9mm or 38

[Doc - J]

I was looking for a Lee mold that would give me a SWC with TL. Lee makes a Wadcutter and a Semi-watcutter both are TL. Then I see a 124 grain thats listed for 9mm,38 special TL (just what I was looking for) BUT is .356. Would there be a problem using it in a 38 or 357? BTW I have a 2 inch barrel.
I do have the 9mm RN 124 gr RN TL that I could try first, but need all the facts first.
Has any play with problem?

[BOOM BOOM]

Hi,
The Smaller Bullet Dia. Of The 9mm Bullet Will Probibly Lead To Accurcay & Leading Problems.

[357maximum]

Hi,
The Smaller Bullet Dia. Of The 9mm Bullet Will Probibly Lead To Accurcay & Leading Problems.

It did in my S&W model 36, real badly. I ended up giving the .356 mold away. I had excellent luck with the 125 RNFP cowboy boolit then I switched over to an rcbs 148 gr wadcutter, and have never looked back. For full snort defense rounds I always use factory ammo for legal reasons, even I do not fully understand.


Michael

[versifier]

You can use .358+ boolits in a 9MM, and size them down if needed for feeding. The other way around won't work unless your 9MM mould drops at least .358 (I have an old Ideal that does, but Lee isn't known for oversize boolits from its moulds). Buy the bigger .358 moulds and save yourself a lot of cleaning time. It's amazing how much lead can build up even in a 2" barrel. :-D

[Lloyd Smale]

might be worth a try. My ppc gun shoots bullets sized to .357 better then .358. Try casting with a little tin added to insure fillout and you might have bigger bullets then you think. Ive seen few lee molds that are dead on for size.

[Leftoverdj]

It's a crapshoot with the odds against you. As others have noted, Lee moulds run on the tight side. You have a better chance of getting a mould that casts under .358 than of getting one that casts that big.

I did luck out though, and got a 356-153-2R six cavity that casts big enough for everything I have. It ain't nothing to count on.

[rbstern]

Doc, I have the Lee 124 truncated cone TL in a double cavity mold, and it throws wheel weights at .359. I've used it in 9mm and 357/38. Works great. The bonus: It's a great 357 lever gun bullet. Feeds perfectly every time in my Rossi M92.

[dk17hmr]

I have a Lee 120gr 9mm mold that throws at .358. I load those for my dads 38 Special. Actually very accurate. We havent tried them in 9mm yet. I think it is a TC bullet loaded at 750-800 fps in that ol smith makes a 1" group at 25 yards easy enough. It they dont work out in the 9mm we will probably get a Lee sizer.

DK