Sanity Check

[TechAlG]

I am working on a load for 9mm Luger. Barrel slugs at .357"

I would like to load some boolits cast from a Lee 358125. These are dropping at 135 grains.

Available powders are:
Titegroup
Universal Clay's
H110 (Older, in a metal can)

I see (Lyman 49th) a load for a 356637 (147 grain, .356 boolit)
Titegroup:
Start: 2.5
Max: 2.8

By my calculations, I should be safe working in this range, and perhaps going slightly higher. My normal procedure for working up a load is to work in 0.1 grain increments from start to max, checking for pressure signs, etc.

Am I going about this properly?

[onondaga]

Check your cast bullet diameter with a micrometer, not a dial gauge. .358-.359 would be a good place to start. If your boolits aren't casting that big, ask for help here. Undersize boolits generally have poor accuracy/tumbling/bore leading.

Gary

[TechAlG]

They are dropping at .358", pretty consistently. I just wanted to make sure I was calculating the load properly.

[buyobuyo]

Yes, you can use the 147gr data to load your 125gr boolits that are dropping at 125gr.

In Lyman's 4th ed Cast Bullet Handbook, they list the RCSB 9mm-124-CN @ 3.4-3.8 gr Titegroup. They also list the Lyman 125gr 9mm HP @ 3.7-4.1 gr Titegroup.

[TechAlG]

Yes, you can use the 147gr data to load your 125gr boolits that are dropping at 125gr.

In Lyman's 4th ed Cast Bullet Handbook, they list the RCSB 9mm-124-CN @ 3.4-3.8 gr Titegroup. They also list the Lyman 125gr 9mm HP @ 3.7-4.1 gr Titegroup.

Problem is, mine are dropping at 135, not 125. That is why I looked at data for a heavier bullet.

[MtGun44]

Better safe than sorry. You are right to go up one boolit wt for data. But there is no
problem interpolating either. So you should start around half way between the 125gr
starting load and the 147 gr starting load and work up for your 135 gr boolit.

Some guns will digest .356 with good results, most will not and we find a large number
of 9mm shooters settling on .357 or .358 diameter,myself included. I use the 356-120TC
with excellent results, at .357 diam.

Also - when mentioning the mold designation, the Lee system is related to but a good
bit different than the Lyman system. "358125" should be 358-125TC or 358-1252R, or
358-125RF or some similar designation which defines the boolit design. The 358 diam
and 125 nominal wt are not unique, unlike the Lyman 358429 where the '429' is a unique design
number, not a weight. Just a clarity issue, makes sure everyone is on the same page.

So is this the LBT style bevel based design? I have used that one in .38 and .357 revolvers
with excellent results, but it may be a bit blunt for 9mm applicatons - or you may be talking
about a RN design.

Bill