BC for Lee .116 mold. 358-125-RF

[Mikeinkaty]

Can someone give me a reasonable range of BC for this bullet? How would powder coating affect the BC ?

I’m shooting it from a Henry 357mag lever gun. 2000 FPS. Using wheel weight lead.

Thanks, Mike

[TjB101]

Hey Mike ... you know the .116 notation is the BC, right? I’ve been very reluctant is shooting any cast 125’s out of my rifle. Too fast for coated or plated rounds. I could not source a lot of recipes for lead 125gr bullets. I tend to use FMJ only for 125gr loads.

Regarding your question, I don’t think PC will affect the BC that much but will let the experts advise.

[fredj338]

Its basically a 150y round, BC isnt a big deal.

[Forrest r]

Originally Posted by TjB101

Too fast for coated or plated rounds.

Regarding your question, I don’t think PC will affect the BC that much but will let the experts advise.

Too fast for coated bullets????? Heck 2000fps is just getting warmed up!!!! You can't run those 125gr coated bullets fast enough in that lever gun to affect the coating/have the coating fail.

Pc'd bullets will not affect the bc # to any great extent but it's typical to see an increase in velocity when using the same load pc VS traditional cast/lubed bullets.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Forrest r

Too fast for coated bullets????? Heck 2000fps is just getting warmed up!!!! You can't run those 125gr coated bullets fast enough in that lever gun to affect the coating/have the coating fail.

Pc'd bullets will not affect the bc # to any great extent but it's typical to see an increase in velocity when using the same load pc VS traditional cast/lubed bullets.

That depends on the coating & alloy. I find HT ran out of accuracy at about 1500fps in my 6.8. With pc I was good to 2000fps, no gc. I doubt I could go much faster without a gc but I havent tried yet.

[Forrest r]

Originally Posted by fredj338

That depends on the coating & alloy. I find HT ran out of accuracy at about 1500fps in my 6.8. With pc I was good to 2000fps, no gc. I doubt I could go much faster without a gc but I havent tried yet.

You have 3 things going on.

HT, the op stated they'd be using pc
Alloy, the op stated ww's
Bullet, your comparing a long bodied rifle bullet with a short stubby/strong designed pistol bullet.

That lee bullet is an extremely strong design with no nose to slump. 2000fps is very doable. I have no issues sending 115gr bullets +/- 2000fps in a 14" bbl'd 357mag contender. The bullet on the right is the bullet I'm talking about. An early bullet design called an indoor swc, it has a short rn nose inspired by the himmelwright bullet. The bullet on the left is a modern version of the himmelwright bullet with no lube grooves/designed for pc.

https://i.imgur.com/xHUCNJn.jpg

Rifle bullets are a different animal, the longer they are the more their affected by things like nose slump, rotational torque, rpm stresses, etc. Playing around with 40+ year old powder ($3.88 price sticker) & mixed nato cases in a 308w using a cast xcb bullet that's designed for hv. Was doing ladder tests and quit @ 31gr where that bullet/powder combo just started showing promise. A 1 7/8" outside to outside 10-shot group @ 100yds. Doing 2400fps+.

https://i.imgur.com/JFXg89A.jpg

Using another strong bullet design, the lee 312-160-tl bullet another 1 7/8" outside to outside 10-shot group @ 100yds doing 2600fps+

https://i.imgur.com/tEeK5wb.jpg?1

Rate of twist and bullet design are the 2 biggest factors with cast/coated bullets in rifles. The twist in the 357 lever action is perfect for cast/coated bullets. The bullet the op chose is an extremely strong design that the op simply isn't going to be able to push hard enough to affect it.

As far s alloy goes, I've pushed 8/9bhn range scrap +/- 2000fps when pc'd. WW's will be up to the task.