Help...9mm reloads

chris in va · March 24, 2010, 02:58 AM

This is an ongoing problem with my 9mm reloads. First it was accuracy/keyholing, now it's with chambering.

My bore slugs out to 355-356. My 356 boolits weren't working so I sold the mold and on the advice of many others, bought the Lee 358-125-FN. Unfortunatly they won't chamber until I seat this thing to 1.01"!

It measures 358 on the boolit shoulder. If I go blow another $25 for a sizing die, it'll defeat the purpose of .003" that I need. So now what?

WESHOOT2 · March 24, 2010, 08:17 AM

1) Determine what weight and style bullet works in your gun; buy them.

2) Buy a mould that makes the successful bullet.

Don P · March 24, 2010, 11:03 AM

Keyholing could have possibly been seating the bullet a little too deep. Thats what they have told me with regards to MY reloads and keyholing.

doctruptwn · March 24, 2010, 02:19 PM

I had the same problem this weekend with 125 gr Missouri bullet company small ball. The bullits are truely small ball verus the pointier bullet you typiclly see on a 9mm. It required going to minimum length of 1.095 but cycle very well in my gun.

Nate1778 · March 24, 2010, 02:40 PM

Chris I had the same problem with that bullet in my Glock. I finally got it top chamber and shoot well but could never get leading under control. I switched over to the TL 125 TC mold and it works well with no leading. It does have to be 1.04 in front of Unique, I would have to look at how much but it is a reduced charge and the round feels good and is accurate. I have several molds for that caliber if you want to try some bullets. I have the 125rn, the 125tc, and the little 105rn. If I can help out let me know. Your bullet works very well in a .38/.357 and its all I use in my GP100. Accurate and punches clean holes.

By the way the only mold I have that will chamber at the 1.15 is the 125rn.

chris in va · March 24, 2010, 04:08 PM

That's the problem though, my guns wouldn't shoot the 124gr TC TL boolit worth a darn. They drop at .356 and were too small.

Quote:

1) Determine what weight and style bullet works in your gun; buy them.

The only bullet that has worked beautifully is the FMJ I paid outrageous money for (compared to casting my own).

And that's my other question...what is it about the very hard FMJ that makes it shoot so well?

Nate1778 · March 24, 2010, 05:10 PM

Whats the gun? I am assuming it has standard rifling. You want to try the RN I have?

**Unclenick** · March 24, 2010, 05:28 PM

Chris,

A couple of points: Did you slug your bore with pure lead (cast bullet alloy will give you an oversize result) and measure the slug and the Lee bullet with an OD thimble micrometer that resolves ten thousandths? Most calipers are only repeatable to within a thousandth and I've seen some off as much as two thousandths. They are simply not adequate for bore and bullet diameter determinations. If you blow $14 + S&H on the one in the link, it will be a tool you can use with additional calibers, at least. (Don't forget to wipe its anvils off and check the vernier scale's zero reading to subtract from your final reading before making each measurement.)

Second, the tests I've run show bullets about 0.0015" to 0.002" over groove diameter are most accurate, but the bigger sizes seem to matter most to revolvers and lever rifles. For a self loader, 0.001" over groove should be workable, especially if you are having problems with chamber fit.

Jim243 · March 24, 2010, 06:31 PM

I am way over my head on this one, but isn't a .358 a 357 mag bullet????

Jim

Nate1778 · March 24, 2010, 07:46 PM

Jim yes it is, but some 9mm'ers with a bore of .356-357 use a .358 bullet better than the typical 9mm bullet, were talking lead of coarse.

WESHOOT2 · March 25, 2010, 04:38 AM

My personal solution to a 'big-barreled' 9x19 was to replace the barrel.

March 24, 2010, 02:58 AM	#1
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Help...9mm reloads This is an ongoing problem with my 9mm reloads. First it was accuracy/keyholing, now it's with chambering. My bore slugs out to 355-356. My 356 boolits weren't working so I sold the mold and on the advice of many others, bought the Lee 358-125-FN. Unfortunatly they won't chamber until I seat this thing to 1.01"! It measures 358 on the boolit shoulder. If I go blow another $25 for a sizing die, it'll defeat the purpose of .003" that I need. So now what?

March 24, 2010, 08:17 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	www.pennbullets.com (I bethinkin 125g LRN) 1) Determine what weight and style bullet works in your gun; buy them. 2) Buy a mould that makes the successful bullet. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

March 24, 2010, 11:03 AM	#3
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Keyholing could have possibly been seating the bullet a little too deep. Thats what they have told me with regards to MY reloads and keyholing. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

March 24, 2010, 02:40 PM	#5
Nate1778 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 312	Chris I had the same problem with that bullet in my Glock. I finally got it top chamber and shoot well but could never get leading under control. I switched over to the TL 125 TC mold and it works well with no leading. It does have to be 1.04 in front of Unique, I would have to look at how much but it is a reduced charge and the round feels good and is accurate. I have several molds for that caliber if you want to try some bullets. I have the 125rn, the 125tc, and the little 105rn. If I can help out let me know. Your bullet works very well in a .38/.357 and its all I use in my GP100. Accurate and punches clean holes. By the way the only mold I have that will chamber at the 1.15 is the 125rn. __________________ "And finally, the Baby Bear looked and he said, "Somebody's sleeping in my bed, and the bastard's still there!" But Goldylocks had a Remington semi-automatic, with a scope and a hair-trigger!"

March 24, 2010, 05:10 PM	#7
Nate1778 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 312	Whats the gun? I am assuming it has standard rifling. You want to try the RN I have? __________________ "And finally, the Baby Bear looked and he said, "Somebody's sleeping in my bed, and the bastard's still there!" But Goldylocks had a Remington semi-automatic, with a scope and a hair-trigger!"

March 24, 2010, 02:19 PM	#4
doctruptwn Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 197	I had the same problem this weekend with 125 gr Missouri bullet company small ball. The bullits are truely small ball verus the pointier bullet you typiclly see on a 9mm. It required going to minimum length of 1.095 but cycle very well in my gun.

March 24, 2010, 05:28 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Chris, A couple of points: Did you slug your bore with pure lead (cast bullet alloy will give you an oversize result) and measure the slug and the Lee bullet with an OD thimble micrometer that resolves ten thousandths? Most calipers are only repeatable to within a thousandth and I've seen some off as much as two thousandths. They are simply not adequate for bore and bullet diameter determinations. If you blow $14 + S&H on the one in the link, it will be a tool you can use with additional calibers, at least. (Don't forget to wipe its anvils off and check the vernier scale's zero reading to subtract from your final reading before making each measurement.) Second, the tests I've run show bullets about 0.0015" to 0.002" over groove diameter are most accurate, but the bigger sizes seem to matter most to revolvers and lever rifles. For a self loader, 0.001" over groove should be workable, especially if you are having problems with chamber fit. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 24, 2010, 06:31 PM	#9
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I am way over my head on this one, but isn't a .358 a 357 mag bullet???? Jim

March 24, 2010, 07:46 PM	#10
Nate1778 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 312	Jim yes it is, but some 9mm'ers with a bore of .356-357 use a .358 bullet better than the typical 9mm bullet, were talking lead of coarse. __________________ "And finally, the Baby Bear looked and he said, "Somebody's sleeping in my bed, and the bastard's still there!" But Goldylocks had a Remington semi-automatic, with a scope and a hair-trigger!"

March 25, 2010, 04:38 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	My personal solution to a 'big-barreled' 9x19 was to replace the barrel. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

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