Lee 120gr TC for .38?

[FuriousFritz]

Hi,
i´m looking for a new mould and i´ve seen the TC bullet.
http://leeprecision.com/mold-6-cav-356-120-tc.html

Should this be suitable for .38 ? Anyone got experiences or comments to that?

[wildman1]

38 spl? No.
wM1

[Coffinmaker]

Well .. yes sort of (Comments, that is)

NO.  The specific bullet your hyper-link lead to is not suitable for 38Spl.  Diameter is too small.  Would just rattle around in a 357 .38 Barrel.

On the right track though.  If you'r shooting a .38/357 rifle, the Truncated Cone bullet is the Bee's Knees.  They feed slicker than Snot onna Doorknob.  Work super in pistols.  Probably the "best" overall bullet design for CAS style competition.

Keep in mind, with .38s and .357s you will be dealing with a groove diameter right around .357 inch.  For optimum performance at that groove diameter, you will want bullets that either drop at or swage to .3575 or .358.  My personal preference is .358

Coffinmaker

PS:  If your shooting a Ruger, you'll want your cylinder throats opened up to .3575 or .358 as well 

[Kitika]

I use have used that mold mine drops at .358 and works perfect in all .38s I've tried it in. Best mold I've used too the bullets just fall out because of the single lube groove.

[Professor Marvel]

If one can tolerate a slighty heavier bullet, I myself am rather fond of this mold:
http://leeprecision.com/6-cav-358-125-rf.html

It is nicely "old timey" , and with sizing seems to work fine in some "modernisch" 9mm ...

yhs
prof marvel

[Coffinmaker]

Way Back in the Wabac (Mr Peabody & Sherman) I was quite the fan of the 105Gr Truncated Cone design.  I didn't/don't cast my own so had to get em elsewhere.  Really nice bullet I had sized 358.  Run thru a Toggle Link Rifle like wet grain thru a Goose.  Then ........ I waz dragged into the Dark Side.  For some silly reason, I started shooting 125Gr Truncated Cone bullets.  Dunno why, Oh, I remember, my supplier ran out of 105s and I needed bullets "right now darnit" so I bought a ton of the 125s.

I have, however, seen the light.  .45 light.  I always liked 45s.  When I went "dark" I also discovered the Cowboy 45 Special case and shortly after that, 160Gr RNFP.  With my .44 Snubbies, running R&D Type conversion cylinders with APP (shoot any or no lube) the 160Gr RNFP is just about the Beez Kneez.  Recoil is quite manageable, great accuracy, readily available (I have a ton) and run thru my Modified Henry rifles slicker-n-snot on ah Doorknob.

What does this dissertation have to do with the OP, you might ask.  NOTHING.  Absolutely ....... NOTHING.  I'm babysitting my sick Dog and can't work in the shop so I'm STONE COLD BORED!!!  Needed something to do and this was the best I could find 

Coffinmaker

[FuriousFritz]

Hey Coffinmaker,

thanks for your reply. And no worries bout your post, if you´re bored, feel free to share your bullet experiences here 

[Coffinmaker]

GarSeeAss Fritz .....

Rest assured "I shall endeavor to Persevere." (Famous movie line) 

Coffinmaker

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Truncated cone bullets may work OK in a .38, but much to my surprise, embarrassment, and aggravation the Big Lube .45 Slim in a .45 Cowboy Special will NOT feed in an 1860 Henry through the magazine because the OAL is not correct. They top load slick an a mashed grape on a terrazzo floor but the RO broke out an hour glass to time me when they did not feed.
The gun has one of Happy Trails modified lifters because I found out about the inexpensive mod from Coffinmaker too late. The ammo was set up to crimp in the crimping groove for my revolvers and was not for the rifle, but i ran short of rifle ammo (200 Gr Big Lube RNFP 1.5 c/c Gun Powder) and had tto use revolver ammo. 
The story of my life day late, a dollar short, and wrong ammo.
Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

[Coffinmaker]

Bunk,
You may also have feeding problems with the 45 Slim with an OEM carrier with cartridge stop.  The Slim is actually a sort of semi-wadcutter with a distinct "shelf" at the front driving band.  Most Toggle Link rifles don't like semi-wadcutters. 

I can't say that for certain however.  I've never tried the 45 Slim in my rifles.

Coffinmaker