.357 bullets in 9mm?

[Wee Hooker]

So I've noticed that my 986 and 191 9mm's tend to shoot more accurately with 356 sized 9m/38 super bullets. ( I've testd 125 and 130 gr to date.). I'm wondering if anybody has tried/had success with 357 sized 9mm bullets in mid range 9mm loads?

 

[rockquarry]

Are you referring to jacketed or cast bullets? I wouldn't size jacketed bullets, though others might and they may work. I routinely shoot .358" cast bullets in a Sig, a Beretta, and a Walther. They work well. Some guns, like Glocks and H&Ks may or may not handle such large diameter bullets. I am not familiar with a 986 or 191.

 

[Nevada Ed]

With coated 9mm bullets;

.356 dia was fine.
.357 dia made the case bulge a little and
.358 dia would not feed in my pistol.

Case types and wall thickness plus the die spec's used all play
a part on how a load will chamber and fit in your weapons.

Just depends on how loose or tight your chamber is or was cut
by the factory.

Good luck.

 

[reddog81]

.356 or .357 is pretty much standard for lead. Some people even use .358.

.357 jacketed bullets will probably work, but I would expect them to raise the chamber pressure with all the extra force to get the bullets to jacketed bullet to swage down as it transistions into the bore. I size cast bullets regularly and you can size a soft lead bullet down .004 with a little effort. To size a jacketed bullet down .001 it takes considerable effort.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have shot lead .357 bullets in both 9mm and .38 super. It worked just fine. My final crimp die also sizes very slightly, which did the job for the bullet just fine. If I tried t use it a .358 it would not chamber reliably.

 

[colt_saa]

As others have said, .357 for cast projectiles is usually no problem.

Jacketed projectiles also tend to work fine especially since you are taling about mid range loads and not max performance

I WOULD NOT use any of the .357 solids for the 9MM pistol.

About 10 years ago there was a spectacular deal on 158 TC projectiles from extreme. My buddies and I chipped in and bought an entire pallet (min order). I hid them away in one of my companies seldom used warehouses and we have been shooting them ever since.

These are a soft swaged core that is plated so even though they were.357s I decided to try them for subsonic 9MM loads with 231. They worked so well that we must have gone through almost 10,000 by now

It is a very quiet load. Quieter than the IMI 158 subsonic, not to mention much cheaper and easier to find

 

[Wee Hooker]

Thanks Folks, I was actually thinking of trying x-treme's 147gr 357 plated offering. I'm shooting mid range loads in modern and well maintained revolvers and semi-autos'

 

[fredj338]

Thanks Folks, I was actually thinking of trying x-treme's 147gr 357 plated offering. I'm shooting mid range loads in modern and well maintained revolvers and semi-autos'

I settled on 0.357" for lead, coated lead or plated in my 9mm. Accuracy is better across a wider range of barrels. Most guys running stock Glock will even go to 0.358".

 

[mikld]

Too many variables to give an answer. I have 3, 9mm pistols that have grove diameters from .356" to .358". I shoot cast bullets of .357" to .359" diameter. Case wall thickness is another variable; thick cases and large bullets may produce ammo that has chambering problems. Also seating depth can affect chambering. The ID of a 9mm case is tapered so deep seating can bulge cases causing chambering problems.

I'd sugggest slugging the barrel and sizing cast bullets .001"-.002" larger than groove diameter. Use the "plunk test" to determine if your cartridges will chamber freely...

I have 3, 9mm and 4, 38/357s and I use the same cast bullet in them all; a Lee 125 gr RNFP. I just size the bullet for use in a particular gun...

 

[Qc Pistolero]

If lead bullets,it is like Nevada Ed said.I'd add good only if all your brass is commercial.If you've got military brass,which is thicker,don't ever go over .356 if you don't want failure to feed(bulged brass).Qc

 

[Wee Hooker]

I took advantage of the 10% & free shipping at xtreme this weekend and ordered some. I enjoy experimenting anyway..