Taurus PT99AF Cast Bullet

[dabsond]

CORRECTION: TAURUS PT92AF

I am in the process of purchasing a Taurus PT92 used in 9mm. I know the answer is slug the bore. Not quite sure how to do that with a short pistol barrel. I guess my question is based on other taurus barrels, what would be the best fit. Thanks in advance.

[bruce drake]

Dan,

I own a Taurus 99AF that I learned needed .358 boolits to shoot decently past 15 yards. This of course after I had bought 3 9mm molds. I save them for my plinking loads. For accuracy past 15 yards I'm still looking for a good RN mold in the <130gr range as I'm using a 38cal 148gr SWC right now that makes a passable hole in the target at 25 and 50yards.

Bruce

[Echo]

My recommendation for ANY auto is to load the fattest boolit that will reliably feed, and you have the best chance for success.

[sleeper1428]

Dan,

I own a Taurus 99AF that I learned needed .358 boolits to shoot decently past 15 yards. This of course after I had bought 3 9mm molds. I save them for my plinking loads. For accuracy past 15 yards I'm still looking for a good RN mold in the <130gr range as I'm using a 38cal 148gr SWC right now that makes a passable hole in the target at 25 and 50yards.

Bruce

Interesting! I've owned a Taurus PT99AF for going on 20 years and have shot almost exclusively lead boolits, lots of them, over the years. I've always sized to .356 and have had quite acceptable accuracy, the only problem being my own inability to shoot straight! I have tried sizing to both .357 and .358 but neither of these sizings led to any smaller groups than the .356 sizing. Leads me to wonder if perhaps there wasn't a good deal of variation in groove diameter in the earlier versions of this Taurus pistol, with some being cut 'tighter' than others. Guess I'm going to have to slug my barrel to determine the actual groove diameter. But then again, if I discover that the diameter is actually .356, I'm going to be faced with the question of why .356 sized boolits work so well and why boolits sized larger don't work better. Something to consider on a cold winter day....

sleeper1428

[Recluse]

I'd have better luck playing pick-up sticks with my butt cheeks than to try and make a lead boolit shoot consistently good out of ANY of my 9mms.

I'm cursed.

:coffee:

[Wally]

I have a 99AF and use the Lee 102RN with 4.0 grains of Red Dot---bullet "as cast--ACWW" is .357" I use a .358" sizer. Very accurate and a great can plinking load... The barrel does lead up a bit but cleans up quickly with a few passes of a bristle brush with chore boy wrapped around it. Despite the fouling, it remains accurate. I have used harder alloys sized to .358". makes no difference. Also like the Lee 105 SWC, but it will misfeed at times.

[prickett]

Dan,

I own a Taurus 99AF that I learned needed .358 boolits to shoot decently past 15 yards. This of course after I had bought 3 9mm molds. I save them for my plinking loads. For accuracy past 15 yards I'm still looking for a good RN mold in the <130gr range as I'm using a 38cal 148gr SWC right now that makes a passable hole in the target at 25 and 50yards.

Bruce

+1 on the .358 bullet. My PT99 slugs to .356. Sizing to .358 gives me a very tight group. I use the .358 125 gr RF Lee mold.

[bruce drake]

I'll have to find that LEE 125gr mold and try it out. the 148s are about as heavy as I dare to go with a 9mm.

[Ed Gallop]

I've been casting .356 for my PT99AF for years without a problem with accuracy. I first had a problem with ejection, that didn't exist with jacketed, but that was resolved by making sure the loads were nearer maximum and increasing hardness to #2 alloy from WW. Don't know which worked but I haven't had a problem since. Ed.

[putteral]

I have the 92 AFS. It only sees lead. I size mine to .357 and get great results ( especially Mihec's 125 HP).

[MtGun44]

Recluse,

I know you are an old hand at this, so I am surprised. If you are interested, I'll ship
you a few dozen of my Lee 356-124TC boolits sized to .357 or .358 or even loaded ammo
if you are trusting (crazy?) enough to try my ammo. My loads work in at least 6 different
9mms that I have and friends and relatives have. It CAN be done!

I use the Lee boolit above in AC WWts with 50-50 lube, sized typically to .357 and loaded
over 6.8 gr SP8 (don't even bother looking for it, it is an obscure Nobel powder whose ONLY
application is 9mm- I know that sounds impossible and I wouldn't have believed it until I
tried it on several other calibers with scary results). Nobel ONLY lists 9mm Para data for
it and I traded (in total ignorance) for 8 lbs of it. Works great in 9mm and is a ball powder
that meters well. I have had some success with other powders but basically use SP8
all the time since I have so much to use and it works so well. My bet is that lots of other
loads would work just as well, but can't prove it. 4.8 Bullseye has worked for me with
J-bullets, may work with cast.

I also have had excellent results in years gone by with the Lee 105 gr SWC. It is kinda like
a mini-H&G 68 for 9mm. Works well.

here's a couple of groups. Keep in mind that that same Sig will put PMC ball into 9 inches
at 25 yds. !! I have gotten as good as 2.5 inches from the Beretta, but it is no tackdriver
in my experience.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=161&pictureid=2345
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=161&pictureid=2344

Bill

[chris in va]

FWIW I didn't get any accuracy at all with my CZ and Hipoint carbine until I went with a Lee RF 125gr 358 mold. It drops at .362 so I had to buy a sizing die for 358. The CZ slugs at .355.

I haven't done any higher FPS testing as the boolit is seated really deep, but I keep it at the published minimums and it works well.