I don't get it. Another 9mm fail.

[kryogen]

I loaded another 30 rounds for testing.
The 120tc, but with 45-45-10 + a pan lube in 2500+.
Seated over 3.9 of 231, up from 3.6.

Will see how the stronger charge + double lube take care of the issue.
(Before I have a chance to test the other mold when it gets in next week)

[kryogen]

I don't expect it to fix all the issues, but the new mold won't be there until later next week, so it will allow me to do some testing in between.
When I get a load that works without leading with lube, then I might consider just buying a star and being able to quickly process bullets.
And if it does work with canauba red, it would be awesome, 650 + star + CR lubed bullets = quick.

I made a temporary kake kutter from a 300 win mag case that I cutback and enlarged the primer hole. It does work, but the taper is too wide and it's hard to push.
Waiting for a nicer cutter from buckshot.

[mjwcaster]

Haven't seen it mentioned-
What are you using to measure the Boolits?
Micrometer or caliper?
A caliper will not show an out of round Boolits, just an average of the size of the Boolit.
I had leading when I started casting, Boolits measured OK with calipers.
When I finally broke down and got a micrometer I could measure the Boolits were out of round on the parting line, small on one side large on the other.
Just the small portion being under sized was enough to cause leading.
Just another thought.

[kryogen]

Haven't seen it mentioned-
What are you using to measure the Boolits?
Micrometer or caliper?
A caliper will not show an out of round Boolits, just an average of the size of the Boolit.
I had leading when I started casting, Boolits measured OK with calipers.
When I finally broke down and got a micrometer I could measure the Boolits were out of round on the parting line, small on one side large on the other.
Just the small portion being under sized was enough to cause leading.
Just another thought.

mitutoyo micrometer
like I said the 120TC is out of round from 355 to 358, so that's an issue, that's why I ordered the 358-125-RF mold, to get a real 358 all around.

[mjwcaster]

Did you order a 2 cavity or 6?
I am new to casting, but have given up on the Lee 2 cavity.
The 6 is just much better made in my limited experience and as reported by others.

Sorry if I missed it before, this has gotten to be a long thread.

Good luck.
It is much more fun to shoot rather than scrub lead.

[Boolseye]

Is it feasible for you to return that 356-120 TC to Lee? .355" is under their specifications (+.001", -.000"), and that's enough to cause problems. I feel as though their QC has been a little lax lately, especially with molds dropping too small.
That particular mold doesn't usually need to be babied to work.

[Finster101]

For what it's worth, I use the 358-105 in several 9s to include XDs , Smiths and Sigs. I powder coat and size to .358 and charge with 4 grains of Promo (Red Dot) I get zero leading and very good feeding and cycling with this combo. I have a friend with a Glock I may ask to borrow it and try it. I don't own or want one. There is nothing wrong with them they are just not a fit for me.

[kryogen]

Is it feasible for you to return that 356-120 TC to Lee? .355" is under their specifications (+.001", -.000"), and that's enough to cause problems. I feel as though their QC has been a little lax lately, especially with molds dropping too small.
That particular mold doesn't usually need to be babied to work.

Not really, I'm in canada and shipping would be more than the mold.

[kryogen]

Did you order a 2 cavity or 6?
I am new to casting, but have given up on the Lee 2 cavity.
The 6 is just much better made in my limited experience and as reported by others.

Sorry if I missed it before, this has gotten to be a long thread.

Good luck.
It is much more fun to shoot rather than scrub lead.

I only have lee 6 cavity molds.

[krag35]

Doesn't cost much, order a Lee 358-125-RF, cast with ACWW, size to .358" and see if it cures your problem. A lot cheaper than a new barrel.

That Lee 358-125-RF has worked well in all of the 9mm's I have tried it in. I have not kept a Glock long enough to reload for it, so YMMV.

[kryogen]

should get it next week. it's in the mail.

[Landshark9025]

I probably missed it somewhere, but I am guessing you are using a push through die to resize them and make them round to the right size, right?

[anotherred]

My 357 bullets drop freely in the fired cases. I have been told that this would mean that I should size 358.
I'll try a few sized 358 and see.

Maybe I missed it, but have you slugged the barrel and actually measured the slug?

[kryogen]

I probably missed it somewhere, but I am guessing you are using a push through die to resize them and make them round to the right size, right?

cant make a 355-358 out of round bullet round to 358.
That's why I have a 358 mold in the mail.

[kryogen]

Maybe I missed it, but have you slugged the barrel and actually measured the slug?

barrel is 356
.3558 exactly (at least the tightest spot is)

[swmass]

That was my exact problem with the 120tc mold. (355-358). Slugged my barrel at 356. Tried sizing em, going unsized... But at the end of the day it might as well be a .355 bullet. Wont lecture you about sizing and all that because you clearly get it. I'd have high hopes for the new mold because it will most likely fix all your problems and the headache will be over!

[Dusty Bannister]

Not really, I'm in canada and shipping would be more than the mold.

Seriously? $40.00 to ship a 40.00 mold? I know that it is more expensive, but that just doesn't sound right compared to shipping an item several years ago.

[kryogen]

Shipping from and to the usa is such a pain, I try to just avoid it.
Less expensive shipping options have bad tracking and I have lost items in the past. Plus, it takes 2 weeks or so, with mediocre tracking.
And then, you get charged abusive duty fees and all that by the courrier companies.

The mold is 60$ in canada. I won't bother, I'll just put it in a box and forget it.

[kryogen]

undersized 120tc with 3.9 of hp38 at 1.050 worked really well but still leaded a bit after 30 rounds. Nothing major but still.
the tumble lube with 45-45-10 did not help VS just the 2500+
The stronger powder charge did not help.

next try is going to be the 358 125 RF, will report, possibly next week.

[Boolseye]

Yeah, you'll probably not obturate the needed .002" into existence with that boolit.
i will sometimes double lube a boolit. Pan-lube, in my case , followed by a tumble in 45-45-10. kinda smoky, but it can help a bit with a marginal boolit. Beagleing and/or lapping are options, however. I've lapped a couple Lee 6-cavs, could buy a couple NOEs for the labor involved.