Lee 358-125-RF in 9mm?

[reloader28]

I like it and we are shooting it in 7 or 8 different 9mm's. Sized .358 on top of 4.4gr Bullseye at 1.017 and about 1170fps

It does make a sweet hollow point. I drilled mine out with 1/8" bit down to the crimp groove in 50/50/2% (pure/ww/tin).
In milk jugs it stops at only .300 thick but a nice .685 in diameter and 100% weight retention.

[mdi]

One of my favorite molds is the 358-125 RNFP. I use it it 6 guns; 2 38 Specials, one 357 Mag., three 9mms, I just push them through the appropriate sizing die...

[Tom W.]

I believe I'm going to get one, as both of my 9mm like .358 cast boolits. Plus I have that little Colt Police Positive that would probably be happy with that boolit also.

[Jal5]

My S&W Shield loves this boolit. It's the only one I use in that 9mm

[adam_mac84]

I use the 358-125RF, sized to .358, in the 3 different 9mm handguns that I own. No 'squeezing down' needed.

To get it to chamber in all, I have to load to 1.050 OAL. No problems feeding, and I get very good accuracy from it with no leading.

Because of the short OAL, consideration must be given to the charge weight. A reduced case capacity due to seating the boolit so deep can result in high pressures, especially in such a small case as the 9x19.

I used a chrono to help with load development.

. Would you be willing to share some of you chrono data? I have yet to get one, and hope to make minor PF in this load (currently most concerned with knocking plates down in 3 gun). I too am loading to 1.050. I am guessing with increased pressure of the shorter OAL, you ended up with an increase in velocity? I load my plated to 1.155 and have gotten the performance I need with the plates in 3 gun matches. Have not shot my cast in event yet... not enough rounds of it down range to be 100%

[wbrco]

If you take a set of calipers and measure the length of the TL grooves on the Lee 124 RN TL and the length to the crimp band of the 358 125 RF you will find them almost identical, to within .001

[xringshutr]

It's short, but run it. 358 and seated so the lube groove is just under the case mouth and it should shoot great. This bullet does great for me in 357 Sig and 9mm. My favorite cast bullet in these calibers.

Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk

[Boolseye]

I own many Lee molds, this is on the short list for my next one for all the reasons discussed.

[DougGuy]

I actually don't like this boolit in 9mm as it must be loaded very deeply and to a rather short COL. I do have a Lee 120TC and an Accurate 147Y slick sided that I use in 9mm. On the flip side of this I have just started testing this boolit in 357Sig as it requires a short COL. I just got a new barrel today for my XD Subcompact mod.2 and loaded up a couple of dozen with AA #7 and they shot very well.

Throat the barrel, no more issues, seat as long as the magazine will allow, it will run like a Singer sewing machine, no leading, and shoot lights out.

[yondering]

. Would you be willing to share some of you chrono data? I have yet to get one, and hope to make minor PF in this load (currently most concerned with knocking plates down in 3 gun). I too am loading to 1.050. I am guessing with increased pressure of the shorter OAL, you ended up with an increase in velocity? I load my plated to 1.155 and have gotten the performance I need with the plates in 3 gun matches. Have not shot my cast in event yet... not enough rounds of it down range to be 100%

I've used this one with WSF to reach ~1180 fps out of a G19. That may be a hot load, I don't really remember, so use at your own risk but 5.5gr was the most accurate for me although i did go up to 6.0gr.

If you want more velocity though in a Lee mold, you're really better off with the 120-TC bullet; it has a lot more potential because it doesn't take up so much case volume, and can be a very accurate bullet.

If you take a set of calipers and measure the length of the TL grooves on the Lee 124 RN TL and the length to the crimp band of the 358 125 RF you will find them almost identical, to within .001

Depending how this bullet is sized though, it often has some bearing surface in front of the crimp groove as well. This is what gives it the need to seat so deep. Depends on your mold too; mine dropped large enough that even sized to .358" I had ~.050-.080" bearing surface in front of the crimp groove.

[Shiloh]

125 gr RF seats deeper into the case. A LOT deeper than the 125 gr. RN 9mm mold. Back off your start charge and work up carefully.

Shiloh

[rintinglen]

I just finished shooting up the last of my 9 mm's loaded with this boolit and I'll not be going back. I was concerned that being seated so deeply, if it suffered from set back at all, I might have a bigger bang than I wanted.

IMO, the 356-120 TC is much the better boolit. The only reason for loading the 358-125RF in the 9 MM is if you are financially challenged and need to restrict your mold expenditures, in which case it will work for your 9mm's as well as your 38's and 357's. But I am not so limited and would rather find the "right" mold than try to cover with a "0ne-size-fits-all."

[arlon]

I'm an old retiree so I'm financially challenged. I load lightly and have strong guns (STI Trojan and S&W Wesson 3566 Limited) so I don't think the setback will be an issue for me. I've read enough in the past few weeks to convince me to try it. I also only shoot for my personal enjoyment. I don't need to compete with anyone.

I also like the idea of having some lead honed into barrel throats to accommodate a longer bullet. The 3566 Limited is throated for 147 gr bullet and magazines are made for the 356TSW round. Lot of room to work there I think. It will take some "plunk" testing to see how far out they can be loaded and still chamber. Not sure about the STI chamber, I'm sure there isn't as much room to work with there.

rintinglen, if you're so flush, why do you even have a Lee mold in the first place?

[rintinglen]

Lee 6 cavity molds are the best VALUE going. The fact that you can get two for less than a hundred bucks is the bomb. I will say that for a broke fellow, you have some expensive hard ware
I would like to have one of the 3566 guns, but they are sadly not available in Commiefornia and I still have 2 years and 8 months to go on my sentence.

[arlon]

Lee 6 cavity molds are the best VALUE going. The fact that you can get two for less than a hundred bucks is the bomb. I will say that for a broke fellow, you have some expensive hard ware
I would like to have one of the 3566 guns, but they are sadly not available in Commiefornia and I still have 2 years and 8 months to go on my sentence.

If you ever find a 3566, grab it. They are amazing pistols. I just wish Starline would make another run of 356TSW brass. I had Briley make me a 9x19 barrel when they still had the blanks. Shooting 9x19 in the 3566 is like only being able to shoot 38s in a really nice 357.

The Lee 6 cavity molds are a bargain. I'll give them that. Two cavity molds are cheap enough to try for a few hundred rounds. If you like it get the 6 cavity and if you don't, throw it away or sell it on an auction site for $2 less than you paid for it.

[LAH]

See post 15.

For my part I like the Lee 38-125-RF in my CZ. Works great.

[Moonie]

Throat the barrel, no more issues, seat as long as the magazine will allow, it will run like a Singer sewing machine, no leading, and shoot lights out.

I have no need to throat the barrel as I have other molds that do much better than this one in 9mm. It is my go-to in 357 Sig however. The COL is perfect.