NOE 357135 RF

[Cherokee]

The other day I got my new 357135RF mold from NOE. After cleaning and a few heat/cool cycles, cast up a few 100 for initial test in 38 Special. From my 6" Model 15 S&W and 5" 686 S&W, they cut one large hole from a rest, not so small a group from my two hands but good for me. I'm going to have to try them in 357 Mag now that I know they will shoot.

I was a little concerned with the small shallow lube groove but got no leading from either gun.

 

[Ben]

That looks REAL good to me.

As an added bonus, when you go through 20 lbs of alloy, you're
going to have a lot of extra bullets compared to using a 158 gr.
mould with that same 20 lbs of alloy.

If my math is correct...........

886 bullets with the 158 gr. mould.
1037 bullets with the 135 gr. mould.

Good Shooting,

Ben

 

[quicksylver]

Those look like real shooters.....got a picture of the nose?

 

[KHornet]

For the same reasoning that Ben gives, I shoot the majority of 38S and a fair amount of 357 with the 125 lee. That gives even more out of a 20 pounder. And they cast nice out of my lee 6 banger. Someone is shooting these in a 9MM, would be interested in specifics regarding chambering and load data.

 

[358156 hp]

I'm casting with this mould for 9mm. I'm still fussing with mould break-in. Mine are dropping at 139 gr with my current mutt alloy. I'll start out with 140 gr RCBS 9mm load data, and let you know how I end up.

 

[Brad]

My CZ has too short a throat for the 125 Lee RNFP to work well without very deep seating.

 

[Cherokee]

quicksilver - the bullet is a flat nose. The pic may give the impression of a HP but its just flat.

 

[fiver]

airc the lee usually feeds at 1.025.
so dropping the loads accordingly is also standard practice.

Cherokee those are some nice looking bullets.
if you ain't crimping in that top groove you could use it for more lube.
it's square and would hold it just fine.
i don't think you'd need it but it's there.

 

[Cherokee]

I left the top groove open because of crimping for the 357 Mag. I was concerned the lube might not be enough but it has proven to be fine in 38 & 357. No leading and good accuracy.

I haven't tried it in 9m or 38 Super. I have the MP 359140 for heavy bullet loads in those rounds, which also works in the 38/357 but is a little long.

 

[Cherokee]

quicksilver - this is per your request

 

[Brad]

That is a very nice looking bullet

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

I have the same mold but like 358156 I will be using it in my 9mm. My alloy casts at 140 with COWW with a dia. of.358
I am still in the breakin mode for the mold. I did the 3 heat cycles in preparation for casting, and I have done 2 casting sessions so far.
The mold is another typical NOE mold of excellent quality. I have never been let down by Al.

 

[Cherokee]

I find it interesting people are using this mold for 9mm. I favor the 120-125 gr range for 9mm. For 38 Super, I have used the heavier bullets with good results but still favor 125-130 gr bullets. Based on my experience with the Lee 95 RF in 380ACP, the blunt nose is not always reliable; there are just enough feeding failures with the Lee that I would not rely on it, although it is accurate.
Regarding this mold, it works fine in 38/357 loads and once the mold is casting good, it does turn out fine bullets. It did take 3 heat cycles for the mold to do right, and getting it hot enough before starting to cast.
Different experience and application is one of the things that makes casting/reloading so much fun.

 

[358156 hp]

I hang out with a subsonic crowd, and we generally use bullets from 140 gr & up. Most of the guys run suppressors, but I used to shoot bowling pins with my 9mm, and picked up the habit from that, my favorite jacketed bullet is Hornadys 147gr JHP. My sons Beretta prefers heavier bullets as well. My FNS will feed this design like grease through a goose.

 

[Cherokee]

The 357135 NOE and the Lee 125 RF are similar with the NOE having the larger meplat which cuts a larger hole. The 125 RF shoots well for me in 38 and 357, but I wanted the option of a little more weight. I'm still working up loads for the NOE bullet.

 

[Cherokee]

Got to the rifle range today and shot the 357135 NOE bullet thru the Rossi 357 Mag carbine, light load of 5/231 in 357 brass. Good at 25 yd:

I pulled one right on the first target but the rest were good for these old eyes and buckhorn sights. Flat nose ran fine thru the action. Will have to try some more loads.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Nice shooting Cherokee!!!
A quick question the mold drawing says it casts to .357 what are they dropping for you out of the mold at?
I like the look of it but need .358.

Thanks
Wasalmonslayer

 

[Cherokee]

My alloy is 2/3/95 tin/ant/lead and cast at .359". If I use a 3/3/94 alloy, they cast .359+. When I ordered the mold, I noted that I wanted it to drop at .358 minimum using 2/3/95 alloy (COWW+2% tin). It is easy to cast once the mold is up to temp. Mold quality is top notch.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

I truely like Al's molds.
I have a lot of them and they all cast really well and usually right to spec size.

Thanks for the info.
Max (Wasalmonslayer)

 

[Winelover]

I just recently, went the even lighter route. NOE-115-RF in brass 4 cavity with the HP option. It's designed for 9mm but I bought it mainly for my 357 Ruger LCR and Rossi carbine (varmint control). Works well for them. Probably will never load it in the Browning HP, nor the Beretta Nano. Made some dummy 9mm rounds for the plunk test and found that for both semi-auto's, the COAL has to be well under one inch to chamber. Thus leading to increased pressures. Both the RCBS 125 RN and Lyman's 120 TC are loaded to COAL of 1.10 inches.

This is my first NOE HP mould and probably my last. Not enamored with the pins protruding out of bottom of mould. Interferes with the mould guide on the Pro-Melt. Would be fine if I was a ladle caster.