Making 38 special bullets using a 9mm mould.

[M5741]

About a month ago, I picked up a Colt Officers Model Target at the local pawn shop. It is a 1910 vintage, and in good condition. The bore is a little rough. This last weekend, I decided to get a mould for it to cast bullets. While pondering on which mould to buy, it dawned on me that I had bought and still have a 9mm mould from ACCURATE MOLDS. It is the 35-130A. The bullet design has a bore riding section above the top driving band. The .255 meplat causes it to not feed consistantly in some 9mm pistols.
I cast up 50 or so for the 38 special. These bullets drop at 128 grains with my alloy, and .3575 diameter. I sized these bullets using a Lee .356 push through sizer. I powder coated with one coat of bright blue for a diameter of .3575 -.358, and loaded them over 4.2 grains of Unique. I went to the gun club yesterday and shot the first 12 rounds at 15 yards into a golf ball size group. Yes, I was smiling when I walked up to that target. The rest of the rounds were shot at a 30 yard distance at one of those bouncing Betty plastic targets. Life is good.
Endeavor to persevere.
Jack

 

[robertrwalsh]

It certainly worked for you. I would have guessed the bullets would be a tad too small even after powder coating. The proof however is in the doing. Clearly you particular revolver likes that particular bullet and load.

 

[M5741]

It certainly worked for you. I would have guessed the bullets would be a tad too small even after powder coating. The proof however is in the doing. Clearly you particular revolver likes that particular bullet and load.

I did check the clearance at the muzzle on the bore riding section. There is a couple K clearance between the bore and the bore riding section. Just for fun, I'm going to add another coat of powder to get a better fit in that section. I may have to size the driving bands down to .358. First I have to cast more bullets.

 

[243winxb]

The groove diameter can be as small as .3548 inches, on a Colt.

I shoot a 9mm bullet sized to .358" for my 357 mag S&W Model 28-2. 125 grs.

Bullet on left.

 

[Forrest r]

Having molds that are duel purpose is a huge plus when it comes to casting bullets that can be used in the 9mm and the 38spl'd/357mags.
I use these 125gr cast fn hp's in all 3 calibers with impressive accuracy. I've never really pushed them hard (over 1400fps). Perhaps I should some day.

The bullet on the left is a 1930's "parlor" bullet cast from a cramer mold (#33). It's a 115gr indoor parlor wc (even with the round nose) that takes after the himmelwright style wc.
The bullet on the right is a modern version of the himmelwright wc (no lube grooves) that weighs 140gr.

The cramer #33 was designed for the 38 s&w/38spl that is extremely accurate at close ranges (50ft). Their a hoot in the 9mm's for a plinking bullet/blammo ammo range fodder. What surprised me with this bullet is when I tested it in a snubnosed (2" bbl'd) 38spl using a p+ load of unique that produced 1100fps.

That modern himmelwright bullet is 140gr and is designed to use in the 9mm and the 38spl. The nose is too long to load/shoot in 357mag revolvers. It's hard not to find an accurate load in either caliber with this bullet.

I cast all of them with a 8/9bhn alloy and size them to .358". Their easy on the pile of lead I have laying around. Easy to load & more than accurate enough for my needs.

 

[LAH]

Sounds like you have a winner.

 

[M5741]

Having molds that are duel purpose is a huge plus when it comes to casting bullets that can be used in the 9mm and the 38spl'd/357mags.
I use these 125gr cast fn hp's in all 3 calibers with impressive accuracy. I've never really pushed them hard (over 1400fps). Perhaps I should some day.

The bullet on the left is a 1930's "parlor" bullet cast from a cramer mold (#33). It's a 115gr indoor parlor wc (even with the round nose) that takes after the himmelwright style wc.
The bullet on the right is a modern version of the himmelwright wc (no lube grooves) that weighs 140gr.

The cramer #33 was designed for the 38 s&w/38spl that is extremely accurate at close ranges (50ft). Their a hoot in the 9mm's for a plinking bullet/blammo ammo range fodder. What surprised me with this bullet is when I tested it in a snubnosed (2" bbl'd) 38spl using a p+ load of unique that produced 1100fps.

That modern himmelwright bullet is 140gr and is designed to use in the 9mm and the 38spl. The nose is too long to load/shoot in 357mag revolvers. It's hard not to find an accurate load in either caliber with this bullet.

I cast all of them with a 8/9bhn alloy and size them to .358". Their easy on the pile of lead I have laying around. Easy to load & more than accurate enough for my needs.

Interesting bullet designs. The parlor bullet on the left looks like a miniature Paradox slug.