Another 9MM Question

[lightman]

For you guys that cast for multiple 9mm pistols, what is a good diameter that would work with several different pistols? I'm thinking that casting a larger diameter and sizing down as necessary would be a good strategy. Something like .357 or .358? I'm looking at another Accurate mold, probably a 4 cavity aluminum one. Thanks in advance.

[Ben]

Each barrel is " unto its own " as to dimensions.
With that said, all of my 9mm Luger pistols and carbines shoot a .357" real well. Clean bores and very accurate.

Ben

[Thumbcocker]

.358 for me

[tazman]

.357 works for most. My Beretta barrels will shoot .357 ok but prefer .358. As others have said, each barrel makes it's own rules.

[marek313]

My new rule is if it doesnt feed my cast PCed .3575 its going to Doug for reaming. I do have one Taurus PT111 G2 which has a tight throat but I dont shoot that gun much so I left it for FMJs.

[Jniedbalski]

All of my 9 mm will also shoot .358 but my high point liked . 357. If I use .358 some times I have to hit the back of the slide to make it go in. So I only use .357 in that gun . My other nines are a Bretta 92 and a few stars BM. That’s probably why they like .358

[Jniedbalski]

Also the noe expander plugs with the lee universal expander comes in real handy loading oversized cast in 9mm. I have the auto pistole size one all the way up to .356x360 for 38 they do help

[mdi]

I have three 9mm pistols I cast for. Two newer, modern manufactured and one Tokerev 9mm. The newer guns shoot well with my Lee 125 gr NFP sized to .357" and the Tokerev needs .359" to shoot without leading and accurately. But you gotta know what the barrel's bore/groove diameter is...

[sigep1764]

.358 has worked for all my 9s. Once the CZ gets dirty, sometimes you have to tap the back of the slide. 3 Glocks, one Walther, and a Springfield, no issues.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I size 'em to .357

BUT, I did have a friend's Browning Hi-Power (1980s vintage), that wouldn't reliably cycle 'em that large...but .356 worked well.

[fredj338]

I used to run 0.357" in all my 9mm but a couple have tight chambers so I went back to 0.356", still no issues with accuracy. Get both sizing dies & try them out.

[reddog81]

I stick with .357. .358 cause issues going into battery in some of my guns.

[Finster101]

.358 works for me in all my 9s. Smith, Springfield and Hi-point.

[Ed_Shot]

I've never had a problem with .358 in any of several 9MM's. But, agree with fredj338, try both .357 and .358 or you will always wonder.

[gnostic]

I size to .358 and run a 18# spring to chamber reliably in S&W, CZ and Colt. And that way, I can shoot my 9mm bullets in my .357's and 38 special revolvers as well....

[trapper9260]

I have some that I size to ,356 and some others will take .358 Need to slug the gun and go from there .

[lightman]

Thanks for the replys everyone. I have a half dozen 9mm pistols and realize the bore diameters will probably vary quite a bit. I'm looking for a diameter that can be either used as cast or sized down as necessary. It sounds like .358 is it.

[Bookworm]

I have at least 6 that I shoot cast in, 358 works in all of them.

[Mytmousemalibu]

The looser guns like the larger bullets and the tighter ones don't seem to care in my collection of 9mm guns. I have successfully run .357/.358 diameter in all of them. If it will chamber and feed, party on! Me personally, I wouldn't hesitate to run the bigger bullets. Chamber tightness and feeding are probably the the biggest deciding factor.

[tazman]

Basically, what his boils down to is a choice that needs to be made to get one boolit size to work everywhere. That calls for the boolit to fit the gun with the largest groove diameter and to chamber in everything else that you have.
.357 size barrels do their best with .358-.360. Smaller barrels sometimes have issues chambering boolits of .358 or larger. The first issue is a given. The second you can do something about by rechambering the pistol.
Find the size needed for the largest groove diameter and adjust any chamber that doesn't accept that size to make it work.
No other options unless you got lucky and that boolit will chamber in all your guns.
If so, you are home free.

[lightman]

Thanks for the replys everyone. I'm probably going to order a mold after while from Tom at Accurate molds. I'm thinking that it will be the #35-125 in .358 diameter. That way I have the options of sizing it down to .357 or even .356 if I find it necessary.

[winelover]

All six of my (different manufacture's) nines will chamber .359 bullets..............none of which have been throated. Whenever, I order a 9 mm custom mould, I ask that it drops at .360 with WW alloy. I use a Star with a .3585 die and conventional lube. Not an issue to size down, when necessary. Going the other way, it is...............unless you powder coat.

I like dual purpose moulds................I can use 9mm moulds for 38/357, that way.

Winelover

[Matrix]

Does anyone shoot 9mm in a S&W 929? I have picked one up and am looking to cast for it.
I hear people saying that the 929 was built with a .38 barrel rather than a 9mm (.355/.356) barrel so bullet dia should be in the .357/.358 range.
Also, since I'm shooting a revolver, I would like to find a round nose mold with No Lube Groove in 6 cavity. If you know any company that offers this, please let me know.
Any comments are greatly appreciated.

[wv109323]

I had to go .358 on a CZ 75 and then have the leade reamed on the barrel.

[mto7464]

Thanks for the replys everyone. I'm probably going to order a mold after while from Tom at Accurate molds. I'm thinking that it will be the #35-125 in .358 diameter. That way I have the options of sizing it down to .357 or even .356 if I find it necessary.

give the group buy 9mm 135 grain bullet a look.

[tazman]

Does anyone shoot 9mm in a S&W 929? I have picked one up and am looking to cast for it.
I hear people saying that the 929 was built with a .38 barrel rather than a 9mm (.355/.356) barrel so bullet dia should be in the .357/.358 range.
Also, since I'm shooting a revolver, I would like to find a round nose mold with No Lube Groove in 6 cavity. If you know any company that offers this, please let me know.
Any comments are greatly appreciated.

I have a S&W 929. It has a standard 9mm groove diameter barrel. S&W didn't take any shortcuts with this gun.
The chambers are a little generous in that you can chamber larger diameter boolits than you can in many semi-auto pistols.
There is no ledge at the front of the chamber for the case to headspace on. You must use the moon clips.
The chamber tapers down to the groove diameter from the case mouth. This allows you to seat boolits to a much longer AOL than you can with semi autos. It also allows you to use much heavier boolits if you wish because of the ability to load long.
You can also load extremely light loads if you wish since you don't have to work a slide.
As far as a mold, mine doesn't show a preference in either boolit weight or design. It shoots all of them really well.
Jerry Miculek had a hand in designing this revolver. Here is a link to a video where he shoots and describes the gun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FbUMqoyjDw
Mine is a superb shooting machine.