Sizing .38/.357 cast bullets to 9mm

[DickelDawg]

I have cast many .357 bullets. Question is, can I take these .38/.357 cast bullets and size them to 9mm with a Lee lube and size kit? I don't know what the actual diameter of a 9mm is.

[Jaak]

The proper size of a 9mm bullet is .355 and depending on the size of the barrel of your pistol you might not have to resize the bullets at all.

[jcren]

The answer is yes, your 9mm should be slugged to be sure, but average is around .356 which is only 2 or 3 thou smaller than 38/357.

[mdi]

I have a mold that I really like (125 gr RFN, by Lee) that I shoot in my 9mms, 38 Specials, and my .357 Magnum. Same alloy, same lube, just different sizing die...

[bgokk]

I have a mold that I really like (125 gr RFN, by Lee) that I shoot in my 9mms, 38 Specials, and my .357 Magnum. Same alloy, same lube, just different sizing die...
I have the same mold and size .358" for all. Works with ACWW in my S&W 9mm. No leading using White Label Carnuba Red.

[tazman]

I size my boolits to .358 for my 9mm. Beretta barrels tend to be a bit on the large size. Mine slugs at .357.

[sandman228]

I used to do it all the time . I resized 158 lrn bullets to .356 for my 38 super auto which is pretty much the hot rod version of a 9mm . I used a lee push through sizer die .

[dubber123]

As a few have stated, you may not need to size smaller than your .38's at all. 9mm's are all over the map size wise, but all of mine run on the large side. I size .358" for several, and one Walther needs .359"

[DickelDawg]

Thanks again, gentlemen. This site has some of the most friendly and knowledgeable reloaders.

[MtGun44]

The proper size of a cast boolit is NOT the same as a Jbullet, it is NOT .355 or .356. In a huge
percentage of guns these will tumble and lead like crazy.

You want exactly the same size cast in 9mm as in .38/.357 Mag, .357 or .358 for best results in
the majority of 9mm.

Read the sticky on "setting up a new 9mm for boolits", it will help.

Bill

[bobthenailer]

I have several 9mm & 38 super pistols , some with match barrels, after trying .356 , .357, and .358 dia sized cast boolets from several moulds, i have had the best results with .357 dia as being the best for my pistols.

[Shiloh]

Many 9mm's prefer the larger boolits. Work up loads per tried and true methods. Deeper seating will raise pressures a good bit.

Shiloh

[Ed_Shot]

The proper size of a cast boolit is NOT the same as a Jbullet, it is NOT .355 or .356. In a huge
percentage of guns these will tumble and lead like crazy.

You want exactly the same size cast in 9mm as in .38/.357 Mag, .357 or .358 for best results in
the majority of 9mm.

Read the sticky on "setting up a new 9mm for boolits", it will help.

Bill

+1. I size to .358 for 9MM (Glocks w/LW barrel, CZ75B, BHP), 38/357 (Ruger & SW), and .380 (Colt, Ruger, Bersa). I use boolits appropriate for the caliber and get outstanding results.

[btroj]

First thing to do is learn what size a 9mm IS!

That said, many use 38/357 bullets of appropriate weight sized to appropriate size in 9mm.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Been sizing .357" for my 9mm Baretta for about the last dozen years or so.Robert

[gloob]

The only reasons I would size a bullet are 1. to put a gas check on it, 2. to make it fit the chamber.

If the bullet is small enough to chamber, making it smaller won't do anything particularly helpful. It doesn't matter what your bore slugs .355 or .357. A .358 bullet will shoot fine, if it chambers ok.

[gloob]

The only reasons I would size a bullet are 1. to put a gas check on it, 2. to make it fit the chamber.

If the bullet is small enough to chamber, making it smaller won't do anything particularly helpful. It doesn't matter what your bore slugs. It it's .355 or .357, a .358 bullet will shoot fine in either, if it chambers ok.

[GhostHawk]

Plunk test is the key IMO.

3 out of 4 of my .358 158 gr TL wouldn't drop clean, into the 9mm, so I got a .357 lee sizer die and they plunk and load fine.
No bulged cases, no problems. Hope to get to the range soon to see how they shoot.
They do chamber and cycle fine.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But if it don't work often times just a small nudge makes a big difference.

Also, in my experience the Lee sizing dies tend to throw half a thousandth to a thousandth small.
Too small is an easy fix, too large = a new sizing die and try again.

[Foto Joe]

Of course by now you've realized that you don't necessarily "need" to squash your .358's down to .356's. Although I don't run 9mm's anymore I do cast a bunch for other folks. I just delivered a hundred or so to a friend and let him know that before I sat him down at my Lube Sizer to lube the rest of the batch he was to load up at least a full magazine of dummies, plunk test them then run 'em through with the mag (Ruger P95). If they cycled good he is to load up the 100+ boolits and shoot 'em. Following that I want him to patch the barrel then have a look down the hole to make sure he isn't loading up the barrel with lead. I don't expect any issues with the .358's either loading or leading but ya never know.

Go at it slowly with your 9mm. Use the starting data for cast boolits and the powder of your choice don't start off with jacketed bullet data just to find out that you've got to go backwards to eliminate leading. It sounds like you're tumble lubing which you might get away with on 9mm or you might not, I had good luck with it but it doesn't work for everybody.

[xringshutr]

I size my boolits to .358 for my 9mm. Beretta barrels tend to be a bit on the large size. Mine slugs at .357. What he said. I have a lot of 9mm's. Most, if not all, will take the .358 boolit and shoot it well with no leading.