Lee 356-125-2R 125 Grain 2 for 9mm...No load data?

[lts70]

I casted, sized, and lubed a bunch of boolits that came out of my Lee 6-Cavity 356-125-2R 125 Grain 2 mold.

I put a dummy round together and with the barrel out of my brothers XDM9mm seated the bullet until it sat flush in the barrel. Which gave me an overall bullet length of 1.08".

My problem is that the two Lyman cast reloading manuals that I bought do not have any load data for this particular boolit.

What would be a good target shooting load using H38/Win 230 for this boolit?

Is the 1.08 OAL ok?

[Atakawow]

I have the same mould.

I would load them using the Lyman data for the 124gr bullets. However, for safety measure, you should back up the load .2-.4 of a grain to compensate for the shorter OAL. Work it up from there if there are no signs of pressure.

[noylj]

Did you READ the manual?
Particularly for lead bullets, data for a lead bullet +/- 3gn of your bullets' actual weight may be used as published (start with the starting load). If you can not find ANY data, go to the next heavier bullet and work up from there.
Accuracy is usually best somewhere between the start and half way to the max load for fast powders for the cartridge. For Magnums, using very slow powder, the best accuracy is often near the max load.

Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Start/Max Power Factor COL
L-RN 124 231/HP38 3.3 910 Start 113
Lead 124 231/HP38 3.6 Start 0
Speer L-RN 125 231/HP38 3.8 911 Start 114 1.130
Speer L-RN 125 231/HP38 3.9 917 Start 115 1.130
L-RN or L-TC 124 231/HP38 4.1 Accurate
L-RN or L-TC 124 231/HP38 4.3 Accurate
L-RN 125 231/HP38 5.0 1130 Max 141

[Tinbullet]

I usually seat this Lee bullet to 1.10 with 4.0 gr. of Titegroup or Unique with a CCI primer. The Lyman manual lists 3 to 4 gr. of Win 231 / HP38 as loads for a similar bullet weight. Start low, watch for signs of excess pressure, and have fun learning how to assemble quality reloads.

[Punisher422]

What dies are you using? Lee provides reloading data with their die instructions. They list data for a 125 gr. lead boolit. Lee die instructions don't give you a ton of data for each bullet weight, but they give you enough to get started if you don't have several manuals to refer to.

I've used Unique and Red Dot both with the same boolit. They both worked, but Unique gunked up my Kel-Tec PF-9 pretty quickly.

[colt 357]

I got the 356-120 TC mold from lee for my 9mm luger I'm shooting Unique at 4.4 grains with very little leading to no leading. the leading pushes right out with bush. I pan lube with my own lube. I am still working up this load.

[Pete P]

Midway USA has reloading manuals available for individual calibers. Out of that manual the one cast bullet that looks closest in shape to that Lee cast bullet has one of the following.

MidwayUSA 125gr RN lead

Alliant red dot
start 2.5 grains – 833 ft./s
Max 3.9 grains – 1088 ft./s

Alliant blue dot
start 6.0 grains – 999 ft./s
Max 7.7 grains – 1225 ft./s

Cartridge overall length1.090 inches

There are also listings for Accurate Arms 2,5,7. I don't like to use those powders because they're very fine and cause my Dillons powder measure to stick. I have not tried any of them yet. But will next week. I need the short overall length because I have one new firearm with a tight chamber and any other recipe usually lists a longer overall length . The bullet appears to be touching the rifling not letting the slide close 100%. I found that out the hard way. From now on I will remove the barrel and test them out by hand. The full metal jacket factory ammunition that I have tried all have a much sharper point allowing them to cause no chambering problems. Good luck

Peter P

[lts70]

Now that I have my M-die for 9mm I went ahead and worked up some loads for this boolit. For the cartridge to pass the plunk test I had to go with a COL of 1.083. I used 3.6grs of hp-38. And lubed with carnuba red.

[Cherokee]

I had to use 1.08" OAL to fit my 1911 Briley match camber with this bullet. Although 231 (HP38) works good, I found that HS6 gave me better accuracy. Have fun.

[mtgrs737]

OK Cherokee, tell us about your HS-6 loading.

[Cherokee]

mtgrs737 - I use 6.0 gr HS6 with the Lee 125 RN bullet, cast of 3/3/94 alloy and sized .356 @ 1.08" OAL. CCI SP primers. Does 1050 fps per my old Ohler chron. Easy shooting load that will do 1.5" @ 15 yd, which is good for my old eyes.

[armoredman]

Just cast another couple hundred of that very same boolit. I also load it to 1.08 with no issues, running over 6.4 grains of AA#7 seems to work quite well. :) Cast of wheel weight alloy, sized .356, lubed with LLA.

I will admit this was the best target of that day. :) 5 shot group. 8-)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/Phantom%20targets/830111.jpg

[drac0nic]

No experience with the powder requested but I like these with 5.8 Blue Dot powder coated and have run em with 3.9 TG as well. It's probably partially my alloy but weigh this bullet when you cast it. Mine are dropping closer to 135gr. It may be partially my alloy but the Lee 124 TL bullets I've dropped were within a grain or two so it's possible I have a "heavy" mold. I seated to 1.08 COAL in my SD9VE and AR Carbine as some others have mentioned. I would say a little deeper in general would be better than a bit over as longer tended to be temperamental.

[John Van Gelder]

I shoot a lot of those bullets in my 9mm. My load of choice is 4.6 gr. of BE. I had a problem with a bear getting into my horse feed last summer, I finally caught up with the bear one evening, that load did the job nicely, the bear went about 20 yards after the shot and went down in a heap.

I have had bears go further hit with heavy loads in the .45 Colt, at the end of the day shot placement means more than diameter.

[Walks]

I have a Lee 6cav of this Bullet. Use the same powder charge as I do for the Lyman #356402.

A tiny bit less accurate, or maybe not. It shoots the same as far as I can tell.

[Phlier]

Not sure why we are bringing back an 8 year old thread, but anyway... I love this boolit.

A couple loads that I use and enjoy...

4.6 grs of CFE Pistol

3.7 grs of Red Dot

1.125-1.130 OAL

[Tom W.]

I recently bought that mold, but in two cavity. I wish I had the six cavity now. I use a load of bullseye. Very accurate in both my CZ and my Ruger sized to .358.

[JBinMN]

Not sure why we are bringing back an 8 year old thread, but anyway... I love this boolit.

A couple loads that I use and enjoy...

4.6 grs of CFE Pistol

3.7 grs of Red Dot

1.125-1.130 OAL

I was wondering the same, but if folks want to keep sharing info , I don't have any problem with it myself.
;)

I don't use that boolit, but I do use the 124-2R, and if I had the 125 2R I would likely still use the data for either one. They are so close in weight it would likely not matter one little bit being just 1 grain apart. Heck, most of the time, folks don't weigh thier cast rounds to check what they came out at when cooled to see & likely are several grains off anyway when loading.

Anyway, I have data, but I see no need to share it here this time. There are plenty of places to get the loads & some of the folks here have already offered their "pet" loads. I just commented for the sake of commenting. Haha
:D

[fcvan]

I bought this mold 35 years ago, my first mold. I have re built it several times as the sprue plate screw eventually stripped out. It was replaced with a stainless bolt which was slightly larger than the original and sort of self tapped. Last time I re drilled and then properly tapped the new threads.

I loaned this mold to a friend along with my furnace and another mold. He beat the crap out of the mold. He offered to replace it after having mauled/galled the mold block surface. I told him no thanks, fixed the rough surface and kept on going. He shortly thereafter bought his own molds and furnace.

This mold cast at .358 which worked fine in my first pistol, a S&W 459, and later a S&W M13. Nobody told me that 9mm was prone to leading, nobody told my 459 either. I loaded 9mm like I was taught by my dad how to load 38 Sp and 41 Mag when I first started loading 45 years ago. Javalina and sized to .358 worked great.

Back in the 1980s, I would cast 2000 rounds a week, 1000 of the Lee 356-125 2R and the 452-230 1R (the other mold my buddy beat the crap out of) as I was shooting 1250 rounds a week. 500 9mm, 500 45 ACP, and 259 of 41 Magnum. I would trade 500 125 2R for 1000 primers and 500 more for 1 lb of powder, mostly Unique. The lead was free from the local tire shop and from the range at work. The labor was of love while listening to a ball game or the local radio station.

I started shooting more of the 125 2R through the M13 as 38 SP having sold the original 459. A lot of friends also shot 38 SP as that was our duty sidearm. I would show up at the range with a 5 gallon bucket full of 38 SP and we would literally have a blast. Folks would try to pay me for the shooting, I merely asked that they pick up some primers or powder and come by to help. I lost track of all the guys I wrangled into becoming reloaders. Some guys became as addicted as I was and still am. Some guys just wanted to learn how to cast . . . and later reload.

I have purchased other molds that were loaded in 9mm such as the 356-102 1R, the 358-105 SWC, the 356-120 TC, and the 358-125RF. Mostly I cast the 125 2R. I estimate between 600k and 750k in 35 years. Same beat up mold that was beat up the first year. It still works fine. I quit using lube having switched to PC some years ago. First ESPC then ASBBPC or 'shake and bake.' I pan lubed until I got a Lyman with a .358 die. Later after PC I got into Lee push through sizing dies. I once tried sizing to .357 and experienced my first leading. Sold the .357 die, well horse traded it away.

20 years ago, I got another S&W 9mm, this a 639. My wife bought me a Taurus 709 Slim which shot great. When Glock came out with the 43 I bought 2, the wife has the sequential number to mine, the wife also has an AR 15 in 9mm, sequential to mine because she likes that sort of thing. She bought me a Glock 22C, I bought her a Glock 23, sequential to mine. I also bought her a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel for her G23 (and my G22, G23, and my brother's G22 and G23, and many magazines for all) and we shoot as much or more 9mm than 40 S&W.

Yes, I know the OP asked about powder charges. I have used W231/Bullseye/Tightgroup and maybe a couple others. I prefer Unique. It is what Dad started us on and it just plain works. I remember Dad buying a 15 lb keg of Unique, which he never used up. He sent it home with my brother and I as he stopped reloading. His reasoning was us boys did all of his reloading for him, save for the times Mom and Dad would visit, and Dad would spend hours at the bench sizing or loading whatever was set up while we were at work. One visit he loaded 2000 rounds of 40 S&W while Mom knitted or cooked up specialties for when us boys got off-duty.

5 grains of Unique. It works. 125 2R 38 SP, 5 grains. 125 2r 9mm, 5 grains. 102 1R, 5 grains. 105 SWC, 5 grains. 180 TC 40 S&W, 5 grains. It just works. It works even better with PC. Sure, there are other uses for other cartridges, rarely for super hot loads. .357 Mag, .357 SIG, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, Unique just works. I don't buy it in 15 lb cardboard kegs, or even 8 lb cardboard kegs, because they don't make them anymore. Last 8 lb keg I saw was Red Dot. My cousin had it, couldn't use it, so he gave it to my brother and I. Yup, the keg is empty having spent it's full measure on 40 I think.

I buy 8 lb jugs of Unique, Bullseye (my .380 ACP favorite) and 4227, but mostly Unique, which gets loaded mostly in 5 grain increments for over 11000 rounds. This being 9mm, 38 SP, or 40 S&W, but mostly 9mm with the 356-125 2R. My AR 15 pistol and carbine are my favorite tin can killers at the moment. The carbine chronos at 1350 fps and the 10" pistol goes 1325. Quiet and hard hitting. the 102 1R goes faster but the data escapes me at the moment. I'm at Mom and Dad's (they are 80 now) for the 'festival of the murdered bird' Thanksgiving. Yes, a piggy paid his full measure too.

Lubed and sized to .358 has shot well in 15 or 16 9mm's I've owned or were loaned over the years, 99% loaded with 5 grains of Unique. It isn't broken . . . but I did wear out a Lee Turret Press . . . so I bought replacement parts and fixed it. The load needs no fixing.

[Phlier]

I was wondering the same, but if folks want to keep sharing info , I don't have any problem with it myself.
;)

I don't use that boolit, but I do use the 124-2R, and if I had the 125 2R I would likely still use the data for either one. They are so close in weight it would likely not matter one little bit being just 1 grain apart. Heck, most of the time, folks don't weigh thier cast rounds to check what they came out at when cooled to see & likely are several grains off anyway when loading.

Anyway, I have data, but I see no need to share it here this time. There are plenty of places to get the loads & some of the folks here have already offered their "pet" loads. I just commented for the sake of commenting. Haha
:D

I'm glad you did, as it made me realize I had misread! The data I gave was for the 356-124-2R, not the 125-2R. But as you mentioned, I believe the load data for both to be pretty much interchangeable. And FWIW, I enjoy reading *all* of your posts, even the ones where you comment just for the sake of commenting. :D

[Phlier]

I bought this mold 35 years ago, my first mold. I have re built it several times as the sprue plate screw eventually stripped out. It was replaced with a stainless bolt which was slightly larger than the original and sort of self tapped. Last time I re drilled and then properly tapped the new threads.

I loaned this mold to a friend along with my furnace and another mold. He beat the crap out of the mold. He offered to replace it after having mauled/galled the mold block surface. I told him no thanks, fixed the rough surface and kept on going. He shortly thereafter bought his own molds and furnace.

This mold cast at .358 which worked fine in my first pistol, a S&W 459, and later a S&W M13. Nobody told me that 9mm was prone to leading, nobody told my 459 either. I loaded 9mm like I was taught by my dad how to load 38 Sp and 41 Mag when I first started loading 45 years ago. Javalina and sized to .358 worked great.

Back in the 1980s, I would cast 2000 rounds a week, 1000 of the Lee 356-125 2R and the 452-230 1R (the other mold my buddy beat the crap out of) as I was shooting 1250 rounds a week. 500 9mm, 500 45 ACP, and 259 of 41 Magnum. I would trade 500 125 2R for 1000 primers and 500 more for 1 lb of powder, mostly Unique. The lead was free from the local tire shop and from the range at work. The labor was of love while listening to a ball game or the local radio station.

I started shooting more of the 125 2R through the M13 as 38 SP having sold the original 459. A lot of friends also shot 38 SP as that was our duty sidearm. I would show up at the range with a 5 gallon bucket full of 38 SP and we would literally have a blast. Folks would try to pay me for the shooting, I merely asked that they pick up some primers or powder and come by to help. I lost track of all the guys I wrangled into becoming reloaders. Some guys became as addicted as I was and still am. Some guys just wanted to learn how to cast . . . and later reload.

I have purchased other molds that were loaded in 9mm such as the 356-102 1R, the 358-105 SWC, the 356-120 TC, and the 358-125RF. Mostly I cast the 125 2R. I estimate between 600k and 750k in 35 years. Same beat up mold that was beat up the first year. It still works fine. I quit using lube having switched to PC some years ago. First ESPC then ASBBPC or 'shake and bake.' I pan lubed until I got a Lyman with a .358 die. Later after PC I got into Lee push through sizing dies. I once tried sizing to .357 and experienced my first leading. Sold the .357 die, well horse traded it away.

20 years ago, I got another S&W 9mm, this a 639. My wife bought me a Taurus 709 Slim which shot great. When Glock came out with the 43 I bought 2, the wife has the sequential number to mine, the wife also has an AR 15 in 9mm, sequential to mine because she likes that sort of thing. She bought me a Glock 22C, I bought her a Glock 23, sequential to mine. I also bought her a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel for her G23 (and my G22, G23, and my brother's G22 and G23, and many magazines for all) and we shoot as much or more 9mm than 40 S&W.

Yes, I know the OP asked about powder charges. I have used W231/Bullseye/Tightgroup and maybe a couple others. I prefer Unique. It is what Dad started us on and it just plain works. I remember Dad buying a 15 lb keg of Unique, which he never used up. He sent it home with my brother and I as he stopped reloading. His reasoning was us boys did all of his reloading for him, save for the times Mom and Dad would visit, and Dad would spend hours at the bench sizing or loading whatever was set up while we were at work. One visit he loaded 2000 rounds of 40 S&W while Mom knitted or cooked up specialties for when us boys got off-duty.

5 grains of Unique. It works. 125 2R 38 SP, 5 grains. 125 2r 9mm, 5 grains. 102 1R, 5 grains. 105 SWC, 5 grains. 180 TC 40 S&W, 5 grains. It just works. It works even better with PC. Sure, there are other uses for other cartridges, rarely for super hot loads. .357 Mag, .357 SIG, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, Unique just works. I don't buy it in 15 lb cardboard kegs, or even 8 lb cardboard kegs, because they don't make them anymore. Last 8 lb keg I saw was Red Dot. My cousin had it, couldn't use it, so he gave it to my brother and I. Yup, the keg is empty having spent it's full measure on 40 I think.

I buy 8 lb jugs of Unique, Bullseye (my .380 ACP favorite) and 4227, but mostly Unique, which gets loaded mostly in 5 grain increments for over 11000 rounds. This being 9mm, 38 SP, or 40 S&W, but mostly 9mm with the 356-125 2R. My AR 15 pistol and carbine are my favorite tin can killers at the moment. The carbine chronos at 1350 fps and the 10" pistol goes 1325. Quiet and hard hitting. the 102 1R goes faster but the data escapes me at the moment. I'm at Mom and Dad's (they are 80 now) for the 'festival of the murdered bird' Thanksgiving. Yes, a piggy paid his full measure too.

Lubed and sized to .358 has shot well in 15 or 16 9mm's I've owned or were loaned over the years, 99% loaded with 5 grains of Unique. It isn't broken . . . but I did wear out a Lee Turret Press . . . so I bought replacement parts and fixed it. The load needs no fixing.

That was a very good read. Thanks for sharing!