How has this worked for you: Lee 125@R in the .38 Special

Wallyl

Active Member
I want to try loading a .38 Special with a Lee 1252R (90309) bullet sized to .358". As cast bullets measure just over .358"; when szing they are just barely touched by the sizing die. This bullet is intended for the 9mm Luger. The "issue" is that it has no crimping groove. I can use either a TC crimper or the roll crimper, which is built into the Lyman Seater die. Will use 3.5 of Bullseye or AA No.2 . I am trying to duplicate Winchesters factory .38 Spl ammo that uses a 130 RN bullet. I ask anyone who has tried this what has worked best for them as pertains to crimping. I use ACWW as my bullet alloy.

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Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
I have not used this specific bullet, but have used the 356-120-TC with the roll crimp just to cover and engage the forward side of the lube groove. That covers the bullet lube to keep things clean. I have also used the Lee 358-110-RN (weight might be off a few grains) that is discontinued, with the same arrangement.
 

Matt

Active Member
I use the Lee truncated cone 125 gr TL bullet in .38 Special for very light loads. My six cavity Lee drops these bullets at .358 + little. They average 131 grains in my alloy. I tumble lube, don’t size them and load with 3.0 he Bullseye and roll crimp lightly into the top tumble lube groove. I use alloy from my bullet trap which is probably 90% wheel weight and 10% .22 LR bullets. Accurate and fun to shoot even out of Airweight J frame S&W revolvers.

I think you will get the same results with the RN and a taper crimp with loads that duplicate the 130 gr FMJ load. This load was what the Air Dorce APs carried in their .38 Special revolvers and is very low powered. You could tell you were following through properly when you’d see the bullet exit the barrel as you fired.
 

Wallyl

Active Member
Thanks for the responses.

Dusty B....I've tried that one. It works fantastically in my 9mm's but I didn't find it all that great in my .38 Specials. I have a Lee 105 SWC that I found worked better...it casts out at 110 grains.

Matt what crimp did you use?
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I loaded a few of the 358-125 RNFP over Unique . Nothing special done for an old M10 . As cast , nominal lengths , just over flattening the flair crimp . I didn't have a rifle run them in so the crimp seems unnecessary for my needs .
 

Dusty Bannister

Well-Known Member
Due to Lee variations in diameters, not all molds are the same. The first 356-120-TC (1992) was a little small but shot well in the 9MM and the Smith mod 19. Not well at all in a .357 mag Contender. I needed to lap it larger for the Contender. When that was about worn out, I bought the second one (2017) and it casts large enough for the Contender also. I do not think it is the bullet form, but the size that determines function. Remember, your Lee 358-105-SWC is supposed to be larger than the TC bullet. The nose form of the SWC just does not fall into the cylinders as easily as the RN or the TC.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
My 38 sp carry ammo is Winchester Ranger 130gr. HP. +P. They run 850-875 fps from my Ruger LCRx3. My Duplication load for practice is the Lee 125 RNF (weighs 129 gr. with my alloy) in front of enough PowerPistol to give similar velocities. It works well, and Alliant says my loads are standard pressure and not +P. I use the crimp groove.
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Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I bought a 6 cav. Lee years ago.
It cast at .3555" .
( This was way before the days of powder coat )
Worthless in my 9mm pistol.
I have to have at least .357"
 

Ian

Notorious member
I loaded a few of the 358-125 RNFP over Unique . Nothing special done for an old M10 . As cast , nominal lengths , just over flattening the flair crimp . I didn't have a rifle run them in so the crimp seems unnecessary for my needs .

This is the one I use too. Rnfp with crimp groove. I'd leave the other for the autos.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Occasionally, load Lyman 120 TC or Noe 115 RF HP 9 mm bullets in 357 for pest control. I just taper crimp them.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I use a RCBS 38/357 taper crimp die, sold separately. I have heard the 9 mm TC die will work. However, I dislike adjusting my dies, when I have them set. I prefer to just purchase the correct die.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
I use 9mm taper crimp for 9mm without crimp groove - auto loader - but understand revolvers need the crimp groove to prevent cylinder lockup.
I started loading 9mm with RN jacketed but ended up with a lot of crooked loads - I know, seater stem problem. Changed to RNFP, 9mm is SD only for me.
 
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Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Normally, I shoot 9 mm bullets in a Rossi carbine. No issues with setback. I have half dozen nines to shoot 9 mm bullets in, so revolver use isn't even a consideration. However, I don't see them walking forward, if I chose that option.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I have that RN bullet, and it is a delight in 9mm. Before I got the Lee TC-120, it was my go-to 9mm slug. Seated @ 1.150", it runs in everything I fed it to.

Lymans #311008, #403043, #427098, and #454190 all lack a crimp groove as well. These were meant to seat upon a column of somewhat compressed black powder and "sealed up" with a roll crimp around the ogive radius. As long as the loads are meant for for revolver usage, that regimen should work fine. If meant for levergun use to shunt down a tubular magazine, seat the bullet atop a column of RL-7 like John Kort did in 44/40 WCF. Gentle pressures, black powder ballistics, and few zombie granules were the result in 32/20, 357 Magnum, and 44/40.
 

Matt

Active Member
Judicious use of the Lee factory crimp die solves a lot of problems in the WCF cartridges destined for lever actions with small charges of smokeless powder. I use FCD with .38-40 and 44-40 with cannelured and non cannelure bullets because I don’t need to trim the brass and it won’t buckle the cases either. I frequently load my M92 and 66 repro to full magazine capacity and do not have issues with bullets moving in the case. Do the same for my .38-40 revolver because I want true interchangeable ammunition. Taper crimping in autoloaders is great and for light .38 Special loads with wadcutters. Otherwise strait wall cases with cast bullets get a roll crimp appropriate for the load. Modern cases are pretty forgiving about case length with cast bullets. I can’t think of a jacketed bullet I need in a revolver..........::
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Till recently RN Pistol bullets have not remotely interested me.
Odd for me because I always prefer a RN as a hunting bullet for Deer/Bear and Hogs.

I have a few molds too. But not this one. I do use the LEE 358-125 allot. Its a dandy bullet and useful for 38 Super, 357 Sig and 38/357 mag. (Sorry I dont do 9mm)

CW
 

Wallyl

Active Member
Matt

I loaded up a batch in the .38 Spl. I trimmed the brass to the same length and used a TC on them....on my next range trip, I will see how they shoot.