Six cavity Lee 9mm mold

[scott0116]

Folks i would like an opinion on what bullet styles work best for you in 9mm from the Lee molds. I am only interested in Lee molds because i enjoy the output and economy on the wallet end of the six cavity molds they make. BTW i was referred to the site by Lee's customer service.

[462]

Welcom, Scott0116.

I don't own anything in 9 mm, but I will say this:
Lee moulds will serve you well, provided they drop at the proper size. I've had two that produced boolits that were too skinny. However, Midway gladly took them back.

Do yourself a big favor and read everything having to do with Lee-menting or Leementing...check the stickies and do a site search. This is just my opinion and other members will have theirs, but if you follow the Leementing procedures, and not Lee's instructions, you will get the best possible usage out of any Lee mould.

[theperfessor]

I'll second 462's advice to ignore most of Lee's instructions. Get some BullPlate lube and don't use bullet lube as a mold lube. But one thing you should pay attention to is how to open the sprue plate when you pour through it without it being closed all the way. Too much force will break the handle, so their advice to use a screwdriver under the cam to regain leverage to cut the sprues is right on.

As to bullet styles, since my HiPower likes .357-.358 diameter bullets I use the Lee 358-125RF. It's also good in .38s and .357s all sized to .358. A lot will depend on what size bullet your nine needs. Most 9mm molds are designed to drop .355 to .357 diameter bullets.

[BMWrider]

I have 2 of their 9mm molds, one is the 124 Gr round nose tumble lube and the other is the 125 Gr round nose conventional lube. I had to beagle the tumble lube mold as it was dropping a bit narrow. As for accuracy, I was surprised that the tumble lube version shot slightly smaller groups. Both feed very reliably in my STI Trojan. My next mold will be the 120 Gr truncated cone.

[scott0116]

As to bullet styles, since my HiPower likes .357-.358 diameter bullets I use the Lee 358-125RF. It's also good in .38s and .357s all sized to .358. A lot will depend on what size bullet your nine needs. Most 9mm molds are designed to drop .355 to .357 diameter bullets.

Thanks for the info. I am no stranger to casting or Lee molds as i have been using them for 20 years, but i am a stranger to the 9mm with cast bullets. I am curious as to what a cartridge looks like with that 358-125RF seated in it. Are the grooves entirely in the case? I do a lot of .38/357 casting and shooting, but have never used that particular mold.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

one thing Lee doesn't have is a gas checked 9mm.
9mm Luger is a pretty high pressure cartridge and
a gas check is a real good thing for that.

RanchDog does some custom Lee 6 cav. molds,
including this one (I have this and am happy with it)
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_6_25&products_id=23
It costs a little more than a standard Lee mold and is only available from Ranchdog, But I have no regrets and would buy it again.
Jon

[quasi]

Lee 6 cavity molds are a terrific value, they are $40.00 or so at Midsouth.

[leadman]

The 120gr Truncated Cone bullet is a good one. Make sure you slug the bore of the gun you are going to use these in. For mine I had to size .358", for my friends I had to size .356"
Used Carnuba Red and had no problem with leading.

[NuJudge]

I like the Lee 359-125-RF:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=145006

The picture shown in the catalog and even on the box is of the old version. The new version has a smaller flat, more of a nose, and no bevel base. I get great results in a Beretta 92FS and a Walther P38 with mild loads of WW231.

I like these .38 Special bullets in it because both of these pistols have groove diameters up around .358", and both have chambers that are large enough to chamber a cartridge with a .359" bullet.

My Browning HiPower will only chamber a cartridge with a .356" bullet.

CDD

[krag35]

Here is another vote for the Lee 359-125-RF. Mine is the new version and drops .360. Water dropped WW and sized to .358 for my 9mm. Air cooled WW and lubed at .360 for my Smith 38.

[Gee_Wizz01]

I use the 356-120TC. I use 50/50 NRA Formula lube and size to .357. I get great results in several 9mm pistols and a 9mm AR15. I push the boolit to about 1400 fps in the AR15 with no leading.

G

[Larry Gibson]

+ another for the Lee 356-120-TC. I have this in a 6 cavity mould and the bullets drop at .358 - .359 which is fine because i size at .359 for use in my .35 Rem and .38/.357s and at .357/.358 for use in 9mms. This bullet has supplanted all other cast 9mm bullets for use in numerous handguns and subguns.

I have 12 six cavity Lee moulds. I take the time to initially debur them with a stone when new. I use Rapine mould prep on the hinges, pins, top of mould and bottome of the sprue plate. I have broken 2 handles both of which were my own fault before I learned the screw driver trick. However, if the sprue is not allowed to get into/around the handle cam area then the handle works just fine as instructed. It also is imperative not to holt the prue handle shut when pouring. If you do you can easily cam open the mould blocks and get bad bullets.

Larry Gibson

[fecmech]

I would go with the 120 TC, mine also drops .358 from my 6cavity mold. There is a reason that all the mold makers make that bullet for the 9mm. I have nothing against the 125 rf, I have one in 6 cav but I think FTF's will be less with the TC.

[theperfessor]

Since you guys are saying the 356-120TC apparently drops a .357-.358 bullet I may give it a try. I just didn't want another "9mm" size mold for a gun that needs .357-.358 bullets to work right. A while back I trade a four cavity SAECO 124gr TC mold to my BIL for a four cavity Lyman 358430 mold. (The 358430 is a 133 gr SWC no longer in production.) The SAECO dropped a smidge too small and I knew the 358430 dropped the right size and worked in my HiPower. My BIL is using the SAECO bullets in a .38 Super 1911 that has a .355 barrel. We're both happy.

The TCs always fed well, they were just too small.

[MtGun44]

I use 356 120TC and size to .357 or .358 using air cooled wwts or even softer and
have had excellent results.

Started with a 2 cav and it was so good that I now have a 6 cav. Works great in a
wide range of 9mms at normal full power loads, good accy, no leading, zero
feeding issues. No special techniques, just NRA 50-50 lube in conventional lube
design. I do run them through a Star, because I make 700-1000 round batches of
this boolit, usually.

Bill

[scott0116]

Well based on the opinions here i guess the 356 120TC is a good place to start.