Do You Use .356, .357 or .358 Cast Lead Bullets In Your 9mm?

[gunnerbob]

Title says it, which do you prefer or had the best results with? Which gave the least leading? Best accuracy, etc? What's you preferred powder choice and load? 9mm is notorious for being a lead fiend because of over-sized bores... how have you fared?

 

[pbagley]

Watching for replies. I've got a .355 sizer.

 

[Throttleup]

My S&W M&P Pro is partial to lead bullets sized to .357. The group size shrank when I went from .356 to .357 and back up with .358. I use Bayou Bullets, 147 gr. Lead Flat Point, 3.4 grs. Unique. My Witness doesn't show much preference for lead but it does shoot the tightest groups with .356 Jacketed 115 gr. bullets. They are all individuals.

 

[gunnerbob]

I have a box of 115gr LRN Rim Rock Bullets, advertised as .356 but most that I've measured are actually .358... What other brands has anybody used that were actually over-sized (from advertised)?

 

[R O Bill]

I have very good performance using 115 gr. 9MM Plated bullets from bulletexpress.com prices are not bad. ( about $95 / 1000 shipping inncluded )

 

[gunnerbob]

I have very good performance using 115 gr. 9MM Plated bullets from bulletexpress.com prices are not bad. ( about $95 / 1000 shipping inncluded )

Thanks, Bill... I'll check out the site.

 

[melloyello]

I have had good success with my Glock 17 Lone Wolf barrel with 357.
My EAA Witness I think it was better with 357.
356 made a mess
my reloading station is down for a makeover but 358 is next set of bullets to load.

 

[gunnerbob]

I have had good success with my Glock 17 Lone Wolf barrel with 357.
My EAA Witness I think it was better with 357.
356 made a mess
my reloading station is down for a makeover but 358 is next set of bullets to load.

Any particular brand you prefer?

 

[noylj]

Whatever works in a given barrel. I find that most 9x19s prefer 0.357-0.358", though most new 9x19s do all right with 0.356". Slug your barrel and get most of the answer to your question. The combination of super-hard alloy and 0.356" bullets can lead to severe leading, where a soft 8-12BHN bullets at 0.356" could do fine.
As my own cast bullets are shot as-cast (i.e., no sizing), they are usually about 0.358".

 

[melloyello]

Any particular brand you prefer?

no particular brand, used to buy my hard cast bullets from Wideners and SGAMMO but they do not stock the ones I like anymore. Going directly to Missouri bullets next, they publish their hardness like the ones I used to buy.

 

[gunnerbob]

I've run a few hundred .358 bullets through my 92FS and they didn't show any sign of leading, so... .358 it is for the Beretta.

 

[trapper9260]

I cast 356 for my 9mm S&W Sigma and i use mainly 147gr mainly in it and shots just fine I have the mould that the cast boolit can be use in my 38/357 also. like the others of my moulds.I also make my own boolt lube also that is the old NRA with ATF also.

 

[noylj]

Sources for cast lead bullets? Many sources. Ones I like are mastercastbullets.com, Missouri bullets, Penn bullets, and Precision bullets. Almost all use alloys that are too hard. Penn can size the bullets to your needs.
Even better are my own cast bullets.

 

[trapper9260]

I cast my to the BHN that i want .I have a Lee tester that I go by.I just mix my alloy to to what i like to wat lead I have and go from there.That way I just make what ever I want at the time and go from there and save alot also.

 

[lefty60]

The thread starting to age. But,

I use Badman Bullets 147 grain, sized .356, good quality, accurate, and no leading. I us them in a Ruger SR9c, they function fine. :sarcastic:

 

[Stengun]

Howdy gunnerbob,

I have a threaded Lone Wolf 40-9mm conversion barrel for my Glock 23 and it prefers the .356" bullets. I have a Lee .356" sizing die and I've used it to resize 38/357 158gr LSWC bullets down to .356" for suppressor loads.

For powder I use the Clays' Universal. It's very clean burning and very consistant. For suppressor loads I use Blue Dot.

I have a friend that shoots SASS/Cowboy Action and he has an automatic bullet casting machine and that's were I buy all my lead bullets. Cheapest place around.

Paul