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Thread: Lee 38-125-RF in 9mm Luger

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Lee 38-125-RF in 9mm Luger

    I cannot find any of the old threads on this subject, so I thought I'd start a new one. I remember several of our illustrious members have at one time or another extolled the virtues of this combination.

    I cast a bunch last spring, ACWW, PC'd with Smoke's Carolina Blue, and sized .358. Final weight 127ish. They are a little tight going into a case after going thru a Lee powder thru die and seating with a flat seating stem. They are loaded over 3.7/BE and flare is straightened with a light taper crimp. These shoot very nicely at 7 and 15 yards. Ejected brass is fairly well behaved. Next up is a 25 yd test when it cools off a little.

    Just for grins I going to size a few to .357 and see if seating will be a little 'mo betta' and accuracy is retained. My concern is how squarely the boolit is seating, although the proof was on target. I even tried seating a few with a .357 Sig seating die with a different nose configuration -- could not tell a difference on target. I do not even know why I have a set of .357 Sig dies, go figure.

    This appears as though it will be a very economical training/plinking round, and easy to make.

    I'm using older stock primers and powder, range brass, and 'free' WWs. Cost per round is negligible - for the time being anyway.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  2. #2
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    How do they feed?

  3. #3
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    I forgot to mention that OAL is 1.015.

    Feed slicker than greased owl snot in an older 92FS.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  4. #4
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    1.015 is VERY short for 9mm luger. Watch your pressures.

  5. #5
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    I size mine to .357" ...try it .

    If you realy want economical ...then try Lee 358-105-SWC , it sizes easily to .357" and works well in lighter 9mm Luger loads ... less lead , less powder , less recoil ... they all add up .
    I have a WWII Walther P-38 that loves this boolit under any fast burning powder at 1000 fps , the pistol sights can be drift adjusted but are a pain to do... the 105 SWC loads shoot right to its sights POA = POI dead on and the lighter loads don't beat the old war horse to death .
    Gary
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    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    sundog,

    Could you tell us the as cast diameter of the boolit with the acww alloy?
    Decreed by our Creator: The man who has been made able to believe and understand that Jesus Christ has been sent into this world by the Father has been born of the Spirit of God. This man shall never experience spiritual death. He will live forever!

  7. #7
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    These are all I cast and load for my G19’s. PC’d and sized at .357.


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  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by wmitty View Post
    sundog,

    Could you tell us the as cast diameter of the boolit with the acww alloy?
    All I have right now have been PC'd. IIRC the cast size is .358.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  9. #9
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    I use that bullet in my 4, 9mm pistols and 38 Specials. For 3 of the pistols I size to .357" and one older gun likes .358" Handguns get .358". Most get my "Mystery Metal" alloy (BHN 12), (drops at .359"+. or so) and some use Lyman #2. Feeds quite well in all pistols. Most are loaded with Universal although I've used all appropriate pistol mid speed powders. Nekkid with Caranuba Red or PCed, good accurate 35 cal bullet...

    Most of my pistol loads with that bullet run 1.060"...
    My Anchor is holding fast!

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  11. #11
    Boolit Master LAH's Avatar
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    Sundog do you shoot any around Picher? I love the place & all the piles of refuse.

    The Lee 38-125-RF is now my go to bullet for the 9MM. My mould drops a little on the large side of .359". I size them .358 for my CZ75 but my S&W MP 9s won't accept a .358" bullet so they get .357". I seat them to just hide the crimp groove. I was told once they wouldn't feed but I have zero problems with them. I was told they would be seated too deep but the amount of bullet in the case is no different than the Saeco #928 [former go to bullet].



  12. #12
    Boolit Mold
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    I use the Lee 358 125 RF but I seat it to 1.055" , the crimp groove is showing slightly . I use Universal powder ( approximately 1050 fps)

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by LAH View Post
    Sundog do you shoot any around Picher? I love the place & all the piles of refuse.

    The Lee 38-125-RF is now my go to bullet for the 9MM. My mould drops a little on the large side of .359". I size them .358 for my CZ75 but my S&W MP 9s won't accept a .358" bullet so they get .357". I seat them to just hide the crimp groove. I was told once they wouldn't feed but I have zero problems with them. I was told they would be seated too deep but the amount of bullet in the case is no different than the Saeco #928 [former go to bullet].
    LAH, I am between Broken Arrow and Muskogee. I have a fifty yard range on my property and belong to two local clubs.

    I bet those chat piles (small mountains) make great backstops! Very many folks left living in Picher?

    Thanks for the links, just what I had been looking for.

    I tried some sized to .357 yesterday, and while they shot fine accuracy was degraded. I also tried some with and OAL of 1.060 - did not like them either. I'll be going back to .358 and 1.015 oal.
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Some more 38-125-RF boolit porn:

    Attachment 288258
    It ain't rocket science, it's boolit science.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master LAH's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sundog View Post
    Very many folks left living in Picher?
    You are south of where I thought. My father in law lived in Miami before passing. I loved visiting there. Being a WV boy those chat piles & many empty buildings fascinated me. Not many people round those parts these day.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master


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    I found that seating the bullet that large made some rounds that would not chamber. Setting the bullet so it was straight on the case before seating is critical. If there was a slight bulge it can cause the round not to chamber. I was using Lee dies.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    That boolit water quenched and sized to .357" is all I use in my M&P, and it loves them. Having a 6 cavity mould makes it a joy to produce projectiles for the pistol. BTW, Accurate #5 is my powder of choice for them. Full factory ballistics with no pressure problems.

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