Found my new favorite bullet for 357

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outfishing13
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Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by outfishing13 »

Well I got home from work today and my package I ordered off of eBay got here. It was my new Lee mold and Lee sizing die. I order a Lee 358 125 RF. Well, I plugged in the lead pot and loaded it up with wheel weight lead I had made into clean bars a couple years ago. (I have a couple hundred pounds of it) Spent some time working on my father-in-laws old Marlin 1897 22 while the pot got up to temp.

I have used Lee molds in the past for my 50 cal Hawkin BP rifle so I knew what to do to get them ready to use. I took off the sprue plate and cleaned all the burrs of and took the time to treat the inside with some smoke. I like to use an oily rag which makes plenty of soot and that got the inside all primed. Put some sillycone lube on it and heated the mold up in the pot for a minute. The first two bullets were perfect. Well I cast about 50 and then set up the Lee sizer die in my RCBS Rock Chucker. I like that rig. Easy to use. I went and got my son to help out and for the hour we made about 300 bullets, sized them all and lubed them with some Lee Liquid Alox. We did a batch of 50 first so they would dry out, but the time we finished.

Well after a couple hours I took the first ones and picked out ten to load up. I was a little concerned that they might be too long in my 357 mag casings. I put ten together with 13 gr IMR 4227. Well they turned out looking really nice and the OAL was right at 1.565. Got the Rossi 92 and loaded them in for a trial. They fed through like butter with no jams.

I'll take it out to the range tomorrow to see how they group. I loaded some 105 FN the other day with 13 gr (1 CC) IMR 4227 in a 38 Sp case and got one of my best groups at 50 yards yet. So we'll see how these do.

357 mag with Lee 358 125g RF bullet.
20121005_357mag_Lee358125_w13g4227_r.jpg
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44-40 Willy
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by 44-40 Willy »

I use the Lee 158gr RNFP mold and have nothing but good things to say about the mold and the bullets.
Navy Arms 1892 - 357 Mag - 24" Octagon heavy barrel.
Rossi 62 Octagon 22LR
outfishing13
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by outfishing13 »

Willy,

What is your experience with using the Lee Alox on your bullet? I read a lot of possitive remarks about it, but have little experience with it. For budget shooters like me, it seems to be the way to go.

I was looking at that Lee 158 gr RF mold. I think that is the next mold I am going to get. I really like Lee molds. Super easy to use and the bullets turn out really nice.
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44-40 Willy
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by 44-40 Willy »

I mainly use the cast bullets for low velocity plinking/small game loads and the liquid allow works good for me with that. Ranch Dog probably has better experience at pushing them fast as his molds are made to produce a bullet that uses the stuff and have more and smaller lube grooves than the standard Lee molds. I think his 357 bullet is a 175gr.

I don't size my bullets made with the Lee 158gr mold. I just pan lube 'em and load 'em. That works well in both my 1892 and Marlin 1894C. Reminds me, it's about time to order some more allox.
Navy Arms 1892 - 357 Mag - 24" Octagon heavy barrel.
Rossi 62 Octagon 22LR
outfishing13
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by outfishing13 »

I recently ordered the Lee 125 RF in the 6 cavity mold. The profile is nearly exactly the same as the 2 cavity, but Lee engineered it so the crimp groove make the OAL of the cartridge a little shorter. Well it works a lot better in my rifle and I can make bullet 3 times faster. Made a couple thousand of them the last couple of days. Paid for the mold four times over a couple day of getting it.

I need to find a good 110 grain cast bullet for shooting small game like rabbits.
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44-40 Willy
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by 44-40 Willy »

The 158s at about 22LR velocities will anchor squirrels without much meat loss.
Navy Arms 1892 - 357 Mag - 24" Octagon heavy barrel.
Rossi 62 Octagon 22LR
outfishing13
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by outfishing13 »

I ordered a new Lee 6 cavity 125 gr RF mold so I could cast bullets faster. Wow, I really like that mold. Plus, I discovered that the mold is just a little different. Loaded in a 357 the OAL is between 1.560 and 1.550, which is perfect for the Rossi R92 in 357 mag.
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by izzyjoe »

i love the Lee 158's, my 1894c Marlin, and .357 New Vaquero shoot the like lazers. :D
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by Trailboss »

Nice looking leads. This type loads well in my M92.
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Re: Found my new favorite bullet for 357

Post by akuser47 »

I need to start molding I would like to for my .357 and my .45acp and maybe soon .45 long colt.
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