nettlle
Contributing Member
I have loaded and shot thousands of Missouri 124 gr SWC. Good bullets. SWC can have feeding problems. Mostly with COAL. I shoot 124GR RMR MPR's now. Much better bullet and only a little more in cost.
Loading 9mm with SWC Style Bullets
- Thread starter DMW1116
- Start date
I have loaded Lee cast 105 SWC bullets in 380 ACP. They worked great particularly in my Beretta 84. I guess I have not tried them in other 380 ACP pistols. I go hot and cold on casting so I frequently do not have various bullets that I have moulds for.
Lee used to make several SWC moulds with same profile from 105 grains to 158 grain bullets. I'm not sure what Lee inventory these days. A 130-140 grain SWC bullet in the Lee profile would be great for a 9mm.
Also, I have a 38 Super "headspace on the rim" barrel that shot 158 grain SWC bullets very well. Small groups and cases ejected to land at about 2 o'clock at my feet. I changed barrels in the gun to one that headspaced on the case mouth and I had problems chambering my SWC loads. I guess I could have seated the bullets a bit deeper in the case so that they chambered properly but I never tried it. I need to look into that.
Anyway, the point is, in a semi-auto pistol the shoulder on the bullet may cause issues with chambering. The shoulder may contact the end of the chamber and prevent proper chambering. Not the end of the world, you just have to adjust the seating depth.
I taper crimp these rounds at the seating depth I want. I do not worry about where the grease or crimping grooves are.
You just may need to adjust the seating depth so the the case chambers. Work up loads appropriately as the bullets may be seated deeper than what is considered normal for 9mm.
Lee used to make several SWC moulds with same profile from 105 grains to 158 grain bullets. I'm not sure what Lee inventory these days. A 130-140 grain SWC bullet in the Lee profile would be great for a 9mm.
Also, I have a 38 Super "headspace on the rim" barrel that shot 158 grain SWC bullets very well. Small groups and cases ejected to land at about 2 o'clock at my feet. I changed barrels in the gun to one that headspaced on the case mouth and I had problems chambering my SWC loads. I guess I could have seated the bullets a bit deeper in the case so that they chambered properly but I never tried it. I need to look into that.
Anyway, the point is, in a semi-auto pistol the shoulder on the bullet may cause issues with chambering. The shoulder may contact the end of the chamber and prevent proper chambering. Not the end of the world, you just have to adjust the seating depth.
I taper crimp these rounds at the seating depth I want. I do not worry about where the grease or crimping grooves are.
You just may need to adjust the seating depth so the the case chambers. Work up loads appropriately as the bullets may be seated deeper than what is considered normal for 9mm.
LiveLife
Member
Matt Dardas retired and sold off entire bullet casting operation in 2019 - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mi-midardas-cast-bullets-inventory-for-sale.849563/
These days, I get HiTek coated bullets from MBC and lubed lead bullets from Z Cast who has just about the lowest price - https://www.jacobeagle.com/bullets
While 18 BHN MBC lubed lead bullets work fine, if you are loading lighter target rounds, 14-16 BHN Z Cast lubed lead bullets seem to deform/expand the bullet base better at lower powder charges to seal gas better with less leading issue.
LV Gun
Member
Most of my bullets I get from MBC and some from Rim Rock I do use Blue Bullets for my S&W 929 PC I get the .357 225 grain RN as the cylinder throats and barrel measures .357
AJC1
Member
Do you have a sizer? A 38 bullet can be sized down. 001 with no issue as long as it's not cased in copper.... jacketed or plated no worky
The RMR Heavy Match Winners cut nice round holes. They're just a little smaller than the whole diameter. While I like loading cast bullets and my pistols and PCC shoot them well, the RMR bullets are basically the same price when shipping and taxes are determined, and I already have a load for the 147 grain HMW. I'm considering the 124 grain RMR MW, as the elevation setting on my PCC is maxed out for the slower and heavier 147 grain bullets.
No sizer as of yet. I did try to load some 125 grain 357 bullets from Gallant as I heard they might shoot a little better, depending on specific pistol. That was not the case, as they wouldn't even chamber.
rfwobbly
Member
► As stated previously in this thread, the key to loading SWC in an auto-loading pistol is to observe the shoulder position relative to the case mouth. In other words, ignore the typical OAL measurement and instead watch the shoulder's position. In graphic form this looks like...
► IF you agree with the above statement, then the optimal seating anvil shape will be one that pushes on the SWC's shoulder. In graphic form this looks like...
Pushing on the bullet's shoulder has the added benefit of centering and straightening the bullet before Seating.
A flat anvil pushing on the meplat of the bullet may not always center and straighten, for the simple reason that a lead SWC simply may not have a flat meplat.
► If you are using SWC with a lube, then it is also important that the lube be completely concealed inside the case. In graphic form this looks like...
Hope this helps.
243winxb
Member
The Lee sizer does ok. Lube before & after sizing with Lee Liquid Alox.
Lube will build up in the seating die,needing cleaning if COL changes a lot.
CQB45ACP
Member
Thanks► As stated previously in this thread, the key to loading SWC in an auto-loading pistol is to observe the shoulder position relative to the case mouth. In other words, ignore the typical OAL measurement and instead watch the shoulder's position. In graphic form this looks like...
► IF you agree with the above statement, then the optimal seating anvil shape will be one that pushes on the SWC's shoulder. In graphic form this looks like...
Pushing on the bullet's shoulder has the added benefit of centering and straightening the bullet before Seating.
A flat anvil pushing on the meplat of the bullet may not always center and straighten, for the simple reason that a lead SWC simply may not have a flat meplat.
► If you are using SWC with a lube, then it is also important that the lube be completely concealed inside the case. In graphic form this looks like...
Hope this helps.
Yes I understand. I removed material from a spare Redding 45acp seater because I wanted it to touch only the shoulder but in stock form it didn’t touch it. This picture shows it now with 200 SWC.
I was asking specifically about 9mm wanting to know if I could avoid my own customization but wasn’t clear in my question.
Thanks—amazing response BTW
Last edited by a moderator:
rfwobbly
Member
My comments generally deal with SWC for any auto pistol, but 98% of my experience and all of the graphics depict 9mm Luger applications. I used the coated 124gr SWC from MBC exclusively. As with all SWC, these worked best in my CZ with a shoulder protrusion of ~0.035".
I'm using Dillon dies, so I use my metal lathe to make just the anvil portion for each specific bullet. Here's a very poor photo of the results....
All the best, my friend.
CQB45ACP
Member
Thanks...My comments generally deal with SWC for any auto pistol, but 98% of my experience and all of the graphics depict 9mm Luger applications. I used the coated 124gr SWC from MBC exclusively. As with all SWC, these worked best in my CZ with a shoulder protrusion of ~0.035".
I'm using Dillon dies, so I use my metal lathe to make just the anvil portion for each specific bullet. Here's a very poor photo of the results....
All the best, my friend.
No lathe here--would get myself in trouble I'm sure--I used slow methodical rounded stone.
I have an unopened box of 9mm SWCs probably will remain unopened for a while.
Best to you too
slickracer
Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2013
- Messages
- 254
Unfortunately, Matt Dardas retired and closed his business
