Choose a 9mm Mold

[JScott]

I am ready to begin casting for a 9mm Hi-Power and would like some mold advice. In a choice between an RCBS 09-124-rn-tg and a Lyman 356402 120 gr TC which would you pick and why? I am a little concerned with undersized bullets from the Lyman based on prior experience and other input I have heard lately but have heard good things about this bullet design. I am a big fan of my other RCBS molds but don't have any experience with this particular mold. All input appreciated.

[winelover]

I am ready to begin casting for a 9mm Hi-Power and would like some mold advice. In a choice between an RCBS 09-124-rn-tg and a Lyman 356402 120 gr TC which would you pick and why? I am a little concerned with undersized bullets from the Lyman based on prior experience and other input I have heard lately but have heard good things about this bullet design. I am a big fan of my other RCBS molds but don't have any experience with this particular mold. All input appreciated.

I use the gas checked design of the RCBS 124 gr round nose in my Hi Power. It feeds well at 1.100 OAL. and sized to .356 as recommended by RCBS. My powder of choice is UNIQUE. I bought this mould many years ago when gas checks were plentiful and cheap. Today I probably would opt for the unchecked design. BTW, I recently picked up an older Lyman 120 gr TC but have yet to cast for it.

Winelover:lovebooli

[BarryinIN]

In a choice between two similar bullets from Lyman or RCBS, for me it would come down to liking RCBS quality and liking Lyman's option of a 4-cavity.
Which of those was more useful for the guns intended would decide it.

For 9mm that I shoot a lot, I really like 4+ cavity moulds. I've found I like the odd-looking Saeco 383 in 9mm, but mine is a 2-cav and that is slow going when trying to keep enough bullets ahead for practice and the occasional IDPA or IPSC match..

[MtGun44]

I strongly suggest that you do NOT size to .356 with boolits fro 9mm Para. It CAN
work, but the great majority of the time, you need .357 or .358 to get accy and
no leading. Slug the bore and size to .001 or .002 over groove diameter.

I apologize for violating your two choices for molds, but the Lee 356-120 TC regular lube
groove, not tumble lube, has done extremely well for me in many different 9mms, and
also for many others here on Cast Boolits.

Best of luck.

Bill

[casterofboolits]

Depends on how much money you want to spend. I prefer four cavity molds myself.

My Hi-Power prefered a boolit sized .357 and I used an H&G six cavity 09-125- SWCBB over 6.5 grns of Blue Dot.

This was a one holer combination in 09 at fifteen yards. Also great as a plinker in 38 Super.

Saeco makes several excellent 9mm molds. #924 09-122-SWCBB, #115 09-122-RNBB, #377 09-122-TCBB.

Ballisti Cast has continued the H&G line and offer the #909-09-125-TC PB or BB, #875 125-SW PB or BB.

Lyman molds size .356 and are iffy when sizing to .357. The Saeco and H&G molds size to .357 fine.

Of course the Lyman four cavity mold costs about $82.00 at Midway, and the Saeco $152.00. Ballisti-Cast check in at $200.00.

[fecmech]

I would second the choice of the Lee 121 TC (with lube groove). The main advantage is that it comes in the 6 cavity and you can make a lot of bullets quick. I also have the RCBS version in a 2 cavity and I cannot detect any accuracy difference between the two bullets out to 50 yds. They are both very accurate. I use the Lee more because it casts at .358 so I use it also in my .38 pistol and .357 rifle.

[sundog]

I've shot a bunch of the Ly 356402, and they work just fine. In fact, I just finished last night prepping 400+ of this boolit at .358 with FWFL which will probably get loaded with AA5. I prefer, however, the RCBS 9mm-147-FN with it's PB as opposed to the Ly 356637 (147 gr also) with a BB. Another heavy that works well is the Ly 358311. Load data for it is Lyman 45th Ed, iirc. Unique and HS6 are two more good powders for the heavies.

[emorris]

I have the lee 120gn tc regular lube mold. It seems to be a good mold and casts at about .359. Midway does have the lyman 120gn tc #356402 mold on safe for 44.13. The lee is still more cost effective at 19.79 with handles.

[chris in va]

I had horrible accuracy issues with .356 boolits so I had to get a Lee 358-125-RF that would actually grip the miniscule rifling in my CZ. Works great now.

[theperfessor]

+1 for the Lee 358-125 RF sized to .358. Works great in my Hi-Power as well as various .38s and .357s.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

They both feed well. The RCBS is the better quality mold, plus they back up what they sell. It is true that RCBS makes only a 2 cav mold, but Lyman quality control lately has been the pits and you don't know what diameter bullets you are going to wind up with. You also don't need a gas check; in the 9mm its just added expense. The response by Caster of Bullets has the widest latitude...there are other good options offered by other mold makers....go on line, shop around and ask questions about what you find. It takes a lot of brands of whiskey to make a bar. LLS

[GabbyM]

For quick size check find a .357" jacketed revolver bullet and see if it will drop into your barrel throat. then before I spent money on a mould I'd slug the barrel.
With a HP if it does not drop in that will be the first time I've heard of that. S&W and Sig Saur may be tight enough that only a .356" bullet will fit into the throat but others may need .358" bullets just to shoot up to expectations. If you need a fat bullet the Lee 125gr rnfp revoler bullet is a dandy. I have a couple Magma bullet moulds I ordered in 38 Super size so they'd make .358" bullets when needed.

[emorris]

I know that I am a newcomer to this site and bring a limited knowledge of bullet casting with me. when I started casting for my 9mm this site was a life saver to me as well as mtgun44. I did numerous searches for the 9mm and found many threads all with different problems for casting for the 9mm. It seems that a lot of newer to casting people are having trouble casting for this caliber (judging by their post count and their comments in the threads) like I did. I was wondering if a stickie could be started for this caliber so everyone will have a one stop shop for the dreadful 9. It would be a good place to discuss molds,lubes,and tricks of the trade. I may be out of line on this, but just a thought.

[Ole]

I have used the Lee 125 RNFP sized to .357 with good success in my SW model 59.

[Elk Country]

I have a RCBS 115gr. RN mold for sale on the Swappin and Sellin page.....Just in case you might be interested and want to look.

Elk Country

[prickett]

I am ready to begin casting for a 9mm Hi-Power and would like some mold advice. In a choice between an RCBS 09-124-rn-tg and a Lyman 356402 120 gr TC which would you pick and why? I am a little concerned with undersized bullets from the Lyman based on prior experience and other input I have heard lately but have heard good things about this bullet design. I am a big fan of my other RCBS molds but don't have any experience with this particular mold. All input appreciated.

I shoot the Lee 358-125-RF die. Allows me to shoot either .357 or 9mm's. And, I can oversize the 9mms.

[jbremount]

I shoot the Lee 358-125-RF die. Allows me to shoot either .357 or 9mm's. And, I can oversize the 9mms.


I size my 9mm bullets to .358. I also use the Lee 358-125-RF six cavity mold. It is not a very expensive mold(http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=916523), but IMO, it can cast good usable bullets for 9mm and .38/.357 revolvlers.


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g153/jbremount/9mmascastbullet.jpg

[theperfessor]

The picture of the bullet in the catalogs does not really look like the bullet I get from my mold and mine look just a little different than the one in your photo. Must have been a "profile drift" over the years with this mold.

Edit: It's hard to recommend an OAL when the nose length changes over the years. In .38/.357 I just seat to a the crimp groove, in 9mm I seat to allow the cartridge to just drop in the chamber.

[jbremount]

The picture of the bullet in the catalogs does not really look like the bullet I get from my mold and mine look just a little different than the one in your photo. Must have been a "profile drift" over the years with this mold.

Edit: It's hard to recommend an OAL when the nose length changes over the years. In .38/.357 I just seat to a the crimp groove, in 9mm I seat to allow the cartridge to just drop in the chamber.

I ordered my mold a few months ago from Midway. The picture on Midway's website is the older design. FWIK, the above photo is the newest design. Maybe the newer design feeds better in more guns. Mine cast .359-.360 diameter bullet, @129grs, using an alloy of straight wheel weights. I water drop them and size to .358 with a lyman lubersizer.

I lube mine like this for the 9mm:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g153/jbremount/9mmbullet.jpg


The picture below is what the bullet looks like seated for my CZ-75b: In order for the bullets to chamber in the CZ-75b gun, the OAL must be short. The bullet OAL is approx 1.025-1.032 for my CZ. This increases the pressure of small cased 9mm reloads, therefore I started low and worked the load up slowly.

Nice looking 9mm bullets ...IMO:)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g153/jbremount/targets/IMG_0664.jpg

[JScott]

Thanks for the feedback. I went with the RCBS 124 RN TG based on my past experience with RCBS vs Lyman. My last two Lymans have dropped significantly undersized while my RCBS have been outstanding. I'll report back on my results.

[skeet1]

If you like a SWC bullet the Lee 358-105 is a good 9MM choice.

Skeet1

[MtGun44]

+1 on the Lee 38-105 SWC. Excellent design, works great in my 9mm High Power.
This was my first mold ever, back in 1975.

Bill

[Dannix]

Thanks for the posts on this thread. I would have never thought to have given the 358-125-RF a look. 358-105-SWC, wow I really wouldn't have thought of this one.

I'm planning on casting 9mm once my j-word pile dwindles down. Got a Star on the to-buy list first though. Would the Star handle the 358-125-RF's dual lube grooves OK? I thought I saw something about single grooves being easier to lube.

[MtGun44]

105 SWC is a near perfect 9mm analog for the H&G 68 in .45 ACP which is THE most
popular commercial boolit in recent history, I would bet.

Bill

[MtGun44]

Star injects lube on stationary boolits. Must have holes aligned to the grooves and boolit
set to proper height. Can be a bit of a hassle with multigroove boolits to get the correct
holes open and the incorrect plugged with shot, then set the top punch height to get the grooves
aligned with the holes. Once set, the Star is a really great lubrisizer, have two and like them
very much. I use them for mostly single groove designs like Keiths and this makes it easy
to change boolits. Even so, I tend to set them up for something that I am going to lube
a WHOLE bunch of.

Bill

[DanM]

+1 on .358" bullets in the BHP. Mine Likes the Lee 105, 124TC, and the 124RN. Unlike others , I have no problems with the TL versions of the 124s. Most accurate 9mm bullet in my BHP is the TL124TC. Why don't you guys like the TL designs? They sure work well for me....

[prickett]

+1 on .358" bullets in the BHP. Mine Likes the Lee 105, 124TC, and the 124RN. Unlike others , I have no problems with the TL versions of the 124s. Most accurate 9mm bullet in my BHP is the TL124TC. Why don't you guts like the TL designs? They sure work well for me....

For me personally, I've not had ANY luck with tumble lubing and 9mm's.

Are your loads pretty (or very) light loads?

[Dannix]

Thanks for the posts MtGun44.

The 358-125-RF, perhaps Lee 6-cavities in general: What kind of cavity variance is expected?

[MtGun44]

You are welcome! :-)

Nothing to worry about in cavity variation, I doubt you could measure it.

Bill

[MtGun44]

Prickett's results are too common, and since we keep hearing about the failures here
and spend a lot of time on them, I have gradually started to be pretty negative on
the whole TL concept. It is certainly cheap for a start, and I'm all for that, but I started
with pan lubing and cake cutting, unsized. I shot a lot of 9mm 105 SWCs that way
in my HP. Because I didn't have a sizer, they were as cast and worked fine right off
the bat.

TL seems to be a pretty marginal lube system, not surprising when you consider the
quantity of lube provided. I have tried it briefly and very much disliked the mess in
the process and the sticky boolits and ammo that results, plus I had poor accy in the
couple of examples I tried. Since I have all the lubrisizer equipment already, I stopped using
it. The newbie with a limited budget would definitely be attracted, and I wish them
well. However, I won't recommend it to newbies, but recommend pan lubing as a
cheap alternative with a higher likelihood of success and little or no cost penalty.

Bill

[DanM]

I have no problems with the TL lube designs. I even shoot the pointy 30cal-160gr TL to 2000fps+ in several rifles with great accuracy. Hardness may help here. My rifle bullets are 25+bhn. Pistol bullets about 15bhn....

[7x57]

I have recently started casting for 9mm and use the Lyman 356402, which I bought recently. I guess I have been luckier than some here, my recent Lymans cast fine size-wise. I size to .357 and have fine results in my Walther P-1, Glock 19, and High Power. This bullet feeds great, hadn't had a jam yet. I am wishing I had sprung for a 4-cavity, though.

[MtGun44]

YEP! I started with a 2 cav 356-120-TC when I recently wanted to get back to loading
for 9mm in more quantity. The old 38-105 SWC single cav wasn't cutting it anymore.
Good design, but I wanted to try the 120 TC.

After a few hundred from the two cav, I bought the six cav version and it is excellent.
Multiple 9mms just eats thru the ammo pretty quickly.

Bill