DukeInFlorida
01-28-2011, 11:50 AM
I'm working on a better process to give me shorter .40 S&W bullets from the 9mm cases.
While I have loaded a bunch of the 187 grain versions, which is what you get when you use a 124 grain cast bullet core with a 9mm case, I'm not happy with the very long length of the bullet (projectile) since so much of the back end of it protrudes into the .40 S&W case. I'm striving for something that gives me about a 165 grain projectile, which is much friendlier to the .40 S&W.
BT has recently suggested that the case capacity can be increased 9% by removing primers. Nice idea, but it's not enough for my liking.
So, if I trim the 9mm cases to a shorter length, and still use 124 grain cast bullets as cores, I still end up with something more like a partial jacket bullet, with too much lead sticking out the front. Have tried some experiments with drilling off the nose lead, and re-swaging, and that has me convinced that perhaps a .380 (105 grain) cast lead bullet might be a better choice for a starting core.
Rather than just "pop" on a Lee mold for that size/weight, I'm wondering if anyone here has a mold, and could get me some test sample cast bullets that I can try as cores??
I haven't seen anyone try this approach yet (the lighter bullet core), while we are all running around chopping cases/jackets.
If you can send a few 100gr (or so) castings, let me know.
While I have loaded a bunch of the 187 grain versions, which is what you get when you use a 124 grain cast bullet core with a 9mm case, I'm not happy with the very long length of the bullet (projectile) since so much of the back end of it protrudes into the .40 S&W case. I'm striving for something that gives me about a 165 grain projectile, which is much friendlier to the .40 S&W.
BT has recently suggested that the case capacity can be increased 9% by removing primers. Nice idea, but it's not enough for my liking.
So, if I trim the 9mm cases to a shorter length, and still use 124 grain cast bullets as cores, I still end up with something more like a partial jacket bullet, with too much lead sticking out the front. Have tried some experiments with drilling off the nose lead, and re-swaging, and that has me convinced that perhaps a .380 (105 grain) cast lead bullet might be a better choice for a starting core.
Rather than just "pop" on a Lee mold for that size/weight, I'm wondering if anyone here has a mold, and could get me some test sample cast bullets that I can try as cores??
I haven't seen anyone try this approach yet (the lighter bullet core), while we are all running around chopping cases/jackets.
If you can send a few 100gr (or so) castings, let me know.