Lee 358-158-rf

Elpatoloco

Active Member
Still unpacking stuff from 6 years ago. I found a 6 gang Lee 358-158-rf mould in a box with some other moulds. Im pretty certain that someone must have purchased this mould for me years back. I wouldnt have bought a Lee mould and I damn sure wouldnt have purchsed a Bevel Base. Going to try and cast a few this week as time allows.
Anyone use this slug in 38/357? Pet loads?
Im going to cast some of the MP 358-200gr to try out. I have a 1000 of the coated and sized. Problem is they are all sized .356 figured Id give the Lee a shot while I am making some other slugs
 

Thumbcocker

Active Member
Still unpacking stuff from 6 years ago. I found a 6 gang Lee 358-158-rf mould in a box with some other moulds. Im pretty certain that someone must have purchased this mould for me years back. I wouldnt have bought a Lee mould and I damn sure wouldnt have purchsed a Bevel Base. Going to try and cast a few this week as time allows.
Anyone use this slug in 38/357? Pet loads?
Im going to cast some of the MP 358-200gr to try out. I have a 1000 of the coated and sized. Problem is they are all sized .356 figured Id give the Lee a shot while I am making some other slugs
It is a good bullet. Also, if you want, you can gas check it. For a utility load in .357 I like 4.5 of red dot/promo.
 

Elpatoloco

Active Member
It is a good bullet. Also, if you want, you can gas check it. For a utility load in .357 I like 4.5 of red dot/promo.
How would one gas Check it without a shank?
Forgive me as I've been out of the loop of casting for about 8 years until recently.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
4.5&5.5 Unique , all cases , CCI SPP .
Double check the charges I wanted to say 5.5&6.5 ...... Long ways from my notes at the moment.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I removed the bevel base and have used that bullet against rampaging paper targets for the last 15-years, it leaves nice semi-wadcutter type holes. Not a hunter, but think its meplat ought to perform well. If a gas check is needed, Sage's sells aluminum plain base checks.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
well,,, this is abut the cruddiest bullet design on the planet [who would want to use a RNFP design?] you should immediately send me the mold so i can have it modified to something else after i wear it out.
your welcome.

just put whatever powder you got the most of under it.
bulls-eye, universal, Herco, 800-X, AA#5, 4100,#9.
i suppose a few others might work too,,, i guess,,, if you got it.
 

Elpatoloco

Active Member
well,,, this is abut the cruddiest bullet design on the planet [who would want to use a RNFP design?] you should immediately send me the mold so i can have it modified to something else after i wear it out.
your welcome.

just put whatever powder you got the most of under it.
bulls-eye, universal, Herco, 800-X, AA#5, 4100,#9.
i suppose a few others might work too,,, i guess,,, if you got it.
I ran it for about 45 minutes after I got everything up to temp and work phone rang. It did drop a pile of slugs and everything worked as advertised.
Will weigh them and check size later.....

Yep, I weigh every slug I cast.

One short casting session under its belt. Maybe I got a good one from Lee?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I'll tryly be SHOCKED if thats the case, but its looking good.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I bet if you put them in heavy, nominal, light piles it'll come out 1,3,2 or 2,3,1 .

I've found that the 6s cast the 3 in the middle pretty close but the aluminum sprue plate plays havoc with the other 3 .
 

Elpatoloco

Active Member
I bet if you put them in heavy, nominal, light piles it'll come out 1,3,2 or 2,3,1 .

I've found that the 6s cast the 3 in the middle pretty close but the aluminum sprue plate plays havoc with the other 3 .
I believe the sprue plates are steel.
They are all filled out really well and I culled maybe 10 out of 250ish slugs.
I'd bet they hold minute of beer can at 35 to 40 yards.
I purchased a Blackhawk in 357 a year ago Christmas. Haven't shot it yet because all my moulds have been in storage.
 

Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
The sprue plates on the 2 cavity molds are steel, but I believe that the plates on the 6 cavity molds are aluminum. Unless there has been a change very recently, as I have not heard anyone else comment on a different material.
 

burbank.jung

Active Member
This is all I have so far. I did not finish my testing. I think the distance is 21 yards.
 

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dannyd

Well-Known Member
I use the bullet with speed loaders, run two six cavity moulds. It cast easy and I like bevel based bullets.