Which mold?

sirgknight · 11-07-2009, 05:18 AM

I want to start casting for my 9MM. What should I consider when choosing between the Lee 90309 (125 gr. RN) and the Lee 90464 (124 gr. RN)? I'll be casting strictly for plinking. Would one be more desireable than the other, and why? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Rusty W · 11-07-2009, 08:00 AM

I've tried the 90464 and accuracy wasn't all that great. I like the 90238 better. My mold drops boolits at .358 so I use the same boolit for my 38spl. I ordered a 6 cavity in the 90238 mainly because I use the same boolit for 2 different cartridges. I'm shooting the 9mm out of a Highpoint rifle and the 38's out of Ruger wheelguns. I can get about a 1" to 1-1/2" group from the rifle and about 1-1/2" to 2" in the wheeguns. I shoot from 20yds to 40-50yds. The 90464 was alright as far as function goes. It fed well through magazine and into the chamber. I just like the TC design better. I have shot many commercial cast RN such as the 90309 and have had good accuracy and no problems feeding. It's probably the most common boolit design for the 9mm. I don't think you'd go wrong with either type. I like the tumble lube design and use Lee Liquid Alox/Johnson Paste Wax to lube.

lwknight · 11-07-2009, 09:30 AM

+1 on the tumble lube. Lubing and sizing boolits is a royal pain. A push through sizer is 10 times faster than a lube sizer. Barring of course the automated stuff.

stephen perry · 11-07-2009, 10:27 AM

Hey Sirg

I have neither of the Lee RN but I would choose the 125 grn RN. Would function in any semi auto. Weight of bullet helps tranfer energy to the semi auto operation.

New home for me over here. More topics to write on and no micro - managing moderator. I like the Format on Cast Boolit. I'm a small fish in a big fish bowl.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

Leftoverdj · 11-07-2009, 10:44 AM

Slug your barrel before ordering. You need a bullet larger than groove diameter and a whale off a lot of 9mm barrels are too big for .356 bullets. Lee makes a 358-125-RF that may suit your needs. My Lee 356-125-2R casts over .357 and has worked fairly well for me, although I prefer a heavier bullet.

I just plain do not like the looks of TL356-124-RN. It has too much unsupported nose. I much prefer bullets to have 2/3 of their length as bearing surface,

sirgknight · 11-08-2009, 05:09 AM

I, too, like the push through sizing dies. I actually really enjoy lubing and sizing my bullets. Guess I'm crazy, but it's just another part of making my own bullets that I enjoy. It's kinda like therapy for me. By the way, my 9MM is a Ruger M95. Thanks for the great info.....

stephen perry · 11-08-2009, 06:05 AM

Sirg
My brass scrounger buddy in Mesa Arizona told me yesterday he just finished cleaning and sizing 9000 9mm brass for sale and for his P 85. I need to ask him what cast bullet he throws.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

sirgknight · 11-08-2009, 06:51 PM

thanks....please let me know when you find out.

yodar · 11-11-2009, 05:28 PM

I use the Lee 124 gr Truncated conical for all my pistols. That was the way the first 9mm Parabellum was made,with that TC bullet.

I use 9mm TRN in my Marlin Camp Carbine, it seems to feed better

3.9 gr Hodgdon Universal

yodar

11-07-2009, 05:18 AM	#1
sirgknight Boolit Bub Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Abbeville (south central) Georgia Posts: 25	Which mold? I want to start casting for my 9MM. What should I consider when choosing between the Lee 90309 (125 gr. RN) and the Lee 90464 (124 gr. RN)? I'll be casting strictly for plinking. Would one be more desireable than the other, and why? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

11-07-2009, 09:30 AM	#3
lwknight Boolit Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: N. Texas Posts: 133	+1 on the tumble lube. Lubing and sizing boolits is a royal pain. A push through sizer is 10 times faster than a lube sizer. Barring of course the automated stuff. __________________ L W Knight

11-07-2009, 10:27 AM	#4
stephen perry Boolit Man Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Upland, Calif Posts: 118	Sirg Bud Hey Sirg I have neither of the Lee RN but I would choose the 125 grn RN. Would function in any semi auto. Weight of bullet helps tranfer energy to the semi auto operation. New home for me over here. More topics to write on and no micro - managing moderator. I like the Format on Cast Boolit. I'm a small fish in a big fish bowl. Stephen Perry Angeles BR

11-07-2009, 10:44 AM	#5
Leftoverdj Boolit Master Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Base of the Blue Ridge Posts: 1,129	Slug your barrel before ordering. You need a bullet larger than groove diameter and a whale off a lot of 9mm barrels are too big for .356 bullets. Lee makes a 358-125-RF that may suit your needs. My Lee 356-125-2R casts over .357 and has worked fairly well for me, although I prefer a heavier bullet. I just plain do not like the looks of TL356-124-RN. It has too much unsupported nose. I much prefer bullets to have 2/3 of their length as bearing surface, __________________ Sometimes you gotta wonder if democracy is such a good idea.

11-08-2009, 05:09 AM	#6
sirgknight Boolit Bub Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Abbeville (south central) Georgia Posts: 25	I, too, like the push through sizing dies. I actually really enjoy lubing and sizing my bullets. Guess I'm crazy, but it's just another part of making my own bullets that I enjoy. It's kinda like therapy for me. By the way, my 9MM is a Ruger M95. Thanks for the great info..... Last edited by sirgknight; 11-08-2009 at 05:22 AM.

11-07-2009, 08:00 AM	#2
Rusty W Boolit Bub Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Muldrow Oklahoma Posts: 21	I've tried the 90464 and accuracy wasn't all that great. I like the 90238 better. My mold drops boolits at .358 so I use the same boolit for my 38spl. I ordered a 6 cavity in the 90238 mainly because I use the same boolit for 2 different cartridges. I'm shooting the 9mm out of a Highpoint rifle and the 38's out of Ruger wheelguns. I can get about a 1" to 1-1/2" group from the rifle and about 1-1/2" to 2" in the wheeguns. I shoot from 20yds to 40-50yds. The 90464 was alright as far as function goes. It fed well through magazine and into the chamber. I just like the TC design better. I have shot many commercial cast RN such as the 90309 and have had good accuracy and no problems feeding. It's probably the most common boolit design for the 9mm. I don't think you'd go wrong with either type. I like the tumble lube design and use Lee Liquid Alox/Johnson Paste Wax to lube.

11-08-2009, 06:05 AM	#7
stephen perry Boolit Man Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Upland, Calif Posts: 118	P 85 Sirg My brass scrounger buddy in Mesa Arizona told me yesterday he just finished cleaning and sizing 9000 9mm brass for sale and for his P 85. I need to ask him what cast bullet he throws. Stephen Perry Angeles BR

11-08-2009, 06:51 PM	#8
sirgknight Boolit Bub Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Abbeville (south central) Georgia Posts: 25	thanks....please let me know when you find out. __________________ There's no sound like the sound of a Huey!

11-11-2009, 05:28 PM	#9
yodar Boolit Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Winter Garden Fl. Posts: 174	I use the Lee 124 gr Truncated conical for all my pistols. That was the way the first 9mm Parabellum was made,with that TC bullet. I use 9mm TRN in my Marlin Camp Carbine, it seems to feed better 3.9 gr Hodgdon Universal yodar