9mm cylinder accuracy

[armednfree]

I am considering buying a Blackhawk 9mm/357 convertible. What would you expect from the 9mm cylinder firing 125 grain Lee .358 boolits, tumble lubed at the lowest charge listed with AA#5? The load listed is 4.7 grains with a 124 grain at 957 fps from a 4" barrel.

[blikseme300]

I have a Ruger 357/9mm and it is quite accurate with the same loads as for my auto 9's. The boolits are Lee 120gn TC, lube sized to .357. No leading and alternate fun to the autos.

[jdgabbard]

I don't think ANYTHING is accurate with the 125g Lee TL... But I'm biased towards traditional lube grooves....

[armednfree]

I don't think ANYTHING is accurate with the 125g Lee TL... But I'm biased towards traditional lube grooves....

Not a TL design.

57036

[MtGun44]

Somehow, the "TL" part in the OP fooled me too. [smilie=1:

Bill

[Bwana]

Around twenty years ago I bought a slightly used BH 357/9mm from a co-worker and proceeded to put thousands of jacketed rounds through it. Never did use the 9mm cly. When I got around to shooting cast I had good results from heavy boolits sized .359" in the 357 and when I tried boolits in the 9mm they didn't work near as well. The long jump to the forcing cone doesn't help and the 9mm isn't really suitable with the heavy boolits. The lands and grooves on mine are shallow ( eight each I think) and it requires a hard long .359" boolit to work. That's my experience with my gun.

[ipijohn]

In the OP it looks like he TL'ed a standard lube bullet?

[armednfree]

Yeah, TL or TL with wax works great at lower velocity, say under 950. So there seems to be some issues with the 9mm cylinder and cast boolits. I have heard of people using that 9mm cylinder to chamber other rounds. Even a committed 38 spl cylinder isn't a bad idea. I have no use for a 357/44, but is something like a 357/41 mag was in the offing I'd look at that just for novelty.

[fecmech]

I would think the Ruger would be at least as accurate as any 9mm service pistol and probably more so. A friend bought a used 9mm cylinder for his BH (not fitted to his gun) and it does 2-2.5" 25 yd groups with a bunch of different cast loads. I have a Lipsey's .45 convertible that easily stays under 2"@25 yds with good .45 acp target loads.

[jdgabbard]

Yeah, I thought you were talking about their TL design.... That boolit is a favorite in the .38spl/.357mag. Should work well in the 9mm, I don't see why it wouldn't.

[williamwaco]

I use the Lee 2-Cavity Bullet Mold TL356-124-TC 9mm Luger, 38 Super, 380 ACP (356 Diameter) 124 Grain Tumble Lube Truncated Cone

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/366607/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-tl356-124-tc-9mm-luger-38-super-380-acp-356-diameter-124-grain-tumble-lube-truncated-cone.

This bullet is VERY accurate.
I get .75 to 1.25 inch groups at 25 yards with my Thompson Contender.

2.0 to 3.0 inches at 25 yards with my Kimber 1911 Target model.

.

[Thumbcocker]

I use that boolit sized fat in my convertible over power pistol and it shoots very well.

[MT Gianni]

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByFireArm/Cast%20in%20the%209mm%20Blackhawk.pdf
If you own a 9mm cylinder you owe it to your self to read this and most of what Beagle wrote on Castpics. This is a site we originally set up that has great posts from this board.

[Jamezius Maximus]

Hello, I use a .357 sizer for 125leed RN cast boolits for my pt92fs and I am getting very tight groups for different loads

[armednfree]

Yeah, I'm thinking that unless I'm going to re-chamber that 9mm cylinder it isn't worth the extra cost

[MT Gianni]

Well some of the reasons to are: 9mm cases are everywhere and free for the taking many places. GC boolits are rarely needed, a lighter powder load than a 38 special in lower weights can result in a higher velocity due to the case size. If ammo gets tight there is a ton of 9mm factory ammo out there if someone wants to trade.

[dualsport]

I have an older 3 screw .357 BH that I was able to find a 9mm cylinder for that only required a little fitting. It's a very fun gun to shoot, accurate enough for what it is. I like the versatility. And a good supply of cheap 9mm ammo makes a nice ace in the hole kind of thing. I won't shoot Wolf in my 'good' 9mm, but will all day long in the BH. It's a tough gun, stout, easy to clean. And 9mm brass is free or dirt cheap. Mine's NFS.