cast 9mm

[pakmc]

I loaded up some 124GR FMJ's and some 147GR FMJ's the other day and the 147's shot below the grouping of the 124's at 10 yards.I through I've always heard the heavier the bullet, the higher it hit the target compared to the lighter bullet. and on top of that I was shooting a Tanfoglio 9mm at steel plates and it looks like holding the same point aim , that the 4th, 5th and 6th shots where walking down the target. any one ever seen this before???

Has anyone had any success with pouring 9mm lead bullets and have them be accurate???? I have three molds for 9mm about a 130, and 153 and something else and I can't get any accuracy with them. the guns with FMJ"'s are awesome for accuracy but nothing I've done with lead is accurate. I using a lead resizer to get the bullets to .356(but I measured the barrels of two my my 9mm and they measure .352. These bullets go throught the paper target sideways.I'm also using the lightest taper crimp, any lighter, and I might as well not use the taper crimp. I"ve having no FTF's or FTE's with my loads. I'm using a CZ75B, a new Witness,(steel frame) and a CZ 75 champion. jk
And one???
Pat

[popper]

Read the sticky on loading for 9mm.

[sigep1764]

I would seriously doubt your barrel measures .352. I would reslug that bore. My CZ75B slugs .356 so size to .358. Try your boolits at that size and see what happens. My bet is that you will see great accuracy and a very clean barrel.

[sigep1764]

Double post, my bad

[runfiverun]

ain't no way the barrel is 352.
357 I'd believe, even 356 or perhaps 355,,, but 352? nope.

I have real good luck in my 9m's.
both type 99's the HI-point carbine and the CZ-75 all shoot lead the same as not lead covered ones.
I even got the Taurus to shoot lead before I blowed it up [it had a super bad habit of shooting lower and more to the right as I went through a magazine, and the hotter it got the worse it done it]

[Shiloh]

Not saying they don't exist, but of the 9mm bores I've seen or heard of being slugged, never has one been .355. It would sure make life easier if they were. .356+ seems to be the rule. The LEE 125 gr. RF has been my go to boo lit as of late. Sized at .358.

Shiloh

[tazman]

My barrels are Beretta 9mm and they measure a bit larger than average(.3575). I size to .358 and get good accuracy and zero leading. My groups don't "walk the target" as yours seem to. The point of impact after 200 rounds is the same as the first 5.
I have a Citadel carbine in 9mm that dearly loves 145-155 grain cast. The barrel measures .3555. I shoot the same sized loads in it as I do my pistols. I haven't shot it at longer ranges yet, but it holds nickel size groups at 25 yards from a rest.

[gloob]

Pakmc. Take a look at your loaded rounds. Is there a "coke-bottle bulge" at the base of the bullet?

[pakmc]

I just slugged my bore, it's .355. I use a Lee resizing die of .356. I resized some 151-153 gr. bullets. "O" I have a bullet mold for my 38-200 Webleys and I used a .360 bullet for a slug. it miked out at .355. I resized some 124 gr Lee tumble lube bullets and we'll see how they do tomorrow(monday the 6th). I'm now using a powder called clean shot. it's from over seas, there ain't much pistol powder around here. the 153gr bullet calls for 2.9gr.s of clean shot and the 124's call for 3.5 to 4 gr's of clean shot.(it's also called D032 if you want to look it up.)(it's the first time Ive ever seen it.) it shoot the 124gr. FMJ really well.
No Gloob, there is no coke bottle bulge, at the case of the bullet.

[bangerjim]

9 shoots just fine........if you KNOW what your barrel size is! Very doubtful your 352 is right. Mine are 356 and I size 358.

You need to study more about casting and loading 9mm lead boolits and all the caveats involved. Lost of info on here. Once you figure out what YOUR gun really wants, it is a breeze.

Good luck and have fun!

banger

[AtomHeartMother]

9mm is a tough one to cast for. You didn't mention if you were getting any leading... I would pull a loaded bullet(make a dummy round) and see what the diameter is. Case swaging is a real issue with the tough little 9mm cases. Military brass is really awful-case walls just do not give when seating and they'll swage a bullet down right now. Good thing is the cases are near indestructible. Can't say I've ever had a 9mm case split or rupture...
if you are case swaging I'd start with changing to a 38 s&w expander plug then look at a harder alloy to resist the squeeze. Also seat only deep enough to cycle reliably and safely....longest oal you can get away with.

[tazman]

I just slugged my bore, it's .355. I use a Lee resizing die of .356. I resized some 151-153 gr. bullets. "O" I have a bullet mold for my 38-200 Webleys and I used a .360 bullet for a slug. it miked out at .355. I resized some 124 gr Lee tumble lube bullets and we'll see how they do tomorrow(monday the 6th). I'm now using a powder called clean shot. it's from over seas, there ain't much pistol powder around here. the 153gr bullet calls for 2.9gr.s of clean shot and the 124's call for 3.5 to 4 gr's of clean shot.(it's also called D032 if you want to look it up.)(it's the first time Ive ever seen it.) it shoot the 124gr. FMJ really well.
No Gloob, there is no coke bottle bulge, at the case of the bullet.

With a bore of .355 a boolit sized to .356 or .357 should be just fine. Your powder charges seem about right even though I don't know much about that powder you are using. The charge weights you name fit well with fast pistol powder.
There are 2 possibilities I can think of. One is the base of the boolit might be getting swaged down in size by the case. You would need to pull a loaded round and measure the base of the boolit to be sure. This is a common problem with 9mm.
The other is the mold. The Lee tumble lube boolits have a bad reputation for use in 9mm. Not everyone has issues with them, but enough do that I have to question it. I use many of the Lee standard lube groove boolits and tumble lube them. They work fine like that. It isn't the lube, but the boolit. Those small ridges on the sides don't grip the riflings as well in a 9mm at least. Not enough total surface area. In other cartridges they work fine, but not the 9mm.
Just something to think about.

[GabbyM]

I've never run across a 9mm chamber that would not take a .357" bullet seated into a case. They do exist in target pistols but there owners know what they have. I must of sold a million 9mm bullets sized at .357" and lubed with semi soft lube. Never a single complaint except for smoke on indoor ranges.

[pakmc]

I shot the 153gr bullet this morning(in 9mm) and they worked just fine and were accurate. The 124gr tumble lube bullets with 3.5 and 4 gr's of clean shot, didn't do well in the CZ 75B or the new witness both have about 4.4 inch barrels. but the 124 gr. bullets where very accurate in my 75D(with 3.5 in barrel.) so my next batch will be 2.9 gr's of D032 with the 124gr lee tumble lube bullets. I think the powder charge needs a little work. I haven't check the barrels yet for leading. I use whites 45-45-10 about half the time and since their other bullet lube got hard for my I put some mildial spirits in it it comes out milkie

[MtGun44]

Read the sticky on "Setting up a new 9mm for boolits"

Bill

[spfd1903]

Glad you found an accurate load for the 124 grain in one of your pistols! My experience with 9 mm boolits is each pistol wants a specific powder and charge for accuracy. A set of loads will all work but one always stands out. Found a load for Bullseye under a Lee 358 125 rf. Great accuracy in a Hi point, but no variation in powder would group in a High power. That firearm wanted Power Pistol. As always, takes a lot of fun trial and error. Good luck.