Using a 9mm boolit in 38 Special

[MikeS]

Hi All.

I just picked up a 4 cavity Saeco #384 mould which is a 122gr boolit designed for 9mm/38 Super. Assuming it casts large enough, is there any reason I can't use this with a light load in a 38 special? I'm not particularly interested in accuracy, I more wanted something I can load very light, so the recoil in a Smith model 60 would be as light as possible. Right now my mother is shooting a .22 Smith, but she's a bit intimidated by the model 60, and I want to make some loads that would have as little recoil as possible to get her started.

Of course the mould would have to cast boolits large enough to fit the gun (.358 should work), but other than that, is there any reason it wouldn't work? I was figuring on doing it the way they did 'back in the day' by crimping over the front driving band, as it has no crimp groove.

[deltaenterprizes]

No problem, I have done it for years.

[txbirdman]

I've done that quite a bit also. I usually use Lee liquid alox so I just cast; put the bullets in a baggie; squirt in some alox; tumble and set on wax paper to dry. Then I'm ready to load them up. All of this assumes you're getting at least a .357 diameter to begin with.

[garym1a2]

Measure the bullet size and barrel size. if the bullet is a little bigger than barrellel y ou are good.If the boolit is too small you may lead.

[canyon-ghost]

Should pour around .360 or so, just big enough for 38. Nothing wrong with that.

Ron

[casterofboolits]

Works like a charm. I have several LEO buddies that use an H&G #275 09-125-SWCBB sized 358 for practice rounds in thier snubbies.

[Artful]

Shouldn't be a problem as long as it drops large enough to fill the cylinder throats

[JRR]

No problem with doing this. Be sure to use a taper crimp, not a roll crimp.
Jeff

[bobthenailer]

I also have the Saeco #384 bullet mould in a 8 cavity and have been useing it as well as my brother in law in revolver matches with the 627 s&w with full moon clips loaded in 38 special cases with excellent results ! sized to 0.358 dia. And i also taper crimp.

[tommygirlMT]

You could also pick up a bag of OOO buck-shot and load them over just a couple grains of BullsEye powder --- seat the balls to just a smidgen below their equator and then just the lightest crimp to just tighten the mouth up against the surface of the ball

Ive done similar with 454 ball in 45-Colt for knocking squirls off the roof of the shop without putting a hole in the shop roof

[Dframe]

No problem, I have done it for years.

So have I.

[Shiloh]

A lot of 9mm molds are to small for the 9mm. I have one 9mm mold that just makes .358
You are fortunate to have one that drops large.

Shiloh

[max it]

Mike, my newest acquision is a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible; 9mm and .357 mag. So the barrel obviously is happy. I do have a seperate cylinder but that is mostly to capture the headspacing.
Any way I cast at .359 and usually size to .358-.356. I'

[rintinglen]

Done that for years. I bought a 358-101 for use in 38s when my daughters were young--worked great, but the two holer was too slow, so I went to a 356-242 122 grain round nose as cast, tumble lubed, 2 grains of Bullseye and I was off to the races. They shot up many hundreds of those, before gradually stepping up to heavier loads.