Cast of WW + 2% tin, my mould drops bullets at 128.2 grains.

[BC17A]

With range pickup my Lee 358-125-RF drops between 127gn and 128gn.

[Divil]

Thanks for the data Gents. I have made plans to buy in 2 weeks a Lee 125-RF that is used and known to cast north of 130 grains with alloys I can replicate.

[OptimusPanda]

Little late but mine drops these at 127.5gr taken from an average of 5. Lines up with those above, alloy is 50/50 coww/range lead + a little pewter.

[SavageKustoms]

My mold drops about 127-128 with what I consider a "slightly soft" Lyman #2 alloy. 358.5-359 always sized, because I just can't bring myself to leave them alone.

[rintinglen]

Mine runs at 129ish grains with range lead.

[Divil]

Thanks for the input gents.