Lee 158 grain rnfp mold

[MIKE KEELING]

Ok, I'm sure it's been said here before but I can't seem to find it. I have a a Lee mold for 158 grain rnfp for 357, I know because I have more lead in my mix I am dropping 168.6/.7 grain bullets. Would I use load data for 168/170 grain bullets or since the distance from crimp groove to base is obviously the same could I still use 158 grain load data?

 

[cheep]

Use data for the heavier bullets to be safe.

 

[MIKE KEELING]

OK so now I have weighed the bullets again and they are coming in at 164 gr average. Also the diameter of the bullet has gone from .367 to right at .358??? Am I loosing my mind or will ambient temperature affect lead that much?

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

OK so now I have weighed the bullets again and they are coming in at 164 gr average. Also the diameter of the bullet has gone from .367 to right at .358??? Am I loosing my mind or will ambient temperature affect lead that much?

.008" is a bit over any I have ever dropped in 357 158 gr. Check the alignment pins on the mold. They may have backed out or got a little lead in there. Hold the mold to the light with the sprue plate out of the way and look in between for daylight. Somehow the molds are not closing all the way it seems.

I have found 2cycle full synthetic (not blended) to be an excellent lube. Got the Tip from the guy who Owns NOE mold (great guy). Keep them lubed well and I have a small bottle (from an empty vapor Oil) with a dropper and if I am in a long session ( punching out more than 500 before refilling pot) ill put a drop on both ends of sprue and on alignment pins.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Unless you are saying the same bullets already dropped changed size that much?!

 

[MIKE KEELING]

Thanks, yeah the same bullets. The first measurement may have been me, I re checked the measurement of the bullets and out of the 250 I cast I chose 50 at random and they all came out 358-360 and weighed 163-165 grains. Thanks for the tip on the lube I will try that next time I cast.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Thanks, yeah the same bullets. The first measurement may have been me, I re checked the measurement of the bullets and out of the 250 I cast I chose 50 at random and they all came out 358-360 and weighed 163-165 grains. Thanks for the tip on the lube I will try that next time I cast.

Awesome!

 

[MIKE KEELING]

I wasn't sure if I should load them as heavier or not so started light and worked up to a 14gr. charge of 2400 14.5 flattened the primer but still extracted easy went to 14 grains and no sign of over pressure but still left a little powder in the barrel. No leading.

 

[Reefinmike]

I have the lee 158tlswc and they all come out right at 164gr as well using a 2/3 COWW and 1/3 dead soft lead. I powder coat mine and just use 158gr xtp 357 mag load data.

Are these for a levergun by chance? If so how do they feed? I've been thinking about buying that mold design because it looks very similar to an xtp profile which feed like melted butter in my Rossi 92. The swc design hangs up a bit and does some very minor damage to case mouths.

 

[MIKE KEELING]

They are for a ruger sp101 4.2". I have not shot the more stout 2400 yet I loaded 50 to test but with 5.0 grains of red dot I shoot 1 1/2" to 2" group at 50 feet. That's more me than the load, still getting used to the new gun. With the red dot I am getting about 1100 fps using a beeswax and crisco mix to fill the lube groove.

 

[MIKE KEELING]

I definitely think they will feed much better than the swc, Lee also has a tl version of the same bullet.