9MM Lead boolits tumbling

[robertbank]

Well life gets interesting as one goes through casting life and the following has me stumpted.

I just bought a Tanfoglio "L" Model - a EAA/Witness with a 123MM barrel, 8MM longer than the Witness.

I shot 1,000 rds of FMJ through the gun without incident. Switched to my lead cast boolits, cast from WW. These boolits have been shot through CZ85/Norinco 1911 in 9MM/STI Trojan and two HI-Powers without incident. Shot through the Tanfoglio bullets consistently key holed at 10 yards.

Velocity was approx. 1095 fps using 3.6 gr. Titegroup. I usuually use Unique 4 - 4.7 gr under these same boolits.

Leading occured in last 1/3 of barrel which was unusual as I have not experienced leading in any of my other nines. Lube is a blue lube from Jakes and requires light heat to flow.

Alloy used was WW water quenched.

I have not slugged my barrel, boolits are sized .355, the same diameter as the FMJ bullets I have used in the gun.

Take Care

Bob

[Lloyd Smale]

.355 is a little on the small side for cast in most 9mms id try them at 357 and see if that cures it.

[Shepherd2]

My 9MMs are prone to tumbling with boolits sized .356. I started sizing them at .357 and no more tumbling and better accuracy..

[robertbank]

Thanks for the replies. I will lube up some at .357 and test them today. If they work out and I suspect they will it will be good news bad news. I have 900 rounds loaded and another 1,000 boolits lubed at .355! Ah well I have two other guns that seem to like the .355 boolits but may make the switch anyway . Ah the joys of our sport.

Thanks again and will report back the results.

Take Care

Bob

[9.3X62AL]

Bob--

All three of my 9mm's require .357" boolits. Relatively hard metal (92/6/2) and fairly soft lube (Javelina) help too.

[mag_01]

:coffee: Try a light 38 or 357 boolit you might be supprized if it will chamber also Lees 125gr. tumble lube boolit (9mm) unsized may work---Mag

[robertbank]

Well you guys solved it .357 diameter put five rounds inside a quarter at 15 yards. No more tumbling. So I have 1200 boolits to remelt, though I can use them in my CZ 85 &/or my Trojan though the latter shoots the new diameter pretty darn good. Good thing I am retired. LOL

Thanks again

Bob

[9.3X62AL]

I'm doing the same thing--melting--about 600 Lee 125 TC's that weren't making the diameter. New (to me) NEI mold of that same description casts at .358" in Taracorp alloy, so life is good.

[HiWayMan]

Is .358 to great a diameter to fire in a .355 barrel?

[felix]

It is not the barrel size, it is the chamber size. Make sure the round will go into battery from the magazine using the fattest boolit possible. ... felix

[HiWayMan]

Thanks Felix

[rbstern]

Had similar problems with a Witness 9mm; 124 grain Lee TC of wheel weights caused a lot of leading in last third of barrel. Fatter, harder bullets work better. 9mm is a lot tricker to shoot cast than the low pressure rounds like 38 special and 45acp.

[9.3X62AL]

Had similar problems with a Witness 9mm; 124 grain Lee TC of wheel weights caused a lot of leading in last third of barrel. Fatter, harder bullets work better. 9mm is a lot tricker to shoot cast than the low pressure rounds like 38 special and 45acp.

True bizness--the 9mm is much more like a rifle caliber than a handgun caliber due to fast twists and high pressures.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have found that it is a good idea with a new gun to get it sorted before I load up any number of rounds for it. Ask me how I know this :-)
Mick.

[robertbank]

Well life is good and the universe is in balance. I now have four different powders producing single digit SD's out of all four guns and accuracy has improved significantly by going to .357. Felix lube has eliminated any hint of leading, though my next batch will have a little Carnuba Wax (thanks Felix for the suggestion) to make it a tad harder.

Take Care