oversized

[salvadore]

I own 3 9mm shooters, a hi-power, a P-1, and a S&W Shield. I recently loaded 500 jacketed bullets for them and having brass left over decided to cast some 358242s and size them in a .357 sizing die I had never used hoping the die was a little tight. Unfortunately the sized bullet came out .358. Anyway I loaded up a dummy round and it chambered and ejected out of all 3 handguns. I haven't slugged any of the barrels but guessing .355/.356. Am I pushing my luck? Oh yeah the bullet weighs 145gr.

[RobS]

You'll be fine as long as they chamber. Many size to .358 and I would only suggest that you load at the min. powder charge end and work up as you go. Should be good shooting!

[Scharfschuetze]

I've been sizing all my 9mm boolits to .358 for a while now. I've had no problems in a Browning Hi Power or a Beretta 92F. The Browning seems to shoot better with that diameter while the Beretta doesn't seem to care one way or the other. As RobS suggests above, work up your loads for the larger diameter boolit. In the end it didn't make any difference in my pistols, but it's good advice none the less.

[dubber123]

My P-1 slugged at .358" and requires .359" to shoot decently.

[Petrol & Powder]

I couldn't get .358" to chamber in a Hi-power but they would shoot in a Berretta 92. My biggest complainant with cast bullets in a 9mm is I have to create rounds for a specific gun. Revolvers respond well to custom made ammunition but they don't seem to be nearly as picky as 9mm pistols.

[salvadore]

Thanks gang, I'll put some together for test firing.

[bedbugbilly]

I only have one 9mm - a SR9. I use the Lee 356-120 TC and I started out by sizing to .357. They shot fine but I saw an improvement in accuracy when I just started loading them "as cast" as they were falling at .358.

I have the same mold you are talking about - Lyman 358242 and I'm just getting ready to try those. Mine fall about .359 from my mold so I figure I'll size them to 358 and give them a try.

On the 356-120 TC boolit - I'm using 3.5 gr of Bulls Eye and my SR9 cycles and feeds every time. The 3.5 gr of BE with that boolit is .2 grains under what the recommended minimum/starting load is my 3rd edition of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. But, it works the best in my SR9.

With yours and the 358242 boolit - start on the low side and see what happens. It may be that you'll have to up it to get your handgun to cycle correctly but it should work fine.

I hope you'll post your results as I'd sure be interested in hearing what you come up with for a load. I'm thinking of getting a Shield to switch off with my Smith Model 35 for CCW and I'd like to know how that 358242 RN works in yours. Good luck and enjoy!

[rintinglen]

.358 usually works just fine in a 9 MM, but not always. I had a S&W M-39 that would hang up with any boolit over .356, especially with thick-walled military brass, but my current crop, an S&W 39-2, an S&W 99, a Kahr CW9, a Firestar, and a 1938 Luger all work just fine with .358 boolits. If they pass the plunk test, I'd just load them and go shooting.

[salvadore]

I loaded up five with 3 grs of BE and function tested them out of the Hi-Power, no sweat seems like a ***** cat load, the bullet cast out with this batch of lead @ 147gr...wow..Anyway I'm kinda extrapulating a load and may go one hole bigger for powder, Lee powder hopper. I'll function test the other two shooters and let you know.

Here's something tho, I've always avoided buying a Colt or S&W revolver in 38 S&W cal. for fear of not finding a mold that cast big enough. My 358242 casts to .364..oh well.

[dubber123]

I loaded up five with 3 grs of BE and function tested them out of the Hi-Power, no sweat seems like a ***** cat load, the bullet cast out with this batch of lead @ 147gr...wow..Anyway I'm kinda extrapulating a load and may go one hole bigger for powder, Lee powder hopper. I'll function test the other two shooters and let you know.

Here's something tho, I've always avoided buying a Colt or S&W revolver in 38 S&W cal. for fear of not finding a mold that cast big enough. My 358242 casts to .364..oh well.

I have a few .38 S&W's and .362" seems the norm. It sounds like you need to go gun shopping.. :)

[tazman]

I loaded up five with 3 grs of BE and function tested them out of the Hi-Power, no sweat seems like a ***** cat load, the bullet cast out with this batch of lead @ 147gr...wow..Anyway I'm kinda extrapulating a load and may go one hole bigger for powder, Lee powder hopper. I'll function test the other two shooters and let you know.

Here's something tho, I've always avoided buying a Colt or S&W revolver in 38 S&W cal. for fear of not finding a mold that cast big enough. My 358242 casts to .364..oh well.

Are you sure that mold isn't a 358212 instead of 242. The 358242 is a 121 grain boolit and shouldn't be anywhere near 145 grains no matter what lead you use. The 358212 should be exactly what you are getting.
I have the 358212 and it works really well in my 9mm and drops at 146-147 grains. It looks very similar to the 358242 which I also have, but has a longer nose and weight 25 grains more.

[salvadore]

You're right tazman, and you're right dubber. Got the mold about 10 years ago used it once to load in 38 spec.s. Never could understand why it cast so heavy. When I got it out to cast for my 9mms and the box I got with it says 358242 and after tazman's post I actually checked the # on the mold, 358212. Anyway I've upped the powder charge to 3.2gr BE and will test the load as soon as it stops raining and dries out some. Taz would you share your load for 9mm and this bullet?

[tazman]

Taz would you share your load for 9mm and this bullet?

Certainly. I have 2 different loads that I use regularly. Both are midrange loads according to the books I have. I have used these loads with perfect function and good to great accuracy in three guns. 2 pistols and a carbine.
The loads are
Lyman 358212-146 grains AA7-5.5 grains -895 fps from pt92
Herco-4.5 grains -885 fps from pt92
OAL is 1.140 give or take .002
I haven't chronoed the load from the carbine but would expect between 1100-1200fps.
This load is a tack driver from my Citadel carbine after I put the scope on it.

[salvadore]

Ok, i think I've settled on 3.2gr of BE with this bullet, 147gr RN 358212. It seems quite a bit snappier with the .2grs extra powder, and casually shooting cans seemed accurate. I actually may able access my range Monday. Strange weather for Dec.