Some advice re 9mm HP boolit

[armoredman]

Ladies and gentlemen, I am looking for a unicorn. I want to find a hollow point mold, one that is easy to use, can be run to cast many at a time, gives a HP that will expand at cast velocities, and get this - doesn't cost a fortune. Caveat - I work for the state, so fortune to me might be what you might drop at the tables in Vegas in an afternoon...:-P I am looking to start using 9mm cast for my woods walking stuff.
Thank you for any constructive advise, much appreciated.

[Petrol & Powder]

I can't help you with all of those criteria but you may be better off with a TC flat point is it has to be a cast bullet. The 9mm does its best work around 115-125 grain weight and the TC design seems to function well in a large selection of pistols. The heavy for caliber bullets can often show good accuracy but they give up a lot of velocity.

If you just need a few hollowpoint rounds, you may be better off economically if you buy jacketed hollowpoints. The return on investment for a HP mold is going to take a LONG time.

I would suggest finding a 120 grain TC design mold that you and your pistol like for practice and then buying commercial hollowpoint bullets that are close to the same weight.

That's my $0.02.

[Gamsek]

https://www.mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav-no-lube-groove

Or this
https://www.mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav

Follow instructions how to use brass HP mould (preheating...) and your investment will be payed in one afternoon....great expansion and great accuracy

[asmith80]

https://www.mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav-no-lube-groove

Or this
https://www.mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav

Follow instructions how to use brass HP mould (preheating...) and your investment will be payed in one afternoon....great expansion and great accuracy


Ditto. This mold with the lube groove is the only 9mm I use now. I usually cast with the penta pins in because I like the way they look and I think the pins make it easier to cast with

[Petander]

https://www.mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav-no-lube-groove

Or this
https://www.mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav

Follow instructions how to use brass HP mould (preheating...) and your investment will be payed in one afternoon....great expansion and great accuracy

Ditto.

I got their 45 NLG HP mold last week and gave it a couple of preheat cycles. I've cast with it two short sessions only, I found it hard to stop casting the second time because the bullets fly out of the mold when I turn it upside down. Sometimes shake a little,absolutely no tapping whatsoever needed. I rather not hit my molds with anything.

Beautiful bullets,I use both HP pins.

[Petrol & Powder]

128.25 Euros is $143.00 at today's exchange rate - just saying.

You can buy 800 jacketed HP for $128:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1390208196/winchester-bullets-9mm-355-diameter-115-grain-jacketed-hollow-point

I enjoy casting and I've certainly spent more than $128 on a single mold but in keeping with the OP's criteria - he might get more bang for his buck with a non-HP mold for practice.

[Gamsek]

Sorry Petrol&Powder but we are here because of casting, not because we wanna buy jacketed stuff?
I personally am proud because I haven’t bought any jacketed for my 9,38,357,44,300BLK for years. I agree that any FP will work great too, I mostly use MP NLG FP version of this exact bullet in 8cav for my every day load.

Miha’s prices include shipping and you get much more then just a HP mould, you get two different HP pins and one set of 4 pins for making FP’s. Versatile and much worth its price.

After you cast 800 HP, you can still sell the mould and how is that NOT better then buying jacketed?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190521/6f0b8002235361c6450626c508879528.jpg

Photo of some expanded bullets from this 9mm mould (purple) and from MP 432-423 200grs 44 Spcl. Pure lead with some 5% tin is best for expansion.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190521/a58054b5dc11f91dc95cb6edfa579e0b.jpg

[Petrol & Powder]

I have no doubt about what you are saying.

However my response was based on this from the OP:

"......I want to find a hollow point mold, one that is easy to use, can be run to cast many at a time, gives a HP that will expand at cast velocities, and get this - doesn't cost a fortune. Caveat - I work for the state, so fortune to me might be what you might drop at the tables in Vegas in an afternoon... "

So while he wants a mold, he put limits on that request and the biggest limitation I saw in his post was price. I was just attempting shed some light on the cost of that option and give other alternatives.

[Gamsek]

Petrol&Powder, apologies from my side, I did not want to sound smart, giving advice is sometimes influenced by our preferences and your advice was reasonable.
For fellow caster who is on a edge of buying quality HP mould with built in versatility (NOE or MP) - welcome to the wonderful world of HPs[emoji41]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190521/cd69ddc59334a68ffc7848bafbb0b443.jpg

[Petander]

Considering a dual cavity RCBS mold costs 160 euros here,shipped,I can't think Mihec is an expensive 4-gang HP mold. I bought this RCBS last year from Brownells.

But I always drive 500€ 20+ years old cars.

242194.

[RED BEAR]

It may be a bit pricey but check i believe thats two molds for that price.

[Blammer]

I can heartily recommend this mould.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=34_256&products_id=345

[Blammer]

if your looking for the cheap but NO hp, get the same mould in fp option.

[Petander]

Or a Lee mold & something like Forster Hollow Pointer Kit?

[gnostic]

I have the Lyman 9mm Devastator and haven't been able to make it feed in my CZ75B. This bullet fits the magazine with room to spare, but won't chamber as the nose touches the lands. Fortunately, I only loaded a few trial rounds, I'll try seating the bullet deeper next time. I think this bullet at 133 grain from my mold, would be perfect for a 38spl...

[Burnt Fingers]

NOE or MP.

Every hollow point mold I've owned, well over a dozen right now, has paid for it's self in 1-2 casting sessions. I shoot a LOT of 9mm hollow points.

Either this mold https://mp-molds.com/e-shop/molds/hollow-points-molds/mp-359-125-hp-pb-4-cav

or this mold http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=34_463

I prefer the MP as I have a soft spot for brass molds and love the penta point.

[armoredman]

I have one NOE mold, and it is top notch. Thank you for some excellent leads.

[armoredman]

Or a Lee mold & something like Forster Hollow Pointer Kit?

I am not familiar with that item...

[fredj338]

I think NOE is your best bet for quality at a good price. LHP expansion is always about alloy & HP design. This one is a custom rcbs from Erik @ HPMS.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/136hp-1050.jpg (https://smg.photobucket.com/user/fredj338/media/136hp-1050.jpg.html) https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/9mm-136-1200.jpg (https://smg.photobucket.com/user/fredj338/media/9mm-136-1200.jpg.html)

[Boolseye]

yeah, I'd go with a NOE. His (Al Nelson's) online shop is really well set up and he's a true gent to boot.
Whatever he has in stock that's in the ballpark–I would go for a 135 gr., the HP will run in the 125-130 range.If he doesn't have what you want, things are always coming online as he finishes runs. Buy enough of them and everything's 10% off :-)

This would do the job: http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=34_258&products_id=1052
there's no less expensive option if you want to cast boucoups HPs

[Boolseye]

I am not familiar with that item...

it's a little jig with a dedicated drill bit for creating HPs in loaded rounds. Works well for small runs, say for hunting or perhaps SD. I had one before I ever bought an HP mould and it worked fine for rifle and pistol. Get the larger version if you get one (1/8" bit), more versatile. Can be used in the Forster trimmer or you can just use a drill press (my way) or even a hand drill.

[armoredman]

Nifty, thanks. I like the NOE molds, will have to save up after I pay off bills and some people.

[trapper9260]

When you get the molds from MP or NOE with the pins you will have more then on mold for the same price. I have both and they work for me. Just change the pins to what you want then go from there.

[Drew P]

I have the HP mold from mp, very nice mold! However, it’s brass and heavy and the HP function complicates everything a little. I jumped on his later offering of a flat point 130gr in aluminum with 8 cavs and gosh does that thing RAIN bullets! For 95$ delivered it’s plenty economical considering the rate at which you can produce. After getting used to bigger aluminum molds im having a hard time appreciating brass anymore. Nice to look at but not as easy to use for sure. Anyway, if a FP will work, look at that option. Of course as mentioned the HP Moulder comes with 4 profile styles to choose from. Round point, flat, and two HP shapes. Pretty cool.

[Boolseye]

I love brass molds, but they do take a LOT of pre-heating and are heavy as anything.
I won’t buy a brass mold over two-cavity.

[Drew P]

I love brass molds, but they do take a LOT of pre-heating and are heavy as anything.
I won’t buy a brass mold over two-cavity.
I just don’t know what the advantage of brass would be. Aluminum seems to work better in all aspects, and it’s got to be a cheaper material to start with.

[ozarkeod]

Lyman now has a 9mm HP in their Devastator line, large cavity 125gr .356.

[Petander]

4 cav brass molds are becoming my favorites.

Once up to temp, they stay there. I like to take little breaks,go sit in the Sun,sip beer. Come back casting and pour perfect bullets again, right away. And brass won't overheat very easily either.

Very relaxing.

[gwpercle]

Lyman now has a 9mm HP in their Devastator line, large cavity 125gr .356.

$85.00 and only a single cavity from Lyman...they are low production .

I would invest that in an NOE with extra pins to cast 2 different HP's and a pin for solid nose.
Like having 3 different boolit moulds and get a 4 cavity to boot , in aluminum , for $133.00...that's $48.00 more but worth every penny . You can get gas check , plain base or 2 of each in the same mould . Beats a 1 cavity Lyman seven ways to Sunday !

I still prefer aluminum because of the weight... a 4 cavity NOE aluminum is about all I can handle , they are much heavier than I thought they would be... I've been ordering 3 cavity moulds lately...getting older sucks .
Gary

[Priusron]

I have a NOE 45 cal mold that will produce both ho and flat nose.

[Boolseye]

An RG2 (two-cav NOE HP mould) is a thing of beauty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Forrest r]

Myself I like/use the Mihec 125gr hp's for my 9mm's. I have the 4-cavity brass mold and find it no heavier than any of the several steel 4-cavity molds I have. Anymore I doesn't matter if I use a 4/6/8-cavity mold, I'm only good for 2 runs of a 20# pot.

Never found brass molds hard to pre-heat & I actually prefer them over al molds. When the brass molds gets hot it stays at a more even temperature longer than the al molds. I hate having to slow down when casting with al molds because they heat up quickly and it takes longer for the sprues to puddle. IMHO: the more even the heat of the mold is the more even the quality of the bullets are.

The mihec's have fed in every 9mm I tried them in & I typically run them in the 1050fps to 1150fps range using +/- 9bhn range scrap. The mihec's in a 3.2" bbl'd 9mm with a 1050fps load.
https://i.imgur.com/ZxGtzF4.jpg

The same bullet has become my favorite plinking bullet for a 1911.
https://i.imgur.com/a8fXZPh.jpg

Not hand picked/cherry picked by any means. Nothing more then the test target used that day testing loads with the mihec 125gr er's/1911 combo. A 1150fps plinking load using those 125gr mihec hp's in a 1911, 10-shot group @ 50ft.
https://i.imgur.com/N6XBlbc.jpg

I'm sure there's other excellent hp designs out there for the 9mm. I bought that 4-cavity mihec mold years ago & it simply casts a pile of excellent quality bullets in a hurry that preform well enough that I've never bother to look around at anything else.

[armoredman]

And amazingly enough this little darlin' fell into my hands at the local pawn shop.

https://i.imgur.com/ApEmasJ.jpg

With a #1 collet and #27 pilot, everything working and present...$5.

So, now time for that Universal Hollow Pointer kit. :)

[gwpercle]

I can heartily recommend this mould.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=34_256&products_id=345

Get this one in a gas checked version , with the 3 different pins , 2 hollow point and one flat point .
It's like having three different moulds and the gas check allows for hot loads with no lead and helps with seating soft boolits...the hard GC doesn't get sized smaller on seating .
I got the 124 grain truncated cone design...it works wonderfully and I can size the boolits .358 and load them in 38 special and 357 magnum.... now that's a versatile mould !
It may cost more than a Lee 2 cavity but it will be worth every penny.
And this is from someone who hates to spend a dime... I spend it on a NOE mould like this .
Gary

[Drew P]

Another consideration regarding price is that a quality mold will be worth quite a bit to sell used if that is desirable. You could even cast say 6000 bullets with it over a year and then sell it for probably 60% or more of its original cost. My impression is that all the quality molds are priced somewhat closely, and lee molds are the odd option being much cheaper. So if you’re cheap, buy a Lee. If you don’t want a lee, then take your pick of the quality stuff and it’s going to be MP or Noe most likely.

[RED BEAR]

I will admit my mp molds are the best i own. But i really like lee molds but no hollow point. I have at least one lee mold in almost every caliber i cast. 6.5 and 25 acp.