Lyman 358-242 121 gr RN - anyone use it in 9mm or 380 ACP?

[bedbugbilly]

Tonight I was killing time reading my 3rd edition of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I was looking over the data for the 9mm Luger and 380 ACP - haven't loaded any 9mm for a while and am looking at adding a 380 "fun gun".

Anyway . . . I cast and use the Lyman 358-121 121 gr Round Nose and use it a lot in my 38 Colt Short, Long and 38 Spls. I just "like" the boolit. When I was looking over the data for the 380 ACP, the only two boolits they list are the 358-242 in the 92 grain and 121 grain weights. So . . . I have a couple of questions in regards to the121 grain weight and using it in the .380. I am pretty well set-up to load the 380 but was going to order a Lee 102 gr RN for the 380 to try. Since I already cast the 358-242 121 gr RN - if it will work, it will save adding another mold to the pile.

I'm curious . . . anyone use this boolit in reloading their 380s and if so, how does it work out for you? The Lyman manual recommends sizing it to .355 . . . the only sizing die I have close to that is a .356. Will that work or will it cause a problem with a bulge in the case? I'll be loading on a Lee die set. Since I don't have a 380 pistol yet (got my eyes on a good used Bersa but have run across several others as well) I can't load up a dummy and do a "plunk test". I do have a 380 cartridge gauge so can check with that.

Is a 121 gr. too heavy for a 380 and should I be considering another lighter boolit? The data lists Bulls Eye, Red Dot, 700X and Unique - all of which I have on my shelf to choose from.

Also . . . in regards to the 358-242 121 grain Round Nose . . . anyone use it in loading their 9mm? Right now, I'm using a Lee 356-120 TC, sizing them to .357 and they shoot well out of my Ruger SR9 over 3.5 gr of Bulls Eye. After seeing the 358-242 121 gr Round Nose listed under .380, I went back to the 9mm data and was surprised it didn't show that boolit for the 9mm. They list the 92 grain version of that boolit so I'm going to give it a try and I wouldn't think there should be any feed problems with it. Anyone load the 121 grain version in their 9mms? If so, how do they work for you?

I've had experience with the 380s as far as shooting but it's always been lighter weight J words in factory ammo. Just not sure which is better way to go with a lead boolit in a 380 - a lighter weight boolit in say a 90 to 105 grain weight or a heavier boolit in the 120 grain weight?

I'm sure the answer is "try it and see" but am just trying to get other's experiences if they use it. Any suggestions on what works best in a 380? (And I realize every pistol shoot differently.)

Thanks

[boho]

I haved loaded and tested 50 rounds of the 356-102 in my lil ladies Bersa Thunder as cast pan lubed. I used unique and FWFL and it was very low smoke and accurate at 10 yds. My next test will be sized to .356 in my 4500 with FWFL. When I slugged the bore it was .356 using calipers. Sizing them barely touched them, so I'm hoping to get the same results. My bullets dropped from that mold @104 grains and that's the heaviest I've loaded for it. I wouldn't load a 121. Just my preference, I would expect feeding issues.

[tazman]

I have used the 358242 121 grain in my 9mm. It fed perfectly and shot as accurately as most anything else I have used save 1 boolit.
The groove diameter in my 9mm is on the large side at .3575 so I use it sized at .358 and use the same load data I used for the Lee 356-120-tc, the Lyman 356402, and the Lee 356-125-2r.

[Jupiter7]

Sorry no .380 experience. I have a NOE copy of the 358242, drops .360 and 124grs. It is my preferred mold for 9mm with 3.5grs BE. Works real nice with same load in 38spl too. Looking into a new .38 super, bet it excels there too.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have used Lyman 358242 successfully in the 9mm for years; also in the 38 special. Drops from mold at .358 so I load as is without sizing. It feeds flawlessly in 3 different 9mm semiautos. Don't have a 380 so can't comment. It casts easily and shoots very accurately. have also used it as a short range plinker in the 35 Whelan. LLS

[KuunLB]

hmm maybe this shoudl go here

i'm contemplating the 358-125-RF curious if anyone has used it in 9mm ?

[tazman]

hmm maybe this shoudl go here

i'm contemplating the 358-125-RF curious if anyone has used it in 9mm ?

It works like a charm. Feeds well and shoots well. Lots of people on this site will recommend it for the 9mm as well as the 38/357.
Get the 6 cavity mold as you will go through a lot of them.

[SwedeNelson]

bedbugbilly

Lyman made a short version - 92Gr.
I use it and a 88Gr. hollow point in my 380
We have a copy of it on our website

92Gr. RN
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product...s187a46em4buh4
88Gr. HP
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product...s187a46em4buh4


Works great
Bullet maker, maker
Swede Nelson

[Ed_Shot]

Lyman 358242 (121 gr) is my favorite for 9MM over Blue Dot 6.0 gr. It is also superb in 38 Spl & 357 in both pistol and rifle. I consider it too heavy for the .380. Mine drops at .360 and I size to .358. I have the newer Lyman 356242 (90 gr.) which I had Erik expand so I could size to .358 and it is awesome in both .380 and 9MM. I like the 90 gr over Unique 3.4 gr in .380 and over Red Dot/Promo 3.7 in 9MM.

[Treetop]

bedbugbilly, I don't own a .380, but I have two 358242 molds in the 121 gr. variety. I have an original DC from Lyman before they went to the .356" dia. I also have a 6 cavity NOE. This is my "go to" boolit in my various .38s, .357s and 9mm. I have been casting this boolit since the early 70s.

It feeds like butter through my Rossi, with either case length and functions perfectly in my 9mms. I use this boolit in front of either HS-6 or Blue Dot because it's been determined by others here at castboolits that those two slightly slower burning powders are kinder to the boolits that are already having to contend with high pressure and faster rifling rate of twist, when compared to most other pistol calibers.

I haven't had any leading issues at all since I read the "sticky" about setting up the 9mm for cast. It's located at the top of the Wheelguns, Pistols and Handcannons page. If you haven't read it already, it will help you immensely, IMO. Tt.

[rintinglen]

Trying to make one boolit work for two disimilar cartridges can be like buying one pair of shoes for you and your wife to share: if it fits one, it won't fit the other.
Such is the case with the Heavy 356-242, it is IME, a much better 9 MM boolit than it is a 380 boolit. It will shoot in a 380, but unless you are very close up, the POI is likely to be a ways removed from your point of aim.
I have a 4 cavity Lyman 358-242, and the thought occurred to me that it would be spiffy if I could use it in my 380's as well as my 9 mms. I loaded up a batch of them with 3.0 grains of ww-231 and ran them through my Beretta 84 and my PPKs. They went bang and actually grouped pretty well, but in the Walther they were hitting about 12 inches high and 3 inches left at 33 feet. The Beretta exhibited much the same issue. These days, I use the RD 358-100, which I got before Mike went back to ranching. Lee has adopted it as their 356-95TL TC. It is much the better option. I reserve my 358-242's for my 9 mm's, where it excels. I also use an NOE RG 88 grain HP a lot now. It is only a two cavity, but it works very well. It is not quite as fast as the Cramer style HP molds that MP Molds makes, but it is so much better than the Lyman style Hp molds that there is no comparison. And, you can probably get one from NOE a lot sooner than you can from Miha Previc. He'll have to live to a hundred just to fill all the orders he has for group buys.

[dakotashooter2]

I had an issue with the 121 gr in the 380. Unless I undersized the bullet it would bulge the case to much for reliable function when seated deep enough to function through the mag. Shorter bullets still bulge the case but not as far down so function wasn't an issue. It might just be an issue with the tightness of my particular chamber.

[KuunLB]

It works like a charm. Feeds well and shoots well. Lots of people on this site will recommend it for the 9mm as well as the 38/357.
Get the 6 cavity mold as you will go through a lot of them.

i read this AFTER i purcahsed the 2 cavity, after many days of talking myself in and our of it

well it's my first mold, can't say i won't be buying the 6cavity later on, cause i'll be spitting 9mm and .357 of this boolit

thanks for the reassurance i made a good choice, spent many days going through various molds trying to find one that'll work with both my beretta and my s&w

[pworley1]

It works very well in all my 9mm and 380 pistols. I also like it for light 38spl loads.

[KuunLB]

do you have to size the .380?

[rintinglen]

I size all my boolits for the 380 or the 9 mm @ .358, except for my old CZ-24 which demands smaller boolits .356 IIRC or it can choke (more than it usually does). I do it to correct any out of round condition that may exist.

[KuunLB]

wow, .380's will shoot .358's? nice! thanks for that little tidbit

[Bullwolf]

wow, .380's will shoot .358's? nice! thanks for that little tidbit

380 is often called 9mm short, or 9mm kurz, 9mm Browning, or 9x17.

The 380 designation confuses many people, as it is really a true 9mm and uses .355-.358 caliber boolits. It is not .380 in caliber size.

Due to the smaller internal capacity of the 380 case, it can be a challenge to deep seat some of the heavier caliber 9mm boolits in the case, as other posters have previously mentioned. In my experience best results are typically found in the 85-95-100 grain range. Heavier weight boolit functionality can be very brass specific with regards to seating boolits without bulging cases. Sorting brass by head stamp for such an endeavor is highly recommended.

As with everything else though, your experience may differ with mine.







- Bullwolf

[KuunLB]

well I knew .380 is 9x17 or 9mm browning. I just wouldn't have thought that a .380 bore would be able to squeeze a .358 round through it. It makes sense that .356 would. I ordered a .358 mold because I wanted to load 9mm and .357 from my first mold to get the most bang for my buck. So I'm happy to know I can cast for .380 also, but judging from your post a 115gr wouldn't like a .380 case much

[Bullwolf]

judging from your post a 115gr wouldn't like a .380 case much

Depends on your boolit design, how deep you seat it, and the case thickness/taper of the brass that you are using.

You will have better results with the 115 than say a 124 or a 148-158 grain boolit however in the 380. Make up a dummy round, and see if it will plunk.



- Bullwolf