Corruptor
05-27-2016, 10:32 AM
Hi folks,
I'm getting ready to start collecting casting gear and materials, and I've got a couple of questions.
The firearm I'm loading for is a Springfield 9mm XD.
I'm planning on using WW lead, ladle poured from a pot and burner setup. I will probably buy a bottom pour setup, but that's going to be towards the end of my purchasing spree: I'm looking to pick up the absolute essentials now (molds and sizing) and add to the collection as I can.
Slugging shows the lands at .353-.354 (I did not measure the grooves). Two out of three measurements around the slug read .353, the third reads .354 (Inexpensive digital caliper, reads .500 when measuring a Starrett gauge block). Is this reasonable? Seems mighty strange to me, but this is my first go at this, so... FWIW, I slugged it 3 times, and each time I got the same results.
Mold:
I'm looking to start with a Lee 6 cavity mold. Two that seem popular with XD owners are the 356-125-2R (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/658356/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-356-125-2r-9mm-luger-38-super-380-acp-356-diameter-125-grain-2-ogive-radius) and the 356-120-TC (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/294531/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-356-120-tc-9mm-luger-38-super-380-acp-356-diameter-120-grain-truncated-cone). I will be loading with a Dillon SDB and don't have a flat point insert for the seating die, so I was going to go with the 356-125-2R unless there's a good reason not to do so. IE: is it easier for a beginner to cast a TC profile? Also, since I am powder coating, is there any reason I'd go with a TL version of these instead of the single groove?
Sizing:
I'm eventually going to make my own sizing dies, but to start I'll need to purchase one. Assuming my slugging experiment is correct at .353-.354, would you guys recommend sizing to .356 or .357 (or...?)? My thoughts are .356 since I can open that up if necessary, but if .002 over is not enough for a 9mm pistol, I'll step up a size.
I've done a fair bit of reading and research and I believe I'm correct in my thinking here. That said, I'd love to get a yea or nay from folks in the know, 'cause I've made more than one mistake in my years [smilie=1:
:grin:
Thank you!
ETA: Apologies if this is in the wrong forum. This post didn't seem to fit any of the other areas very well, and I couldn't find a newbie corner , so I dropped it here.
Thanks again!
I'm getting ready to start collecting casting gear and materials, and I've got a couple of questions.
The firearm I'm loading for is a Springfield 9mm XD.
I'm planning on using WW lead, ladle poured from a pot and burner setup. I will probably buy a bottom pour setup, but that's going to be towards the end of my purchasing spree: I'm looking to pick up the absolute essentials now (molds and sizing) and add to the collection as I can.
Slugging shows the lands at .353-.354 (I did not measure the grooves). Two out of three measurements around the slug read .353, the third reads .354 (Inexpensive digital caliper, reads .500 when measuring a Starrett gauge block). Is this reasonable? Seems mighty strange to me, but this is my first go at this, so... FWIW, I slugged it 3 times, and each time I got the same results.
Mold:
I'm looking to start with a Lee 6 cavity mold. Two that seem popular with XD owners are the 356-125-2R (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/658356/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-356-125-2r-9mm-luger-38-super-380-acp-356-diameter-125-grain-2-ogive-radius) and the 356-120-TC (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/294531/lee-6-cavity-bullet-mold-356-120-tc-9mm-luger-38-super-380-acp-356-diameter-120-grain-truncated-cone). I will be loading with a Dillon SDB and don't have a flat point insert for the seating die, so I was going to go with the 356-125-2R unless there's a good reason not to do so. IE: is it easier for a beginner to cast a TC profile? Also, since I am powder coating, is there any reason I'd go with a TL version of these instead of the single groove?
Sizing:
I'm eventually going to make my own sizing dies, but to start I'll need to purchase one. Assuming my slugging experiment is correct at .353-.354, would you guys recommend sizing to .356 or .357 (or...?)? My thoughts are .356 since I can open that up if necessary, but if .002 over is not enough for a 9mm pistol, I'll step up a size.
I've done a fair bit of reading and research and I believe I'm correct in my thinking here. That said, I'd love to get a yea or nay from folks in the know, 'cause I've made more than one mistake in my years [smilie=1:
:grin:
Thank you!
ETA: Apologies if this is in the wrong forum. This post didn't seem to fit any of the other areas very well, and I couldn't find a newbie corner , so I dropped it here.
Thanks again!