Will .358 9mm mold work for 38 special

[slide]

Question for you guys. Over in the Group Buy Discussion section they are talking about a brass four cavity Mihec mold. You can get hp or soild. The guys who are showing interest have asked for diameters from .357.358.359 . This will be a 125 grain bullet. Could you use this mold to cast for 38 special that all like .358 diameter? Maybe order a .359 and size down to .358 . My revolvers are Smith and Wesson. One model 64, one model 66 and a model 14 (my favorite) Appreciate it fellas.

[canyon-ghost]

9mm is .356, It's real close to 357 and 38 special. I had a 9mm mold cast at .360 so, if you like the weight, you can load it to another "35 caliber".

[thehouseproduct]

I use a Lee 358-125-RF for 38 and 9mm. I am able to even size them 0.358" for both rounds.

[Artful]

As long as the cast bullet is large enough for your cylinder throats you can.

[williamwaco]

I use a Lee 358-125-RF for 38 and 9mm. I am able to even size them 0.358" for both rounds.



Ditto. This bullet works well in both the .38 and the .357.
I size .357.


.

[BossHoss]

I would like it for 38 super.

[cajun shooter]

Certain style 9 MM and 38-357 bullets have been used in the other calibers for years. At least since I first worked in a gun store in the early 70's.
In fact a man by the name of Lee Jurras came out with the first high velocity 38 spl. bullets by using light weight 9 MM bullets in the 38 spl case with very fast powders.
As the other members have pointed out it is just the matter of how it fits your gun.

[LUBEDUDE]

Been there and done it, and used them in competition with great success.

[Boolseye]

my Lee 124 grain 9mm boolit drops at around .357 and shoots great out of my S&W .357 mag, up to 1300 fps. Go figure.

[bob208]

i have a rcbs tc 124 gr. mold that i used in .38 spl. loads. because it would work good with speed loaders. use the same bullet in 9 m/m lrgo and .38 super.

[bowtwanger]

hi yall im new here and have been readin posts for awhile before joining. i also was wondering about useing my lee 124 grain 9mm mold for loading 38 special. it cast 357 to 358 depnding on the alloy im using at the time, i use some reclaimed lead from the conservation league im a trustee at, and some tire weights when i can get them. i do ad some plumbers solder to the lead from the range ( 95% tin5% antimony).i use the lee micro groove mold. im also new to casting so should i be sizing these if the cast at diameter? or can i try a few loads and see how they work? any help from experianced caster/reloaders would be greatly appreciated thanks!

[fecmech]

One of the most accurate bullets in my .357 rifles and pistols is the Lee 120 gr. truncated cone bullet for the 9mm. It shoots very well in all of them and is a top performer in 9MM. The fact that Lyman, lee, rcbs, and Saeco all make essentially the same bullet tells you something about the design.

[fcvan]

My very first old was a Lee 356-125 2R that cast about .359-.360 diameter, and weighs about 125.5 grains when cast with range scrap. I have cast over 500k through that 2 cavity mold, and most of those were shot through a .38 special sized at .358 over 5 grains of Unique. The sprue plates crew stripped out on it so I drilled it out and used a slightly larger stainless bolt as a replacement.

I recently bought a Lee 356-120 TC which also casts about .358-.359 and weighs right at 125 grains cast with range scrap. They shoot great through my 9mm weapons and my .38 special loads. I'm going to load them in .357 mag with plain based gas checks made with a checkmaker from PatMarlins. Some folks have had their Lee 9mm molds cast on the skinny side, I've been fortunate as they cast big enough for me. Frank

[GP100man]

I cast & use the Lee 125 gr. boolit for plinking in 38/357 & like it .

The only real problem I forseeis if I want/need to speed em up a bit is no crimp groove , but no problem so far with jump up to 1k.

[Ben]

I ordered a 9 m/m , 125 gr. T/L double cav. Lee mold hoping for .358". My plans were to shoot them in 38 Spec. cases in my L Frame , 6 " revolver.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_441504768bd0b6ef.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=6557)

My 1st casting session with the mold was disappointing- - Cast more like .3560 ", fine for most 9 mm pistols but I needed at least .358" . So, ...I decided to open the mold up with this process, it works ! ! I now have nice round .3585 " dia. bullets.

See link below, if you have a mold that is " sticking " or needs to be enlarged .001 or .002 " , this will do the trick for you :

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=31700

[Shiloh]

I use a Lee 358-125-RF for 38 and 9mm. I am able to even size them 0.358" for both rounds.

Me too.

In the .357 as well.
With both traditional lubrisizer and alox tumble lube. Great results.
I size at .358 for all and if I ever need to go .3595, I could do that as well.

Shoots great in all. I couldn't be happier.

Shiloh