Turning 9mm into 38

[TAROMAN]

Turned 9mm into 38s.
It's known that the S&W 986 revolver, sold as a 9mm, actually has a .357 barrel.
Decided to try loading some .358" bullets for steel challenge.
Not wanting to screw with my 9mm die set, I went over the LGS and scrounged through their old/incomplete die sets.
Time to set up and form some cases.
FL sized with a 357 sizer.
Expanding took some work. Wound up with a Lee 38 S&W expander, shimmed with a couple flat washers.
Old RCBS seater and and an unknown Lee crimp die.
Just ran a test batch with 145 grain RN from Clang And Bang.
Now to test.

 

[richrd]

I use a 929 for SC and being an ex-target shooter I'm too concerned with accuracy. My best loads are .357 and .358 bullets. My dies don't care what size the bullets are. I don't see why you are going to all the extra trouble.

 

[TAROMAN]

Guess it's the fun and challenge.

 

[AlHunt]

I'm not really clear what you did here. It looks like you loaded 9mm cases with .358 bullets. Where does case forming come into play? Or did you use some other case?

I can be slow on the uptake sometimes.

 

[Alk8944]

richrd is absolutely correct. All you need to shoot .358" bullets in a 9mm is the .358" diameter bullets and your 9mm dies. Anything else is a waste of time.

 

[taz666]

Well, the larger 38sw expander slug is nice ... this should just swap right into the 9mm expanding die though. No extra "shimming" needed.

 

[mtgianni]

I size my cast 9mm bullets to 0.358". The barrel is a great resizing tool.

 

[Warren Sear]

I size my cast 9mm bullets to 0.358". The barrel is a great resizing tool.

I size mine to .357". As long as the loaded rounds chamber readily, they are good. A barrel does indeed make the best sizing tool.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Early on in my reloading experience I had a Hornady New Dimension 38/357 sizing die where the nitride ring loosened & wobbled... I called Hornady CS and they sent me two New Dimension nitride sizing dies marked as " 9mm 9x21"...

When I called them about it they responded, " Not to worry: other than the marking they are exactly the same."

They work as described. Since I probably reload 5X as many 9mm cases I didn't mind the spares.

CHEERS!

P.S. I put some epoxy on the sizing ring of the original die... That was probably 3K rounds ago.

 

[fordson]

I routinely use .357” bullets in my 38 Super loads and .355”/.356” bullets in 38/357 loads. Have been for years. Follow the loading data for bullet weight and bullet style for targets loads , they work fine. Good luck and safe shooting.

 

[gwpercle]

I have been reloading 9mm Luger with 38/357 revolver bullets for over 40 years ... even cast SWC (Lyman #358477 ) and WC (Lyman # 358432).
I size them to .357" or .358" depending on the pistol I'm reloading for .
Use a standard CH - steel die set and a neck expander from NOE .

I have a NOE 9mm bullet mould NOE # 360-124-TC-GC and size it also to .357" or .358" , depending on the gun ... this one also works well in 38 Super , 38 Special , 38 Spcl +P and 357 Magnum ... the gas check lets you get the velocity up there !
Gary

 

[DWalt]

I suppose there is a point to all this somewhere.

 

[71vette]

I’ve also loaded “38” bullets in 9mm and 9mm bullets in 38 Special. No issues either way.

I will say, duplication of the old Mk144 Mod 0 158gr Subsonic 9mm load works well in my suppressed 9mm’s. I use Berry’s 158gr RN plated “38” bullets.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Shooting times with a 5" 9mm in a Ransom test;

shot thirty 110gr XTP, with IMR4756 at 1292fps for a 25 yard group,
at 2.45".

I could never get a 9mm FMJ, to do well out of my 38 specials.

In a revolver, I can see loads as low as 800fps with the right powders and bullets.

Have fun.