Lee TL358-158-SWC?

[FergusonTO35]

I poured another pile of these boolits and once again I'm impressed with the results. Not a single reject in the bunch. Normally I quickly sort my boolits into grade A showtime quality, grade B practice quality, and rejects that go back in the pot. Out of 150 or so boolits, I got maybe 3 grade B's and that was only because of very minor wrinkles on the nose. Everything else was grade A. I thought the 358-158-RF and 358-150-SWC were good molds but the TL358-158-SWC is next level. I may end up using only this boolit in all my .38's!

[beemer]

Unless Lee has changed it, the gas checked 158 grain SWC is similar but not the same. It has skinny regular lube grooves which work great with either LLA or standard boolit lube, and the ogive is shorter and more squared off. If you chop off the gas check section of the mold it makes a nice 143 grain boolit. I had a gent here modify it for me, Buckshot maybe?

I have the 158 TL mold and it shoots great. I also ended up with two if the 158 SWC for a gas check, had the shank cut off one and got a nice 142 grain swc. It is my favorite for my Airweights Smith's.

[FergusonTO35]

Yeo, I have a sawed off 158 gas check mold also! What load do you use in your Airweights with it?

[Dusty Bannister]

Sort of duplicating the wheel there after a lot more effort. This bullet does well in 38 special.

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...ld-358-140-swc

[beemer]

Yeo, I have a sawed off 158 gas check mold also! What load do you use in your Airweights with it?

Mostly 4 grains of Unique, not a hot load but shoots very close to where it looks. Makes it controllable and easily on the lightweight frame. Can't tell the difference between the two when loaded so I powder coat one light blue and the other darker. I like powder coat in CC loads, sometimes I have to leave in a hot car and the powder will not run and containment the load. Maybe not necessary but a little extra precaution. Really like the bullet as my loads rarely need a gas check.

[FergusonTO35]

Awesome. You ever try Titegroup or Bullseye with it?

[beemer]

Don't have Titegroup and very little BE, have used 3.5 W231. Prefer Unique as I have several pounds.

I load my 605 a little heavier, usually the same bullet with AA #5.

[FergusonTO35]

I've now cast and fired about 500 rounds from this mold and the results are just stellar. All my .38 revolvers really like it, especially the snubbies. With range scrap, it drops at an average of 161 grains and around .359.

[walnut1704]

I swap that bullet back and forth with a 150 gr RCBS SWC and can't tell the difference, both work very well but I do powder coat both.