Cast Bullets in 9mm for Best Accuracy

[41 Mag]

Just tossing a little tidbit out.

The biggest problem I have had is what happened when the bullets were seated. You go through the motions to get the proper alloy hardness, the proper diameter, then you shove it into a case that squeezes it down.

You also have to make sure that once sized, the expander opens the case up enough to no compromise the size of your bullets. Also the bell of the case mouth must be sufficient to allow the bullet to pass without acting as a sizer or shave anything off the sides of the bullet. Some brass also has more tendencies to spring back than others which can also be a problem.

Just a couple of things I have found when loading cast, especially when using the softer alloys.

 

[Barbaroja]

I cast the lee 124gn TC for 9mm and I have to size at .358 or they keyhole badly out Of my Xd9. No problems with .356 in my 9mm shield.

so like any other gun you want to shoot cast bullets in, save yourself the headache and slug your barrel.

Public service announcement for those who want to shoot cast:
SLUG YOUR DANG BARREL!!!

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Another thing to watch, especially using "oversize" bullets in 9mm: seating depth.

The fatter bullet can interfere with the lands at 'normal' seating depths. Seating the bullet deeper, as I have done in my .358 9mm cartridges, will alleviate the problem.

However, seating the bullet deeper requires adjusting the powder charge (lower). I regularly seat to 1.060 - or even shorter - to fit the Lee 125 RN in a 9mm.

 

[LiveLife]

Public service announcement for those who want to shoot cast:

SLUG YOUR DANG BARREL!!!

I wholeheartedly agree.

Slug your barrel

 

[DMW1116]

I did use a Lee Factory Crimp Die on the dummy round. I seated to 1.1” instead of my usual 1.125”. The 9mm bullets measure 0.3565” while the 38 bullets measure 0.3585”.

It didn’t work, so I’ll just keep trying to find a powder/bullet combo it likes. This is primarily for an M&P9 and Shield.

 

[WeekendReloader]

I did use a Lee Factory Crimp Die on the dummy round. I seated to 1.1” instead of my usual 1.125”. The 9mm bullets measure 0.3565” while the 38 bullets measure 0.3585”.

It didn’t work, so I’ll just keep trying to find a powder/bullet combo it likes. This is primarily for an M&P9 and Shield.

When I started casting I sized my cast bullets to 0.356" and had some leading issues. I tried 0.358" and, like you, it would not chamber in my barrel. I now have a 0.357" sizer die and it solved both my leading and chambering issues.

I also use the LEE Factory Crimp Die and don't have any problems with it at 0.357" bullets. At 0.358" it was a problem and I could feel it catch on the bullet bulge, but 0.357" is fine on my setup.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Dare I say it?
It will cause some folks to have convulsions…
It could run the topic into pages of mindless “debate”…


Lee Factory Crimp Die.


And so it begins…

No...it isn't beginning, because there is no debate on this subject.

Besides the fact that the Factory Crimp Die (FCD) will cause the case to reduce neck tension, the Lee FCD isn't meant to resize oversized bullet to fit into smaller bores.

 

[doubleh]

Well that didn’t work. No plunk here. Back to the 0.356” bullets.

I have a 1911 in 9mm and the 358s are no plunk but 357s are and are more accurate than the 356s. I had another that would plunk the 358s but shot no more accurately than with 357s.

 

[LiveLife]

I have a 1911 in 9mm and the 358s are no plunk but 357s are and are more accurate than the 356s. I had another that would plunk the 358s but shot no more accurately than with 357s.

That means your barrel/chamber could be oversized and more generous than .355"-.356" barrels with tighter SAAMI minimum chambers.

Slug your barrel.

 

[NMexJim]

Going bigger on cast bullets is a "no big deal" with respect to pressure. If you want, you could back off say 0.5 grain, try a few a. nd then go up.

The more likely problem would be with not chambering smoothly. I would strongly recommend a plunk test with a dummy round first. If you have to go shorter on COAL to get it to plunk, the shorter AOL would be a reason to back off more on your charge before working back up.

It's pretty normal to find commercial lead to be a thou or two over SAMMI specs. I've shot a bunch of lead and plated at .357. For my guns, .358 lead shot fine, but I had a bit more leading so I dropped back to .357. Slugging will certainly give you some insight - some guns like running large. I always did a few test runs and worked up.

Read Live Life's thread, especially gas checks. In my opinion, by the time you get to this point, plated bullets get more attractive. I think plated to be more accurate overall but that's me and what I do. I'm waaaay behind in regards to powder coat so won't comment there other than that coating adds diameter as well and generally some of the same issues crop up. As long as it engraves easily, I think you're good.

 

[doubleh]

That means your barrel/chamber could be oversized and more generous than .355"-.356" barrels with tighter SAAMI minimum chambers.

Slug your barrel.

Of course. If all of them were right on the money there would no reason to slug. I didn't add that I slugged both barrels and 358 would have been perfect for the one that wouldn't plunk because it's chamber was too tight. If the bore hadn't been slightly oversize I would have no reason to use oversized bullets. I was hoping to be able to use 125 gr. bullets I cast for 38/357 but it didn't pan out. If any gun doesn't give decent groups I slug the barrel. It's common knowledge.

 

[N555]

Most 9mm guns these days are going to want .357 or .358 inch lead bullets.
.955 inch lead bullets are pretty much useless for me.

 

[Soonerpesek]

.955 inch lead bullets are pretty much useless for me.

Probably useless for most all of us..........

 

[JKP]

.356 coated lead are a tight plunk in my 2 SA 1911s. Before I bought them I tried .358. They shot in my Ruger sr9c, but wouldn't plunk in my Sigs.

 

[AJC1]

Lead is not a make this work with every gun solution. It's a ima shoot this a lot and ima get this one right answer. If I were to pick one sizing die for 9mm it would be .357 with .356 a close second. Your brass supply will drive the final solution. Livelife's 9mm brass thickness data is your saving grace in this senerio. Bigger bullets in thinner brass is my final answer.

 

[DMW1116]

My M&P9 has the most generous chamber of my 9s. If it didn’t work there it won’t work in the others. I may try some 0.357” if I can find some, but the Gallant 0.356” ones shot pretty well, so I don’t feel a need to go hunting for them.