Who shoots cast bullets in the 9mm

[tominboise]

I am thinking of joining a local pistol league, that requires non jacketed bullets. I do have a SIG P210 Target and was thinking of loading cast bullets in it for the semi auto portion.

Does anyone have any favorite targets loads for the 9mm? I have all the usual suspects for fast burning pistol powder in my locker.

 

[rockquarry]

Cast is all I shoot in 9mm. I use an obsolete .38 Special Lyman mould that makes a 150 grain round nose bullet. I size to .358" but some guns will need .357" or possibly even .359" bullets for best accuracy. Best rule of thumb is to use the largest bullet that will allow a cartridge to chamber freely and function without problem. Shoot the softest bullet that does not lead for the velocity you want. This will almost always be the most accurate. Lots of powders, but I prefer Bullseye for my bullet.

This is all much easier if you're a bullet caster, but if you can find a commercial source that offers at least a couple or so alloy mixes of different hardnesses and diameters, you'll be okay. This does require some experimentation for best results. 9mm is not the easiest cartridge to work with if you're using cast bullets, but once you get everything right, it'll do about as well as anything else. Good luck-

 

[leadhead2]

I shoot cast in all my 9mm's....... I use a Lee 358-124-RNFP
and size to .358. These work in all my 9's. I use Win 231
powder and it works very well. He's right about using the
biggest diameter bullet that will chamber. Have fun.
leadhead

 

[robertrwalsh]

I shoot a fair number of cast in my 9mms, though i don't make my own any more. I like 231, AA5 and Bullseye for mine generally.

 

[pistolpete10]

I have shot cast in 9MM, 125 RN and 125 SWC. Used Unique powder. they were no more or less accurate than 124 plated so went back to plated. Now have some 115 and 125 Hi Tec coated from Brazos, don't know on accuracy yet on them. The Hi Tecs shot in my DW, don't pass plunk in my G19. These bullets have a different shape from the plated bullets, will have to seat deeper for the Glock. Again, don't know about accuracy yet, loaded them with Titegroup. The cast I've used are all sized to .356". Little to no leading in the DW, Citadel, and FS92. Ruger LC9 did lead with the Unique load with cast lubed bullets.

 

[rockquarry]

Conventionally lubed 9mm cast bullets that fit well and are of the proper alloy for the load should shoot as well as the best jacketed bullets and maybe a little better than a plated, painted, or coated bullet, BUT, it takes some work to get there.

 

[GypsmJim]

At one time I had five nines. I never used anything but lead. I have 4 different Lee molds, round and conical nose, "standard" and TL. All are sized to 0.456 and I only use Bullseye. I have tried 115 grain, but the 124's work best.

Three of the pistols needed their own specific bullet shape to cycle properly. My Smith 39 ran well with 3 of the loads. Last year I bought a Glock 19X and it digests all of them. In fact, about 3000 rounds now and not one single malfunction.

 

[walnutred]

I started using the "accuracy" load found in the Lyman #45 manual sometime in the last century. 3.5 gns of Bullseye under a 121-125 gn cast bullet. I also size mine to .358.

 

[walnutred]

At one time I had five nines. I never used anything but lead. I have 4 different Lee molds, round and conical nose, "standard" and TL. All are sized to 0.456 and I only use Bullseye. I have tried 115 grain, but the 124's work best.

Three of the pistols needed their own specific bullet shape to cycle properly. My Smith 39 ran well with 3 of the loads. Last year I bought a Glock 19X and it digests all of them. In fact, about 3000 rounds now and not one single malfunction.

Not to be critical of GypsumJim but this is why you ALWAYS triple check data found on the internet.

 

[tominboise]

Thanks for the info. Most of the cast bullets I have found are sized to .356 or .357. I need to try the fit of a .358 bullet in my SIG barrel and see if it fits. If so, then I will try that size. I prefer 124gr in 9mm. I have always shot plated or jacketed bullets in my 9mm's. But since the league requires lead bullets, I am doing some research. I do shoot cast and swaged bullets in 38 spec, 357 Mag, 44 Spec and Mag and 45 ACP.

 

[max503]

I mostly shoot lighter bullets meant for the 380 cartridge in my Taurus PT92 because those are the molds I have and they work. Lee TL 95 grain flat nose and round nose. I use Unique because that is what I keep in stock and it works. I'm able to shoot both bullets unsized. I have been frustrated by the Lee 105 grain swc in my 9mm. It jams too much.

 

[dla]

I like the Hitek coated fodder myself, although I've used a lot of plain cast. My current fave is Brazos 125gr Round Nose HiTek coated $42/835 + $7 shipping.

Missouri Bullet Company sells the same with a higher bhn for a little more money.

I've been using Silhouette lately 5.2gr for 1030fps from a 3.1" barrel.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I loaded 9mm cast in the 80's with a Lee 124 RN and 4.8 gr of WW231. This load was for jacketed bullets and shot better with Cast. It came from a Winchester flyer.

The funny thing about this load was, it was clean as a whistle in my 39-2, but filthy in my Star BM and BKM. I think it had to do with barrel length.

I would load this recipe for my full auto MAC-10 also. The 6" barrel was out of round (an oval .348 x .360!) I sized these 124's to .357/.358 (didn't make any difference). At 50 yards and with the silencer, 5 round bursts were about 6 to 8 inches, with just a barrel extension, the same ammo grouped 12 to 18". Even with firing from an open bolt they were very clean burning. 5 rounds was the smallest burst you could do consistently with ammo this hot! (with subsonic 130 Sierra Tournament Masters, 3 rounds was very easy to do, accuracy was in the 3.5 to 4.5" range!)

I loaded around 30,000 of the hot 124's over 20 years. Unlike foreign surplus (pre NATO) military FMJ ammo, I never had a feeding issue! This load was more like NATO ball (Winchester White Box), but much cheaper!

Ivan

 

[.38SuperMan]

I’m loading a 125 grain coated and using Bullseye. Excellent accuracy, no leading issues, economical and soft recoil.

 

[mtgianni]

I have a CZ 75 that hasn't seen a jacketed bullet, bought it in 02. I have had the best success with non tumble lubed bullets, 124-135 gr. I like AA2 powder in the 9mm.

 

[gwpercle]

Target Loads for 9mm Luger:
120 grain cast Lee truncated cone (356-120-TC) sized .357

4.7 grains of Unique = 1083 fps

4.4 grains of HP-38 / W231 = 1087 fps

5.5 grains of AA#5 = 1081 fps

3.8 grains of 700X = 1109 fps

Adjust bullet seating depth to function in your individual pistol .
These loads were developed in 4 different 9mm's and were accurate and reliably functioned in all .

I have substituted a NOE 124 gr. truncated cone bullet
(NOE 358-124-TC-GC) sized .357 or .358 with equally good results , the extra 4 grains of weight doesn't make a lot of different , I like the gas check on this bullet .

Gary

 

[GypsmJim]

Not to be critical of GypsumJim but this is why you ALWAYS triple check data found on the internet.

OK, I apologize. My finners are fat and sometimes I don't spill too good.

My typo....should have said 0.356 as the bullet diameter.

BTW, there is no "U". That guy is a liberal and wouldn't have been happy to see his address in a boolit thread. (haha....I guess we all make typos once in awhile)

 

[mikld]

I stayed away from 9mm pistols for many years because I much preferred wood and steel revolvers and cast for 3, 38 Specials and one .357 Magnum. About 20 years ago I succumbed to my curiosity and purchased a 9mm pistol (I now have 4) and since I already had .357" molds, I tried some Lee 125 gr RNFP bullets with Speed Green lube, sized to .356"+ (I now size to .357" for all my 9mm). Works quite well. I did have to work out sizing and lubes but it didn't take long to get good accurate, non barrel leading bullets...

Regarding on line data; My Rule #1 is I pay no attention (other than just entertainment) to any load data I see on any forum, pet loads web site or hear from any range rat, gun counter clerk, good intended friend, or gun shop guru. Ninety-eight of my reloading data comes from published reloading manuals with some from powder manufacturer's or distributor's websites. Any component data I need is included in my reloading texts and manuals. I've seen some crazy load data recommendations in forums, and haven't watched a you tube videos regarding reloading in years. I have had one squib (1970) and no Kabooms and very few failures if any kind with my handloads. Works for me since 1970...

 

[AzShooter]

Like a few other posters that load 9 mm I like .358 diameter bullets and I really like shooting polymer coated bullets these days. There is no smoke and very little leading, as a matter of fact I find no leading in my loads.

I use Vhita Vhouri N320 and seat my .147grain bullets to 1.19.

 

[walnutred]

OK, I apologize. My finners are fat and sometimes I don't spill too good.

My typo....should have said 0.356 as the bullet diameter.

BTW, there is no "U". That guy is a liberal and wouldn't have been happy to see his address in a boolit thread. (haha....I guess we all make typos once in awhile)

Yep, we are all subject to typos. ;-D