Tl358-158-2R sized downfor 9mm subsonic.

[allen16323]

I want to use the lee mould in .358 in 158grn for 9mm subsonics that will be powder coated. Has anyone here tried this or am I barking up a tree in my thinking on this? I have fired alot of 158grn j words and like the performance in my 9mm ar pattern SBR with my suppressor on it. Still new to casting and need help for you guys, and will thank you guys in advance.
allen

[Artful]

Sure - just search out powders that work well with tumbling method
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?240500-a-trick-for-tumble-powder-coating

Then check on heavy boolits in 9mm loadings (147 or heavier)
I've used either lyman 356637 FN 147 BB or the 358311 RN (38 spl) both will work in 9mm. You may have to segregate the brass by brand as some is thicker than others, and the thick ones will swage the base of your boolit and bulge the case so as to not want to pass the "plunk" test.

Lyman Reloading Handbook - 44th Edition- 1967 Has Data for a 158gr Cast boolit #358311 (# 2 alloy)
One of them is Unique 3.5 @ 883fps------4.5 @ 1010fps. Data is there for Bullseye, Red Dot and Herco.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?214973-Lee-358-158rf-9mm-and-a-suppressor
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?245956-For-9mm-shooters-who-like-heavier-boolits
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?128202-Need-a-9mm-mould-for-heavy-boolits
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?66589-Heavy-subsonic-9mm-loads
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=383074

I'd first see what size you need then cast and powder coat and size to what my chamber wants - some 9mm barrel/chambers like 'em a lot larger than other's.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?177692-Struggling-with-the-9mm
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?157586-I-need-help-with-my-lead-9mm-loads
http://www.castbulletassoc.org/forum/view_topic.php?id=5784&forum_id=33

[Frank V]

A 158gr bullet sounds pretty heavy for the 9mm. Seating it in the case deep enough to feed in an auto might buldge the case as the bullet is longer than most of the 147gr bullets offered in 9mm?
If you get it to work be sure to let us know.
Thanks

[tazman]

I tried that boolit in 9mm a short time ago and it functioned the gun ok but accuracy stunk because the base of the boolit gets swaged down by the case. It has to go really deep into the case to feed properly.
You can get older Lyman molds that are very nearly that weight but work much better because the nose is longer.
The 358212 drops at 147 for me and shoots extremely well. Lots of current load data as it is a standard weight for the 9mm.
The 358246 dropped at 150 for me and worked ok. The 358416 also has a long nose and drops at about the weight you want. It also shot well for me.
I have a discontinued LEE 6 cavity 356-153-2r boolit that drops at 158 grains. It was designed for the 38super but works well in the 9mm because of its long nose. I was just shooting some of these tonight at the range.

[Artful]

Frank V - look at the links - it works ...

In all the ballistic tests I've read, GENERALLY the heavier bullets get better penetration, lighter, faster ones get better expansion. We want expansion, we NEED penetration. - just ask the FBI

I used to buy IMI 158 grain FMJ loads for my suppressed UZI, loved that ammo
even the boxes were cool - printed to look like little wooden crates.

Fiocchi and Prvi Partizan both sell 158 grain subsonic loadings.

American Eagle, Buffalo Bore, HPR EMCON, Magtech, Winchester, Federal, Remington etc.
all sell 147 grain subsonic.
(spec'd for subsonic from pistol barrels)
from Buffalo Bore's website


We carefully chose our velocity range for this ammo to remain subsonic at temperature down to -20°F. Here is a sample of the speed of sound in air at various Fahrenheit temperatures.




1128 fps -- 70°F
1086 fps -- 32°F
1028 fps -- -20°F


Our velocities are recorded from real world over-the-counter pistols, so you can see roughly what your pistol is developing in the real world. The industry wide use of long laboratory barrels to establish advertised velocities is misleading the public, who will be firing ammo out of real pistols.




1011 fps -- Sig P226 Elite threaded barrel, 5.0-inch
930 fps -- Sig P226 MK25 threaded barrel, 5.0-inch
1023 fps -- H&K USP Tactical threaded barrel, 4.7-inch
931 fps -- Beretta 92F, 4.7-inches
1003 fps -- Browning Hi Power, 4.6-inch
976 fps -- Glock model 19, 4.0-inch
932 fps -- Sig P938, 3.0-inch


As you can see, several of the shorter barreled pistols generate higher velocities than some of the longer barrels. This demonstrates that internal ballistics have much more to do with barrel internal dynamics than with length alone.


Sellier & Bellot make a 140 grain FMJ subsonic load as well.

[GhostHawk]

I'm sitting here stuffing Lee .358 158 gr cast boolits into 9mm once fired cases over 3 grains of red dot.

Now, I will say that I sized mine, sizer says .357 but it is seeming to drop them more like .356.

No bulged cases, and by the feel of my hand press the bases can't be getting swaged down "that" much.
OAL is set to exactly 1.1 according to the reading I've done.

These rounds pass the plunk test in my buddy's Berretta 9mm, seem to fit into the mag ok, but we have not had a nice enough day to go shoot them, yet.

I bought the mold for a .38 special/.357 handi barrel that is on hold waiting for funds.

Got impatient and decided I was going to load something with it if at all possible. 2 days of reading later along with several test's and here I am. I'm at about round 65 of the 125 or so empty 9mm I have, mostly range pickups.

I think from the reading I've done it all comes down to the gun in particular.
But the load was in the book, so I knew it was possible.

I may try 3.3 or 3.4 grains of red dot in those last 25 empty's. Then again, I may not. I'm pretty far out on the limb I'm on. Might be a good time to quit sawing.

[allen16323]

Well its a AR pattern and uses colt pattern mags that are kinda "roomy", i want to get the mold as I can use it for my 357 revolver if all else fails. Just like feeding that carbine with the 8" barrel is fun to play the steel drums with.

[tazman]

From the sound of things you may be just fine.
I needed to have mine at .358 because that is what my barrel slugs. When they were swaged down in the case they came out at .355 at the base which made them not work in my pistol. Cast boolits at .355-.356 will lead like crazy and may tumble in my pistol.
If you can get by with .355 or .356 they may well work perfectly for you.
Different guns are always a law unto themselves.

[Frank V]

Looks like you did get it artful!
Nice going.

[Sgtonory]

I have shot that bullet out of my hi point carbine. Worked fine after I used a Lyman m style die. This did cause a few pieces of random Headstamp brass to bulge and not chamber.