Use Lee 9mm Mold for 38 special.

[mstrausbough]

Ok gang. First of let me say that since my stroke sometimes my brain does not click. So here is my question. Can i use bullets cast from a lee 9mm mold for .38special rounds. I have been told that if i do not size them it is better but I question that.

Any help would be great
Thanks.

Seuss

[R.M.]

Only a micrometer can answer that, but I doubt it. Now you should be able to go the other way around, using the 38 boolit in a nine.

[GRUMPA]

You would need a micrometer as mentioned already to be sure, and as with anything it would be wise to slug your barrel to find out what size you could use. If your dead-set on it though you might be able to Beagle your mold so it throws bigger boolits.

[mstrausbough]

Thanks

[sig2009]

I'm actually thinking about buying the Lee 38 round nose mold for 9mm because it casts at .358 and my Lee 9mm only casts at .356.

[ku4hx]

Ok gang. First of let me say that since my stroke sometimes my brain does not click. So here is my question. Can i use bullets cast from a lee 9mm mold for .38special rounds. I have been told that if i do not size them it is better but I question that.

Any help would be great
Thanks.

Seuss

Being a shareholder in more than one company that make molds, I can assure you you need to buy molds specifically designated as 9mm, 38 Spcl. .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and so forth.

If you lack such molds for your gun, or guns, please purchase the necessary molds at once. :kidding:

[williamwaco]

Ok gang. First of let me say that since my stroke sometimes my brain does not click. So here is my question. Can i use bullets cast from a lee 9mm mold for .38special rounds. I have been told that if i do not size them it is better but I question that.

Any help would be great
Thanks.

Seuss


Absolutely. I have done it with the 124 and 147 gr truncated cone in .38 Special and .357 magnum. Works great.

I size them because I size everything. It is not necessary but that is a different question.


.

[ShooterAZ]

Years ago I had a Ruger Blackhawk 4-5/8" convertible .357/9mm. For some reason it had a preference for the 9mm 124 gr cast boolits(commercial). I loaded these in 9mm & 38 special cases and shot it plenty. I never had a micrometer way back then...I just loaded them and shot them. That gun did not care...I wish I still had it.

[fecmech]

You most certainly can use them! It does depend on what diameter the molds drop bullets at. One of the most accurate bullets in my .38 revolvers and lever rifles is the Lee 120 Truncated cone bullet with the lube groove. It drops out of my molds at a little over .358 diameter. Accuracy is as good or better than any other .38 cal bullet be it wadcutter, SWC,RNFP etc. The little 100 gr .380 Ranch dog bullet is also a tack driver in .38/.357 platforms, it drops at .359". The devil is always in the details. Just because it's a 9MM mold doesn't mean the bullet can't be used in .38's.

[MT Gianni]

I'm actually thinking about buying the Lee 38 round nose mold for 9mm because it casts at .358 and my Lee 9mm only casts at .356.

One is stated to cast @ .358 and the other stated or known to cast @ .356. That doesn't mean that it will, just a better chance that it will.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

my new .356-120tc mold drops at .360 so sure no problem

[MtGun44]

Very likely. Most 9mms need .357 or .358 diam boolits, same as .38 Spl. Most 9mm molds
will cast big enough.

Slug your barrel and use a micrometer (not a caliper, they are not accurate enough) to see
what the groove diameter is. For most 9mms, .357 or .358 are needed, because they have
a .356 or .357 groove diameter and you generally need .001" or .002" larger than groove
diameter.

Bill

[sig2009]

my new .356-120tc mold drops at .360 so sure no problem

Not mine. Casts only .356 no matter what combo alloy I use. As far as I am concerned this mold is worthless!

[Shiloh]

What do they drop at?

Only one of mine might be large enough

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

Not mine. Casts only .356 no matter what combo alloy I use. As far as I am concerned this mold is worthless!
cast up 6 good boolits , after they have cooled drill holes in them right where the spru plate hole is put some small screws into them , put some flitz metal polish on them close the mold around them and give each some turns right and left keep it even

clean the mold , preheat and cast up some new boolits , measure them with a micromiter , did they get bigger , repeat till they are the size you want i have not tried this but read about it , the author was able to open up his molds and make them true and round to get the few thousandth desired

or Beagle your mold it only takes a few minutes and is full reversible , costs very little


other option is sell your mold to some one with an older Smith and Wesson , the barrel dimensions were at least on mine .354 groove , so unsized .356 wold work just fine , but my other gun is .357 so i use the larger and let the barrel size them down

or call lee if you purchased the mold new they may trade you for one that will cast a touch larger.

[sig2009]

What do they drop at?

Only one of mine might be large enough

With 50% range lead and 50% linotype the drop .355 to .356. I am going to call Lee next week.

[sig2009]

cast up 6 good boolits , after they have cooled drill holes in them right where the spru plate hole is put some small screws into them , put some flitz metal polish on them close the mold around them and give each some turns right and left keep it even

clean the mold , preheat and cast up some new boolits , measure them with a micromiter , did they get bigger , repeat till they are the size you want i have not tried this but read about it , the author was able to open up his molds and make them true and round to get the few thousandth desired

or Beagle your mold it only takes a few minutes and is full reversible , costs very little


other option is sell your mold to some one with an older Smith and Wesson , the barrel dimensions were at least on mine .354 groove , so unsized .356 wold work just fine , but my other gun is .357 so i use the larger and let the barrel size them down

or call lee if you purchased the mold new they may trade you for one that will cast a touch larger.

Too much work. I am just going to buy a custom mold from one of the sellers here for .358 or .359.