SWC boolits in 9mm or 38 Super

[Fluxed]

I'm working with a 1911 in 9mm and I'd like to shoot a heavy SWC boolit in it. The pistol has shot very well with the Hornady 147 XTP but those are way too expensive for high volume shooting. In my experience, a long nose boolit generally helps with feeding in 9mm 1911's.

I'm thinking about ordering one of these:

133669

Is anyone using this boolit or similar in a 9mm or 38 Super?

I am also open to suggestions for other mold designs in the 140 to 150 grain range for 9mm.

[tazman]

There is a group buy going on at NOE that you might be interested in. While not a semiwadcutter, it is based on the shape of the 147 XTP and comes in 155 grain solid and 147 grain hollow point versions.

http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index.php?topic=644.0

[bruce drake]

I've shot LEE's 158gr SWC in my 38 Super in the past. Start light and work up on the loads for your pistol as I don't know if you have a ramped barrel or the standard link and pin and don't want you to blow out the bottom of your 9mm case.

[bobthenailer]

I have the Saeco #929-145gr sw made for the 38 super , it looks very much like the drawing you posted Saeco also makes a 154gr sw of like designe ! i have also used the 929 in the 9mm but i usually favor 125gr boolets in the 9mm . i have three 125 gr moulds a Saeco 377 tc and 384 rn and the rcbs125gr rngc

The 929 shoots very well from my two 38 supers . I also have foud that .357 dia cast boolets shoots better than .356 dia in all of my 9mm's & 38 supers even if the bore slugs @ .355 to .3555 dia.

If you need some samples ? drop me a PM

[ioon44]

I shoot a 120gr SWC PB out of a NEI 4cav that I have had from the 1980"s. Super accurate in .357mag, .38spl,. 38 super & 9mm, usually size them to .357" to .358".

[beagle]

I've shot both the H & G #73 and the Saeco 929 in the 9mm. Once you get the seating depth down for proper feeding they work all right. I tend to stick to bullets in the 125 grain range rather than the 147s as the trajectory and velocity is better. I'm not a big fan of heavier than designed for bullets in a specific gun no matter if the SEALs do get excellent results with them./beagle

[khmer6]

I like the saeco 125gr tc in 38super. First round thru that gun and was right on the money. Groups tight as well.

[Thompsoncustom]

I've always had great luck with the lyman 358429 168gr SWC. It's a tank of a bullet for 9mm but recoil is very soft because there not a whole lot of room for powder. I would say your gonna need a throat reamer for optimal OAL and function with anything about 147gr though, not that it can't be done but being able to load longer helps.

[kryogen]

How would a +-125gn SWC feed in a glock?
Right now I'm shooting 120TC "just because someone told me to buy that", but it doesnt make clean holes in paper. Not really better than the 124rn.
I would like a nice SWC to punch nice round holes in targets. Will be used just for target shooting anyway.

[ioon44]

How would a +-125gn SWC feed in a glock?
Right now I'm shooting 120TC "just because someone told me to buy that", but it doesnt make clean holes in paper. Not really better than the 124rn.
I would like a nice SWC to punch nice round holes in targets. Will be used just for target shooting anyway.

The 120gr SWC has been feeding 100% in my Glock 19 factory barrel and in the Glock 22 with 9mm conversion barrel, this has been the most accurate boolit I have tested in the 9mm's.

[Joe_Atlanta]

It's been my experience that 1911s that will reliably feed hollow points have no trouble with SWCs. Even my old Gold Cup which chokes on some HPs will merrily chug along with 160-200 gr SWCs. Most recently I've been working with a STI Ranger II in 9mm and it digests the longer nose TC's as well as short nose SWCs with equanimity. If you have had any feeding problems with your gun, then you might want to try some samples before investing in a mold.

[kryogen]

The 120gr SWC has been feeding 100% in my Glock 19 factory barrel and in the Glock 22 with 9mm conversion barrel, this has been the most accurate boolit I have tested in the 9mm's.
who sells it

[ioon44]

http://www.neihandtools.com/

[Fluxed]

Thanks for all the comments.

To clarify, I'll add a bit of information.

1. This is for USPSA competition and I want it to make minor power factor with the least recoil. Because of the way power factor is computed by USPSA, heavier bullets generate less recoil compared to lighter bullets at the same power factor.

2. The gun will feed almost anything including 158 SWCs designed for .38 or .357 Mag., but I think that's too heavy and too much bullet in the case.

3. I am mostly concerned with the accuracy potential at moderate 9mm velocity of around 875 - 900 fps. And I like nice round holes in the target, hence the SWC shape.

4. 1911s were designed for longer cartridges than the standard 9mm. This barrel is throated out a bit to take longer overall lengths. While it feeds everything I've thrown at it, the shorter oal loads feel a bit "hitchy" compared to the longer lengths.

Further comments welcome and thanks again.

[foxtrapper]

Just cast these an hour ago. 358156 Lyman 155gr GC. This is my first go around with these bullets. 45/45/10 lube, gonna size to .355. For 38superhttp://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy345/smackythefrog/3c499b71cae43b8fb2fc0408ebf782f6.jpg

[MiHec]

I have some 6 cav aluminum molds for 147 BB flat nose bullets

Send me PM if you want one.

133740

[Iron Mike Golf]

The SAECO #383 works real fine for me.

[Thompsoncustom]

If you can load the bullet between 1.125 and 1.135 than I find 160gr to 170gr bullets to be the sweet spot for making minor.

2.4gr of red dot behind a 160gr RN bullet OAL of 1.123 does about 800fps and 130 PF.

[kryogen]

I think that I'll just buy the lee 358-105SWC for 9mm instead of the 120TC.
I use it only to shoot target, and the TC doesnt punch nice holes in paper. I would rather have a SWC and punch nice clean holes.

Will probably buy the mould and report.

[Kent Fowler]

Used to play around with some loads with a LBT 160gr. FN

[Cherokee]

Saeco 929 works great in 38 Super, never tried it in 9mm. I do have a Saeco 929 4 cavity for sale - pm if interested.
I use the Lee 120 TC @ ~1100 fps in 9mm and it punches nice holes in paper.

[MtGun44]

I have put about 70,000 rounds of SWCs down the barrel of my .38 Super, from 147s to
158s at max pressure, getting about 1200 fps to make major caliber in IPSC competition.

[Fluxed]

Got the Saeco 929 today and fortunately had time to put it to use. Its a nice casting mold and I had 300 made up in short order. I'll report back again after shooting results.

[saleen322]

Penn makes a 115 SWC that is a tack driver. Here are 10 shots, standing from 25 yards. Notice how clean a hole it cuts in the paper as well. If your bullet profile is similar, it should work well. Good luck.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/952%20SW/9mm115Tgt2-A_zpsc7160316.jpg

http://www.pennbullets.com/9mm/9mm-caliber.html

[Cherokee]

I have tried Penn's 115 SWC and it works great, just like "saleen322" shows. Hope the Saeco works for "Fluxed".

[Fluxed]

I'd probably be trying the lighter bullets as well but for the USPSA power factor thing.

[mnewcomb59]

I'd probably be trying the lighter bullets as well but for the USPSA power factor thing.


The lee 105 swc works good in my 9mm. It feeds in everything we've tried from LC9, M&P, Glock and CZ-75. No idea about 1911s though. The lee 140 swc is the same nose and might work for you. Try feeding from barely passing the plunk test to 25 thou shorter and see which seems to run the best. Might want to use a 357 expander for your 9mm powder through die so that way it expands deeper into the case where the 140 swc will be.

My M&P gobbles up the lee 158-rf, which plunks at 1.075". I have old data for 158 rn, but also have lyman data for their 147 at something way shorter like 1.05" This lyman bullet seats deeper in the case at the same OAL, so with my 158 having 35-40 thou more case capacity, I felt brave enough to use their starting data for Power Pistol as a max load. I stopped at 4 grains which felt full powered.

3.5 fully functioned the gun, which I thought was neat because 3.5 of bullseye in a 38 case would probably be about the same velocity.

[Joe_Atlanta]

Just finishing up testing a few hundred Lee 158 TL SWCs in my STI Ranger II (commander sized 1911) which has a relatively generous throat that tapers nicely from .358 to .355. Sized .358, I was able to seat them out enough so that only .26 of the body above the bevel base was in the case. Since most 9mm case walls remain relatively thin until around .25-.35 from the mouth, the bullet seated without bulging the cases or swaging the base of the bullet. Not problems with feeding and 2.5 gr of Red Dot made Minor PF in my gun.