1 bullet for .38/.357 and 9mm(.355)

[5.56]

Is there one bullet that can be reloaded into all three without issue?

[stilly]

Is there one bullet that can be reloaded into all three without issue?

Yes.
AND it can also be used for .380 and prolly .38 super PLUS 9x21 and more...

[jericho89]

You can use the .355 but it is undersized for the 38/357. It will function but you will have accuracy issues.

[5.56]

Yes.
AND it can also be used for .380 and prolly .38 super PLUS 9x21 and more...

What's this magic bullet? All my handguns are .380, 9mm(.355) .38 special and .357 Magnum.

.380 is surprising to me because when I hold a .380 around next to a 9mm, not only is it obviously shorter, it feels thinner.

[357magnum]

Is there one bullet that can be reloaded into all three without issue?

You could, but you will have accuracy problems.
There is a reason bullet manufacturers make .355 and .357 bullets.
Also, are we talking Lead, Plated or Jacketed bullets.

[thoughtpolice59]

I've used plenty of Xtreme's 147g .357" round nose in my G19 and my S&W 442 .38 spl. with no issues.
In the 442, I load them on the long side.

[stilly]

What's this magic bullet? All my handguns are .380, 9mm(.355) .38 special and .357 Magnum.

.380 is surprising to me because when I hold a .380 around next to a 9mm, not only is it obviously shorter, it feels thinner.

Nothing magical about it.

It is the Lee 105gr SWC. Made of Lead, it drops out at about .358-.359, you can size it down to .357 or .356.

I have loaded AND shot it in: .357 mag, .38 SPL, and 9mm.

I have not loaded it in .380 yet but only because I have not loaded .380.

Load data and accuracy is good all around for it.

Your journey starts here:
http://www.titanreloading.com/lee-6-cav-mold-358-105-swc-?search=swc

Oh and because it is a cast bullet, AND only 105gr, you get about 108gr per drop, it leaves NICE round holes in paper AND per 1 LB of lead you get 66 shots with a drop or two left over. Mix it up with some linotype for lighter and harder pills that will go through just about anything if you harden them enough.

Lyman cast bullet handbook has this in .357 and .38 spl loads. You can find data for the other loads online or from me or anyone else that has shot it.

I like that I can cast several thousand of these in a few hours and then just resize them down to whatever as I need them.

[357magnum]

Nothing magical about it.

It is the Lee 105gr SWC. Made of Lead, it drops out at about .358-.359, you can size it down to .357 or .356.

I have loaded AND shot it in: .357 mag, .38 SPL, and 9mm.

I have not loaded it in .380 yet but only because I have not loaded .380.

Load data and accuracy is good all around for it.

Your journey starts here:
http://www.titanreloading.com/lee-6-cav-mold-358-105-swc-?search=swc

Oh and because it is a cast bullet, AND only 105gr, you get about 108gr per drop, it leaves NICE round holes in paper AND per 1 LB of lead you get 66 shots with a drop or two left over. Mix it up with some linotype for lighter and harder pills that will go through just about anything if you harden them enough.

Lyman cast bullet handbook has this in .357 and .38 spl loads. You can find data for the other loads online or from me or anyone else that has shot it.

I like that I can cast several thousand of these in a few hours and then just resize them down to whatever as I need them.


Have you ever sized them down to .355 and fired them in a .38spl or .357 mag, curious how accuracy would be with these.

[huckberry668]

I remember Colt Python's bore diameter being .354" in the grooves. My custom Bianchi 686 had a Krieger 38 cal barrel that was .355" in the grooves. There is nothing wrong with using a .355" bullet for 9mm and 38.

But, for best results for precision. You might want to know the grooves diameter of your barrel. A .355" bullet in a .357" bore might be a bit loose. You risk losing velocity and precision.

[wbunning]

Yes.
AND it can also be used for .380 and prolly .38 super PLUS 9x21 and more...

Not to mention the 38 short colt and 38 long colt :-) ...admittedly still .38 cal at .357. I like the Lee 105. Easy bullet to cast and size, and you can powder coat a bunch at a time. Good call!

[Carcassonne]

Nothing magical about it.

It is the Lee 105gr SWC. Made of Lead, it drops out at about .358-.359, you can size it down to .357 or .356.

...

I have not loaded it in .380 yet but only because I have not loaded .380.



I have used that bullet in 9mm, 38spl, 357mag, and 380. I don't use it for full power loads in 357 magnum.



.

[Bt Doctur]

Untill you slug and measure each barrel you wont know.

[stilly]

I have used that bullet in 9mm, 38spl, 357mag, and 380. I don't use it for full power loads in 357 magnum.



.

I do not disagree with your decision, but I have not seen proof that would prevent me from doing it yet. Another thing too is that at 110gr it is VERY light for a .357 mag load. Not with H110, maybe others.

[pacrat]

I do not disagree with your decision, but I have not seen proof that would prevent me from doing it yet. Another thing too is that at 110gr it is VERY light for a .357 mag load. Not with H110, maybe others.

The "maybe others" would most likely include 2400. Even H-110 is a bunch slow shooting little 110 gr pills in a .357. I use UNIQUE behind the lighter .357 bullets like 110 and 125 JHPs.


JM2c

[stilly]

The "maybe others" would most likely include 2400. Even H-110 is a bunch slow shooting little 110 gr pills in a .357. I use UNIQUE behind the lighter .357 bullets like 110 and 125 JHPs.


JM2c

Quite possibly. H110 is for heavier things. When I put together a LONG (long for one guy anyways) list of about 5-7 powders that I tried with this bullet in .38/.357 and 9mm MOST were unique, power pistol, blue dot, zip, red dot, and things like that. They SAID they were .357, but we all know .357 contains NO red dot, zip, power pistol or unique...


OH and let me tell you something about PB... Now THAT is the CB of the reloading community...

[Che762x39]

What's this magic bullet? All my handguns are .380, 9mm(.355) .38 special and .357 Magnum.

.380 is surprising to me because when I hold a .380 around next to a 9mm, not only is it obviously shorter, it feels thinner.

Are you casting your own bullets and is wondering what size to size it too?

Or you are buying bullets for reloading?

I reload all those calibers and you will likely be reloading for the next 50+ years. So stock up. As a reloader I have favorites in each caliber but nothing is a "magic bullet".

As a reloader be a safe and smart. :oji:

[5.56]

Are you casting your own bullets and is wondering what size to size it too?

Or you are buying bullets for reloading?

I reload all those calibers and you will likely be reloading for the next 50+ years. So stock up. As a reloader I have favorites in each caliber but nothing is a "magic bullet".

As a reloader be a safe and smart. :oji:

Honestly, I haven't even purchased my equipment yet. I've saved up about 4 years worth of once fired brass in .380, 9mm, .38, .357, .308 and .223. It's two five gallon buckets full. I saved it all planning on purchasing reloading equipment when the $ came around. With prop 63 passing, my wife is in agreement now with purchasing the press and all the fixin's.

I am in agreement with you on stocking up, I'm just looking for something I can start off with and practice reloading all four handgun calibers so I can build some experience. From there I imagine I'll be able to fine tune each caliber to what I like. I'd be purchasing my bullets initially. I'll look into casting when I've got a good handle on reloading in general.

[stilly]

Honestly, I haven't even purchased my equipment yet. I've saved up about 4 years worth of once fired brass in .380, 9mm, .38, .357, .308 and .223. It's two five gallon buckets full. I saved it all planning on purchasing reloading equipment when the $ came around. With prop 63 passing, my wife is in agreement now with purchasing the press and all the fixin's.

I am in agreement with you on stocking up, I'm just looking for something I can start off with and practice reloading all four handgun calibers so I can build some experience. From there I imagine I'll be able to fine tune each caliber to what I like. I'd be purchasing my bullets initially. I'll look into casting when I've got a good handle on reloading in general.

pishaw...

You should look into casting NOW and start trickling in the lead NOW. They are two things that are NOT related except that one can use the other one.

Once you get your casting feet wet though you will find that you would rather cast for your calibers than buy bullets. I know I sure prefer to do that... But it also helps having a HUGE container with .358/.359 projectiles and when I want some 9mm, I will size some to .356 and when I want some .38 or .357 I will size them to .357...

Oh and Sizing means taking my single stage press and putting a push through die and then you put the bullet on the ram and you send it on up...

[CSACANNONEER]

The magic words are "HOLLOW BASE". A hollow based bullet sized down to .355" can work fine in a .38 S&W with a half worn out barrel. It will depend on the exact design of the hollow base, the hardness of the lead, the exact load and the barrel length but, one bullet can work fine for .380, 9mm, 9mak, .38/.357/.357Max(with powder puff loads), 38-40 and .38S&W. There are probably several more cartridges that it would also work in but, I don't feel like looking them up right now.

[CSACANNONEER]

Oh and Sizing means taking my single stage press and putting a push through die and then you put the bullet on the ram and you send it on up...

That's "getto sizing", I prefer sizing with my old Star lubesizer or my Lyman 45.

[stilly]

That's "getto sizing", I prefer sizing with my old Star lubesizer or my Lyman 45.

LoL... But to me, Lube Sizing/Star Sizing is Ghetto Old school because I do not lube. I PC so it eliminates the need for any Lube... But it also resizes just as fast or faster I bet.


BTW, do you HAVE to run lube with the star sizer or can it be ran dry?

[CSACANNONEER]

LoL... But to me, Lube Sizing/Star Sizing is Ghetto Old school because I do not lube. I PC so it eliminates the need for any Lube... But it also resizes just as fast or faster I bet.


BTW, do you HAVE to run lube with the star sizer or can it be ran dry?

It can be run dry.

I do use a SS press to resize .510 pulled surplus bullets.

[stilly]

It can be run dry.

I do use a SS press to resize .510 pulled surplus bullets.

So if you were to run like 1k or 2k through after being PCed and you wanted no lube, that would not be an issue running it dry?

Good to know.

[Top Cat]

None of the 9mm barrels I have slugged measure .355, they have all measured .357 minimum, and shoot best with .357-.358 diameter bullets as long as they chamber.

[Top Cat]

You can buy bullets from some manufacturers like Bayou Bullets that are coated and available sized in custom diameters on request, at a small or no additional charge.

[Top Cat]

You can order a sample pack sized to .358 to be sure your 9mm will chamber and feed them well before you place a large order, but they will be great in .38.

Either of these bullets are excellent in the 9mm.

They have a 135RN at .358 catalogued, and some pistols may feed those better, but the TC designs are more accurate in my pistols.

http://www.bayoubullets.net/9mm-124-gr-tcg-100-ct/

http://www.bayoubullets.net/9mm-147-gr-fp-100-ct/



9mm 147 Gr. FP - Sized to .356 (Typical) Other sizes available upon request call or email for options.

One of our most popular offerings in 9mm, a great bullet for IDPA and USPSA shooters alike.

100 Count Sample Pack

[Top Cat]

BTW,

I've shot tens of thousands of those TC designs in several 9mm pistols, Hi-Power, 1911, CZ...(including factory stock Glocks), in matches, sized to .358 with excellent reliability. The .358 diameter sometimes shrunk group size by 50%, and that was needed in some LR stages.

In fact, I don't recall ever having a failure to feed in a Glock.

Clean-up is easy, and the barrels and guns stay much cleaner than shooting lubed cast bullets...as clean as shooting jacketed. And I know this because I also shot tens of thousands of non-coated cast bullets before coated bullets became available.

I've easily shot 1000s of 9mm for every round of 38, so these bullet choices are more optimized for the 9. For ideal results and for best accuracy in the 38 you might want them sized 359-360. That is best in my 38/357s so the concept of the one bullet has some inherent compromise.

For me I might order 10k bullets for the 9 but only 1000 for the 38 so having 2 different bullet designs isn't a major hardship.

[iMigraine]

Nothing magical about it.

It is the Lee 105gr SWC. Made of Lead, it drops out at about .358-.359, you can size it down to .357 or .356.

I have loaded AND shot it in: .357 mag, .38 SPL, and 9mm.

I have not loaded it in .380 yet but only because I have not loaded .380.

Load data and accuracy is good all around for it.

Your journey starts here:
http://www.titanreloading.com/lee-6-cav-mold-358-105-swc-?search=swc

Oh and because it is a cast bullet, AND only 105gr, you get about 108gr per drop, it leaves NICE round holes in paper AND per 1 LB of lead you get 66 shots with a drop or two left over. Mix it up with some linotype for lighter and harder pills that will go through just about anything if you harden them enough.

Lyman cast bullet handbook has this in .357 and .38 spl loads. You can find data for the other loads online or from me or anyone else that has shot it.

I like that I can cast several thousand of these in a few hours and then just resize them down to whatever as I need them.

Here's my Chrono results in 9mm & .357 Mag (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?298288-Lee-358-105-SWC-in-9mm-amp-357Mag-my-results) using the Lee 358-105-SWC mold and powder coated boolits. You'll need to slug your barrel chamber to know the exact diameter with pure lead (fishing weights work great of this) then size your lead boolits accordingly. http://castboolits.gunloads.com (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php) is a great resource for this too.

[CSACANNONEER]

So if you were to run like 1k or 2k through after being PCed and you wanted no lube, that would not be an issue running it dry?

Good to know.

Not a problem.

[stilly]

THAT is really nice to know.

[JMP]

I use the Zero 125gr 38 super for 9mm, 357, 38sp.

[stilly]

Here's my Chrono results in 9mm & .357 Mag (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?298288-Lee-358-105-SWC-in-9mm-amp-357Mag-my-results) using the Lee 358-105-SWC mold and powder coated boolits. You'll need to slug your barrel chamber to know the exact diameter with pure lead (fishing weights work great of this) then size your lead boolits accordingly. http://castboolits.gunloads.com (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php) is a great resource for this too.

That is almost a similar powder spread to mine. Good stuff man.

I just did NOT have a chrono to see the results in speed...