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

[Walks]

I have this bullet in a 6cav. My introduction to Lee 6cav molds. 4 years now. Cast of my alloy of 50/50 - COWW/#2 it drops at .357dia. PC makes this .358dia. I size to .3565dia as that's what my Lee .356 sizer die reduces to. That diameter suits my OLD Hi-Power, P-4 & Wolf 9mm Conversion bbl for Glock 23 just fine.

I did try some PC'd and unsized in .38Spl, taper crimped just fine. Seated to the top of the bearing surface. Sure dropped into the chambers nice. Shot just ok.
But are no advantage to this combo. So 2 boxes were it.

 

[Ian]

Odd for me because I always prefer a RN as a hunting bullet for Deer/Bear and Hogs.

Interesting. Care to explain why? With the exception of some hollow point moulds, I always followed "conventional wisdom" and used rfn/wfn bullets to very good effect on game so never really questioned it.

 

[JWFilips]

CW ,
you got to try the Ideal 311, in 38 cal! I only have a single cavity mould but it was very accurate until Buckshot HP'd it and it became super accurate!

 

[CZ93X62]

Ian--

I've read accounts by African game hunters that for straight penetration into dangerous game a round-nosed RIFLE bullet was preferred over a spitzer-form design, which tended to veer off wound tracks unpredictably. I haven't shot enough elephant or cape buffalo to have formed my own opinion, but I have yet to recover ANY bullet after the several deer and hundreds of coyotes shot with rifles. I did recover a couple handgun bullets from deer that were against the off-side skin, both 357s, one was my deer. Mine (Speer 146 SWC/HP half-jacket) had a mashed/spread nose about 40 caliber. The other was a factory 158 grain jacketed (round flat nose) soft point, and it had classic mushroom expanded form just under 50 caliber.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Interesting. Care to explain why? With the exception of some hollow point moulds, I always followed "conventional wisdom" and used rfn/wfn bullets to very good effect on game so never really questioned it.

My comment should have said Rifle & JACKETED...

Partially, For the exact reasons we like a wfn. But also because bullet upset is just a lil quicker and usually easier. Olus the knowledge that inside 200 there was zero trajectory difference with a spitzer.

CW

 

[Ian]

Ahhh, jaxketed. The exposed lead round nose bullets Remington used in the .35 Rem atr stompers.... but they mushroom.

 

[Walks]

Remington Corelokt Round Nose always worked well for My family. The "Family" deer rifle is/was a M1917 converted to shoot .257 Rob'ts. Beautiful 24" bbl, plain Hand finshed stock. No swivels, and Reblued beautifully.
But short chambered for the Remington factory load of 117gr RN, no freebore. Magazine and bolt travel shortened to fir that blasted short Remington Corelokt RN. The perfect Mushroom.
All 4 of My Father's Son's killed their 1st deer with it, along with my only male cousin. And My Son too.
Fortunately I have 4+ boxes of REM factory ammo and 4+ boxes of Hornady .25cal 117gr RN.

And I do Love the #358311. So much so, that I have a Lyman 2cav, 4cav and an OLD Ideal 1cav.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I keep a stock myself. That 117/257 was a good one! I tried some when I was fiddlin with the 25/45. I gotbit to 2400 and good accuracy. I figured it was a good bulletnin the 25/35 @ less velocity... Bullets dont know the cartridges they are fired from. . Havent had the opportunity to test that.
The 154 7mm and the Hornady 250g RN was more favorites and the 165 Speer was lucky enough to find two sleeves in Missoula Montana Gun Shop many years back and grabbed them all!! Im down to about five boxes.
CW

 

[Walks]

Hornady 154gr RN was a good one. In the early-mid 1980's I took a lot of Boar in central CA using that bullet with my 1895 7X57 Scout rifle. Sadly they make few of the conventional RN's anymore. Still have several boxes of Hornady 175gr RN and Sierra 170gr RN in 7mm. Never be able to shoot them at game again, but they are accurate as you could want in the old Mauser.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Last fall Midway had some on clearance. I bought as many as I could "afford". I got 154& 174 7mm's - 170 in 8mm and 117 in 257's.

I think the Speers have been discontinued longer. I still have 105RN and the 165 &180 30 cal. Speer is by far THE WORST about discontinuing my favorite bulelts. Enough so I WONT BUY there bullets. I hate to invest time effort and costs building a load only to have itdiscontinued on me and When I got to buy more Im Left SOL... I realize its a bad timing on my part. But its happened close to 6-8 times. It wont happen again.
ONLY speers Ill use are Gold Dots a d when I buy I buy extra boxes ANTICIPATING issues in restocking.

Of the ones I use allot, I probably enough Ill not run out.

I still wish I could get my hands on Hornady 275g RN. .358 bullets!!!

cw

 

[Walks]

I gave up on Speer in the mid 1970's. Was getting 99 in a box. Then ended up with a box of .38- 146gr 1/2 jacteted SWCHP with one 38- 125gr JHP.
That did it for me.
Although I still have part of a box of 170gr RN for .270WIN. A very loong bullet.

 

[Wallyl]

I tried them...nothing to write home about. Had some 358311 to compare; they were much better...ie appreciably better accuarcy. I surmise the lack of a crimping groove, along with a lighter bullet made the difference. I also shoot the Lee 105 SWC in the .38 Spl...it is surprisngly accurate...again it has a crimpng groove.