Double-duty mold for 9x18 and .38 SPL

While reloading some standard wadcutters for my S&W, I saw the Speer reloading manuals have a page dedicated to short barreled .38 SPL revolvers. According to Speer, the 110 Gold Dot jhp is the optimal bullet to load with.

I have a MAK that I’m tuning up into a fun shooting pistol. To keep it properly fed I ordered a MP mold for it. https://www.mp-molds.com/product/366...4-cavity-mold/

I’ve never had to size a cast bullet, so this is a new question to me. Would it be possible to size the MAK’s 93 grain .366 cast solid/hollow point down to .357 to use in a 1st generation S&W Airweight? Or is that too much to squeeze down?

My thought process is if the 110 jhp is optimal a 93 gr cast might be pretty darn good as well... especially if I size and powder coat them.

I never had much success sizing cast bullets down more than 1 percent of their diameter. Accurate has some heavier 9x18 bullets of 125-130 grains which work OK in the .38 S&W sized to .362-.363, but you would distort them severely sizing below .360" and a bullet lighter than 110-125 grains is going to impact more than 6 inches low to the fixed sights in most .38 Specials.

If you are insistent to find a versatile mold look at the Lyman 356242. Please note that this is the .356" diameter mold, not the wider .358" version. Nominal cast diameter will size/lube at .356 for the 9mm crowd, also can be powder coated to .358 for the revolver lovers. Round nose, commonly seen in the 125 grain weight. Easily identified by having 2 loob grooves whereas the version with a single loob groove is lighter at about 90 grains. Just a thought.

Lee 125 rnfp works well in both sized .358.

Pay attention people.

9x18 is a MUCH different boolit than 9x19

To answer the OP.

It won't work out well for you if you try. You would need to use multiple steps, you would have no grease grooves left and almost certainly your boolit would be wildly non-concentric.

9x18 is much larger diameter I don’t think you would be happy with the results


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Originally Posted by Burnt Fingers

Pay attention people.

9x18 is a MUCH different boolit than 9x19

To answer the OP.

It won't work out well for you if you try. You would need to use multiple steps, you would have no grease grooves left and almost certainly your boolit would be wildly non-concentric.

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Exactly what burnt fingers said! My question would be why would you try?

I'm casting for both. In different moulds. Never even considered trying to size the MAK bullet down.

My mistake. I read 9x19. Typed too fast.

I had a batch of left over 100 gr swc for when I reloaded for my Mak. The bearing surface was short to begin with and they easily sized down to .358 with a coating of LLA on them in a Lee sizer . They shot fine in my revolver on top of a small charge of Bullseye

Double-duty mold for 9x18 and .38 SPL

My 9x18 MAK needs .365 diameter
My 38 SPL needs .358 diameter

.007 is a long way to size

the LEE MOLD DC 365-95-1R does everything I need for MAK

Just get another mold. You can (in non-covid times) pick up a .358" mold on ebay for under $30. Right now they are going for a bit more. But they will drop back to normal eventually.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gun toting monkeyboy

Just get another mold. You can (in non-covid times) pick up a .358" mold on ebay for under $30. Right now they are going for a bit more. But they will drop back to normal eventually.

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This right here is the best advise


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