your thoughts on a 9mm mold

[practical_man]

I want to purchase a mold for 9mm. 120-125 grain bullet, minimum diameter .357.

I'm thinking about the Lee 358-125 RF. Anyone using this in an auto loader?

Also looking at the Lee 356-125-2R. I'm a little concerned that this bullet doesn't hold much lube.

I'll use this load in (gasp) a Glock that has groove diameter of .3558. I doesn't do well with commercial cast at .356-ish. Bullets tumble at 25 yards with a variety of loads using HP-38, Universal, and Clays.

Thanks for your thoughts.

-john

[mooman76]

If you are having trouble with commercial cast in .356 I wouldn't go with the leesfg but rather the 358125rf you mentioned. I have never used that one but have heard good things about it. If you don't mind going a little lighter I have used the Lee 105g swc in .358 and it has shot very well in everything from .380-.357 to include a 9mm. Nice plinker but accurate too!

[randyrat]

I want to purchase a mold for 9mm. 120-125 grain bullet, minimum diameter .357.

I'm thinking about the Lee 358-125 RF. Anyone using this in an auto loader?

Also looking at the Lee 356-125-2R. I'm a little concerned that this bullet doesn't hold much lube.

I'll use this load in (gasp) a Glock that has groove diameter of .3558. I doesn't do well with commercial cast at .356-ish. Bullets tumble at 25 yards with a variety of loads using HP-38, Universal, and Clays.

Thanks for your thoughts.

-john Why not the TL356-124 it will cast out above ..356.. And you may not even have to size it. I would bet it cast at .357 and the round nose will feed good. My .02 worth. Play with the hardness, some of the store bought may be too hard. But then again the NINE is a high pressure round up to 35,000 max. It's kinda a tight rope, you need to get some pressure to work the action and obturate the bullet, yet not too much to lead the barrel and stretch your lube to it's limits. Keep an eye on leading until you are comfortable and confident with the load. I used to shoot a lot of lead out of the G22. I got tired of the stress - everybody tellin me i shouldn't be shootin lead heads out of a G gun. Good luck

[GabbyM]

I have the Lee 358-125-RF. Never shot it from 9mm but. Out of curiousity at one time I pushed one into a 9x19mm case to 1.050" and the crimp grove is coverd so it looks right at home.

[dwtim]

I found the lube groove on the 356-125-2R to be sufficient; however, I don't think mine casts large enough to make the lesser dimension more than .356".

[practical_man]

Thanks to those who've replied thus far. Your comments prompted me to fit a commercial 125 grain .358 flat nose bullet into a case as a dummy round. It feeds fine (manually cycled), seated to give the same internal case volume as the commercial .356 bullet.

Barring other comments, I think i'll but a 358-125 six banger and a .357 sizing die. Its worth a shot, though I'm a little concered about bullet stability in the fast twist glock. If it doesn't work out, I can always load the bullets for 38 special.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

-john