Lee 147 gr 9mm

[brettb75]

Is Lee's 147 9mm any good compared to other147 molds or which 147 or heavy for caliber do you recommend. Any help would be appreciated

[tazman]

I wasn't aware Lee made a 147 grain 9mm mold. Would you happen to have a link to the details?

[Wally]

#90791 356-153-2R ..their 2001 catalog said to cast with hard alloy to get to 147 grains...

I have the DC mold---it is a bit too long in the 9mm.

[tazman]

Apparently it is no longer made. I can't find any information on it currently.
I think I may actually have that mold in a 6 cavity. Mine drops at 156 grains with range scrap and shoots well in my pistols.
I assumed it was a custom build from some time ago.

[Wally]

Lee listed a 6 cav of it # 90746 in their 2011 catalog. It is a good bullet in the .38 Spl. , but it doesn't have a crimping groove...I use a TC die with it and it works quite nicely. It has a very nice wide/square grease groove.

Apparently it is no longer made. I can't find any information on it currently.
I think I may actually have that mold in a 6 cavity. Mine drops at 156 grains with range scrap and shoots well in my pistols.
I assumed it was a custom build from some time ago.

[GWM]

NOE has the 358-155-TC ELCO that looks really good.
Accurate has several that I would like to have also.
I do have the 35-160N, but I haven't had the time to shoot it much yet.

[oso]

brettb75 your help would be appreciated: what is your intended application? Is the mold in question available to you?
IIRC the Lee 356-153-2R was intended for making major with the 38 Super. I use it at 153 gr. in 9mm seated long with excellent feeding in sub-sonic loads as well as in 38 Super sub-sonic loads. (If I wanted to make major I wouldn't have been in the Navy.)
I have also cast the the Lyman 356637 at 156 gr. This has a flat nose if you want that, but some of my 9mm's have been fussy feeding this boolit if the length isn't just right.

[tazman]

NOE has the 358-155-TC ELCO that looks really good.
Accurate has several that I would like to have also.
I do have the 35-160N, but I haven't had the time to shoot it much yet.

Yes. I have that NOE mold and it works great. With the hollow point pins in place, it drops right at 147 grains. I also use it in 38 special.

Lee listed a 6 cav of it # 90746 in their 2011 catalog. It is a good bullet in the .38 Spl. , but it doesn't have a crimping groove...I use a TC die with it and it works quite nicely. It has a very nice wide/square grease groove.

I have used it in 38 special as well. I have other round nose boolits that work better for me though. Lyman 358311 and the Lee TL358-158-2R.

[Wally]

If I may ask, why do the other two bullets work better for you? I have a Lyman 358311 and had a Lee TL358-158-2R. I like the Lyman, but it is too long in my Mo 27...I never did like the Lee, so I sold it.

I have used it in 38 special as well. I have other round nose boolits that work better for me though. Lyman 358311 and the Lee TL358-158-2R.

[tazman]

If I may ask, why do the other two bullets work better for you? I have a Lyman 358311 and had a Lee TL358-158-2R. I like the Lyman, but it is too long in my Mo 27...I never did like the Lee, so I sold it.

They are more accurate in my revolvers than the Lee 356-153-2r. I shoot mostly 38 special, so the length doesn't matter there. I have a S&W 686 and a Ruger Blackhawk in 357 mag, both of which handle the length in magnum brass with no issues. The Lee 153 shoots well but the others are a bit better.
I was actually a little surprised that the Lee TL358-158-2R worked as well as it does for me. Since it did so well, I went with it.

[Wally]

Understood...if they are more accurate.....it's best to use them. I never did well with the Lee RN-TL. I find that my most accurate non-WC cast bullet in my .38 Spls is the Lee 140 SWC #90318 w/ 4.0 of Promo, Red/Dot, or Bullseye.

[tazman]

I don't have that one.
I have several molds that shoot about the same. Just slightly less accurate than my full wadcutter molds.

For the OP-- The NOE 358-155-TC(ELCO) that has been mentioned is a great boolit. If you get the hollow point version, you can cast it as 147 grain hollow point or as a 155 grain TC. This boolit was designed for the 9mm from the start and works very well. There are a couple of threads about it here on the site. Just do a search for TC(ELCO) and they will show up. Lots of results as well as targets and charge data.

[noisewaterphd]

Another vote for NOE 358-155-TC(ELCO)

I also really like the Accurate 35-145B

[Intel6]

I also like the NOE 155 ELCO mould for heavy bullets in 9mm. I originally bought it for making bullets to shoot in my S&W 929 8 shot 9mm revolver but I also tried them in my 9mm autos and they are great in them also. I cast them out of a slightly softer mix and they come out close to 160 gr. and then I Hi Tek coat them in Bronze 500 and size to .358"

In the pic below you can see a moon clip of the bullet used in revolver loads, a bullet loaded in a nickel case for an auto and then a pic of the bullet by itself:

[Boolseye]

What's the consensus on the new NOE ELCO 155 mold for 357 SIG?

[yondering]

I also like the NOE 155 ELCO mould for heavy bullets in 9mm. I originally bought it for making bullets to shoot in my S&W 929 8 shot 9mm revolver but I also tried them in my 9mm autos and they are great in them also. I cast them out of a slightly softer mix and they come out close to 160 gr. and then I Hi Tek coat them in Bronze 500 and size to .358"

In the pic below you can see a moon clip of the bullet used in revolver loads, a bullet loaded in a nickel case for an auto and then a pic of the bullet by itself:

Did you have to long-throat your barrel for that bullet, or is it tapered enough to work in a standard 9mm chamber even with the coating?

[noisewaterphd]

Did you have to long-throat your barrel for that bullet, or is it tapered enough to work in a standard 9mm chamber even with the coating?

I don't know the details of what the other poster is doing, but I seat the same bullet much deeper for 9mm.

[yondering]

I don't know the details of what the other poster is doing, but I seat the same bullet much deeper for 9mm.

Thanks. Do you have any issues with the bullet base running into the thicker part of the case?

[tazman]

Thanks. Do you have any issues with the bullet base running into the thicker part of the case?

If you seat to the edge of taper, you will have about .270 of the boolit inside the case. This is no problem at all as far as the thicker part of the case is concerned.
Mine never display the snake swallowing a can effect.