Which 9mm mold for Powder Coat or Tumble lube?

[iMigraine]

Hello,

New to this wonderful place and just looking to get started into casting too. I've been searching for recommended 9mm molds and so far truncated cones seems to be favored for 9mm. I ordered a Lee Pro 20-4 and I'm thinking a Lee 6 cavity mold should speed up production. Does tumble lubing decrease accuracy compared to lube or powder coating? I'm not expecting uber precision, just would like to make better than average store bought cartridges (i.e. Winchester White box ammo) if possible as cost effective too.

Also, I have Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition. How to you find load data on molds NOT listed?

Thanks.

[Handloader109]

I like the 356-120tc and the 356-95rf. Either or both are good. Interpolate based on similar weights and types. Start low and work up charges. Read and then read some more.
Lot of good info here. ;-)

[popper]

truncated cones seems to be favored for 9mm Not so sure about that. Mine is RNFP and works great, others use RN. Depends on your use. I can cast a bunch with a 2C mould, comes with handles too. TL with Bens liquid on TL or regular grooves. Doesn't really make a difference for PC or HiTek coating.

[Maximumbob54]

Avoid the Lee 9mm TL molds as they cast skinny. I do favor the 356-120-TC. I don't care that it's a TC mold, I just know it casts a pile of bullets and it works.

[22-250ohio]

Check out the hardline no lube groove molds for coating. Best quality and easiest casting molds I have

[fcvan]

I started out with the Lee 356-125 2R when I first started casting for 9mm. Fortunately, that mold cast .358 and as cast and lubed never leaded any 9mm. Flash forward, I shoot the following in 9mm and PC them all: 356-95 RF, .356-102 1R, 358-105 SWC (each originally purchased for use in 380 ACP) the 356-120 TC (also casts fat) and of course, the 125 2R. I have the 358-125 RF, but have not loaded it for 9mm yet, as the others do so well. Each of these boolits have worked well PCd and sized to .358 in 10 different 9mm pistols and the Marlin Camp Carbine. The AR 9mm is a bit finicky about anything but RN boolits. So, I cast more of the 125 2R boolits because it like having lots of ammo for the AR, currently my favorite plinker.

[Artful]

So which molds not listed are you thinking about? What gun are you trying to feed you newly minted 9mm ammo thru? Are you trying for subsonic loads?

Best mold to feed in anything copys FMJ profile, powder coating works with any boolit. Tumble Lube works with every boolit design I have tried. molds that cast larger are easier to size down then molds that cast too small and you have to beagle them. Are you trying to use your loads for anything besides punching paper and dirt clods?

[iMigraine]

Artful - I was looking a the Lee molds like356-120-TC and TL356-124-TC. My 9mm is a Springfield Range Officer and I'm using it for steel targets & paper. I have some Lee products and they seem to offer a good value but I could be persuaded to use another brand too.

[just_shooter]

What is the gun you are looking mold for?

[iMigraine]

Springfield Range Officer 1911 in 9mm.

[jcren]

I would slug your gun first. Lots of nines run big and you may want one of the Lee 38/357 molds to get a better fit. Some guys have good luck with the 358-105 swc as a lead saving practice load.

[iMigraine]

I slugged my barrel but I had a hard time determining the grove measurement because the micrometer was touching both sides of the lands. I'm going to re-slug it again because my slug mold using a 9mm brass case might have been too small and too short to get a good sample.

[edctexas]

You can bump up the diameter of that casting using the 9 mm case. Either place it a vise and squeeze it lengthwise or tap it with a hammer. The slug is lead and soft. You don't need too much extra diameter.

Ed C

[Artful]

Artful - I was looking a the Lee molds like356-120-TCandTL356-124-TC. My 9mm is a Springfield Range Officer and I'm using it for steel targets & paper. I have some Lee products and they seem to offer a good value but I could be persuaded to use another brand too.

Ok, single stack mag's feed most styles well and flat noise round or Truncated cone also work well - heavier work well on steel as has more momentum.
I myself don't like the tumble lube designs, but others have gotten them to work. I want you to consider the Lee 358-125-RF mold as well.
One of the thinks you can do is look for some commercial cast bullets to try
before you invest in a mold.
As far as measuring your slug
- the old trick of wrapping the bullet and subtracting twice the thickness of
the wrapping works well.

[iMigraine]

[QUOTE=As far as measuring your slug
- the old trick of wrapping the bullet and subtracting twice the thickness of
the wrapping works well.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I'm not understanding this technique.
Buying some pre-made lead bullets (if I can find various diameters) isn't a bad idea either.

[twc1964]

I like the 120tc lee boolit as well as the 356-125-2r. I use the boolits with standard lube grooves powdercoated. If you do a search on tl boolits in 9mm, you will find thread after thread of folks having problems with tl boolits in nines. I didnt want another mystery to solve so i went standard on the grooves. Both shoot quite well.

[Jupiter7]

Do yourself a favor, get a better quality mold that drops .358 or larger. I suggest the 356-242(120gr) as seen in your lyman manual. NOE makes a 5c of this mold. The RCBS 120tc is also in the manual and NOE makes a nice clone of it as well. The 1911 and flat nose bullets work but still suffer from nose deformation with flat nosed lead bullets. Is the 9mm RO a ramped barrel? Or ramp in the frame?

[iMigraine]

Ok, after watching some Youtube videos on proper slugging a barrel & measuring I realized I made a grievous mistake! I was measuring the Lands and NOT the grooves. Using my micrometer correctly, I came up with two values:
139202 139203

So, I should be safe with a 0.356 mold? What would happen if I used a 0.358(=bad accuracy or kaboom)? On the advice of Maximumbob54 & twc1964, I'll skip buying a tumble lube design mold. I due plan to use powder coating.

I really appreciate all the feedback too, thanks!

[iMigraine]

Is the 9mm RO a ramped barrel? Or ramp in the frame?

The Range Officer has a ramped barrel.

[captaint]

My 9mm barrel slugged out at slightly over .356.. I had to go to .358 to make the leading go away. I think someone suggested the Lee 358-125 round flat. I would try that first, especially if money is any concern. You may, later want to go to a higher quality mold - AND you might want a different design also. Keep your options open and costs down for now. Just my .02...

[iMigraine]

Alright, if I get a mold in .358 I could still size it down if needed? I've been looking at NOE's 358-124gr-TC (http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=34&products_id=1048&osCsid=biv206tsl20v14vektv8r1jeg1) 5 capacity which might be a nice compromise between 115gr & 147gr bullets. However, all of NOE's molds are sold out! Is it because they are moving to a new place or their so popular? Do you have to join a group buy get get one ordered?

[Artful]

It's popularity - NOE will restock a lot of their designs on a regular basis but in the mean time they also do new designs for group buys. Email Swede and ask about when they are going to remake some of the ones you are interested in - I can vouch that NOE makes good molds as I have purchased quite a few of their 4 cavity's.

[fredj338]

IF you are going to coat, leading won't be an issue, regardless of mold design. I am not a fan of the TL designs, so I would go TC or RN, either will be fine. I thin the TC are easier to get accuracy with, but that is JMO. A RN is easier to get 100% reliable feeding.