Originally Posted by
wolfdog
I did get the 120TC not tumble lube design, I just tumble lube them. I tried several things and here's where I'm at. My 380s, 35rem, 45-70, 38-55, 45 acp, and several 357mags all shoot my cast very well. My 9mms are a nightmare. With the cost of primers, powder and the time invested to play with different molds, expander balls, extra seat/crimp steps etc. I'm done messing with it in 9mm. Time vs results are not worth it. 50 rounds of FMJ 115s here is 14.99, 147 FMJ is 19.99. I'm paying 20 bucks per 100 Hornady HP/XTPs at 115grn and 23 bucks for 147s of the same. So I bought a case of 115s, a case of 147s, and 400 rounds of each 115 and 147grn XTPs. Took them to the range, at 30 yards the factory 115s and my XTP handloads all hit center and 3" groups. The 147s do a little better in my handloads and a little worse in factory. If I stock up on these things at that price, it's barely worth casting for if I consider time invested as well as the cost of primers and lead. So this one time, I'm not going to be casting. 9mm seems to be just more trouble than it's worth. I did however pick up the 158grn lee 6 cavity mold for .358 without gascheck and will be seeing if I can get a load worked up in both rifles and pistols that like that bullet. If so, my only gas checked round will be 35rem. My 38-55 is getting 1700fps with no gas check and no leading. So I bet it can be done. I also picked up 2k gas checks just in case. At less than 30 cents a round for factory, unless something changes, 9mm will be shooting those horrid copper things and factory I think, lol.