Casting for a P89 questions

[Jeffery8mm]

I just bought a Ruger P89 in new condition, in the Ruger box with 2 clips:p. I want to use cast in this pistol. I have access to a Lee 125gr round nose mold. I have Unique pistol powder.
I understand the 9mm can be a bit contankerous to cast/load for. Any help or info is greatly appreciated. Also, any opinions on the P89 would be nice. I am a wheelgun man first and foremost. This is my only Semi, other than my Ruger 22/45 target 22.
Thanks
Jeff

[454PB]

I have both a P-89 and P-85. Both like large boolits, I size them .357. That Lee boolit feeds well in both pistols. I use 6.2 gr. of HS-6 and a CCI 500 primer for 1200 fps.. Set overall length to just hide the lube groove, light taper crimp, and test for proper feeding. I can't help you with Unique, I don't use it in 9mm.

[MT Gianni]

My P85 found it's accuracy at 1200 fps also.

[exile]

I shoot a 125 grain cast round-nose bullet over 4.4 grains of Unique out of two glock pistols with aftermarket barrels. It is nothing special but seems to work fine. I can't tell you what kind of mold because I buy them from a local commercial caster. The load data comes from a Speer manual if you want to check it out. I have been wanting to buy the Lee TL truncated cone bullet mold to try it but have not yet. Hope that helps.

exile

[MtGun44]

Slug the bbl. Euro 9s are pretty uniformly large and all of mine thrive on .357"
cast. Likely same in US, but who knows, each gun is a thing unto itself.
I have great results from Lee 358-105-SWC (mini version of 45 cal
H&G 68) and 356-120-TC.

Bill

[9.3X62AL]

I have a 1996-vintage P-89X that dotes on both the Lee 125 grain RN and on the Lee 125 TC. That Lee TC design is about the all-around best autopistol cast boolit in any caliber I've ever used. It has been accurate in 9mm, 40 S&W, 10mm, and 45 ACP for me. Some folks bad-mouth Lee stuff, but some of their cast boolit designs just plain SHOOT.

I load the RN to an OAL of 1.150". This "kisses" the rifling in my SIG pistols' throats, but barely clears the Ruger's rifling origin. The RN is a bit more prone to skidding than is the TC--a lot less drive band engagement with the RN. At upper-end loads (1200 FPS+), the TC works and shoots a lot better. Same deal for the SWCs like Lyman #356402 and all its clones, for the same reasons--more drive band "grab".

I really like the Ruger P-89. Its accuracy is on par with the SIG pistols, as is its feed reliability. It may not be highly refined--or have way cool mall ninja street cred like the Glocks and SIGs--but the things just plain work, and last forever while continuing to do so.