I need help for boolit choices.

[44man]

Yeah, it is crazy but my daughter wants to load for her S&W 9mm and her Sig .40.
I can hardly hold one of those little pieces of brass! :veryconfu
I want to get a few Lee molds so I would like to know the best choices for each.
I wrote down the gun info when she was here, slugged both bores but the gremlin sneaked in and the paper is gone. I have the slugs so all is not lost.

[subsonic]

Wish I could help more, but I have not cast for these yet.

I suspect the 9mm will be a PITA because of the tapered case and lots of variation in brass.

The .40 doesn't have these issues, but it is a high pressure low capacity cartridge so I *think* it will be a challenge to get top velocity out of this one without a GC.

I have molds with the idea to cast for these calibers, but have not had time to warm them up yet.

I chose the 175gr Lee for the .40 and I have the 105swc, 125rf, an 158gr rf all designed for .38/.357 that I'm going to try in the 9mm.

[44man]

These little things are a new thing for me too. I compare them to a BB gun.
Boolit choice must be one mold for each. No money to test. I hope my friends have some answers.

[Thumbcocker]

Can't speak to .40 but there are a couple of threads on loading 9 mm that really helped me out. I would strongly recommend Beagles article in cast pics. Some 9's with oversized bores do better with boolits than jacketed. Six cavity Lee molds are a good idea to feed a 9. I like the Lee 125 tc and the Lee 125 rnfp. There is a really good sticky on this that is very helpful. Power pistol and 231 have worked for me.

[Bullet Caster]

I've been reloading 9mm for over a year now and I chose the Lee TL .356 124 gn. RN. Just don't load the front driving band into the case and I'm good to go. I like the TL design 'cause I can lube a hundred at a time using 45/45/10 "Recluse" lube. I couldn't surmise reloading for anything smaller than 9mm, but I know it can be done. The 9mm are kinda small for my hands and look like bunny pellets when I'm done casting. They're definitely hard to hold they're so little. I use 4 grains of bullseye under the 124 grainers. It works for me, but what's good for the goose might not be good for the gander. Just my 2 cents worth. BC

[canyon-ghost]

Yes, that 9mm case is a tiny little thing! I've been using 3.2 grains of Bullseye behind a 125 grain bullet. The 125s will get you 50 meters (or yards) pretty easy. Most starting loads will work the slide, which is what they say is the prerequisite. I found the slide actuated at a very low charge but, didn't try to see where it failed to function. The fast-burning powders don't like to be loaded that far down.

A 125 grain bullet doesn't kick very hard. Just use a low-bulk fast powder.

Good Luck,
Ron

[leadman]

The Lee 124gr truncated cone for the 9mm and the Lee 175gr truncated cone for the 40 are both great shooting boolits and come in the 6 cavity molds. Being a simple design with few sharp corners they cast easily. I cast the conventional lube groove style of both.

I was looking at one of my 41 caliber Gotor gas checks the other day and there was also one of the 40 cal boolits on the bench. The gc fits on the base and I did crimp it on with a .410" Lee sizer but today I will put it in a .401" Lyman die just to see what happens. I have a friend with a 10mm so I'll get him to test them for me.

[subsonic]

Jim,

If you tell me the size you need, I will send you some "testers" when I cast in a week or two.

No point in sending them if they are too small.

[44man]

Jim,

If you tell me the size you need, I will send you some "testers" when I cast in a week or two.

No point in sending them if they are too small.
No hurry. I will measure again. We have no dies or anything yet anyway.

[spfd1903]

After loading and shooting a lot of each, Lee TL 356-124-2R ,and TC, the TC is more accurate in a Hi-Power and Hi-Point. Drops at .357 with 10:1 alloy. The TL 401-175-TC has been very easy to cast and is accurate in a Glock 23 and Hi-point. Drop at .402 with 10:1. Had best luck with Acc #2, and Acc #5 in both calibers. Six cavity molds are awesome, but lower cost are the two cavity with the handles included for about half the cost.

[subsonic]

Jim, PM me your phone number.

[runfiverun]

the 125 rf and the 40 subsonic has will work.
i'd look over the 120 t/c the others suggest sized to 358.

I don't do the 40 but the lee 175 swc would fit the bill pretty well.
you might want to make a batch of slightly thicker felix lube for these.

[shadowcaster]

For the 9mm.. I have had good luck using the "Lee 356-125-2R" either pan lubed or using 45-45-10 and sized to .358. I did have to make a dummy round to find my OAL. I don't have a .40 so can't make a viable suggestion there.

Shad

[44man]

Jim, PM me your phone number.
OK.
My daughter ordered only for the 9mm, short of money. Every item is on BO.
I have had my stuff on BO for a month.

[crabo]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?194212-Lee-358-125-RNFP-in-9mm

[44man]

Good info, thanks.
I know I will have to find skinny fingers to load those things! :veryconfu
Looks like deer season will be here again before we get a shipment anyway. I have never seen it so bad finding anything.
I do have 3/4 of one of those big red cans of RD left.