.357 in 9mm = Ok... But what about .3585?

[italy176]

I've previously loaded some plated 158gr RN .357 bullets for 9x19. I never had any issues and the performance was good.

Recently I bought some ".357" FMJ bullets and the projectiles are measuring anywhere from .358-.3585. I'm not sure if this will be an issue due to the harder jackets and extra 0.0015".

Anyone have any experience w/this stuff? Should I just load some up and tie the gun to a tree and test fire w/ a string on the trigger???

 

[rcmodel]

I think the issue, more then anything, is whether or not you would get so much case bulge seating them they would not chamber freely.

Pressure would not be an issue if you start low and work up a load, as you should always do anyway.

rc

 

[Steve Koski]

What RC said.

Make some dummy rounds. See if they drop in/out of the chamber with a normal COL.

If you have to press them into the chamber, trade them away for something else.

Koski

 

[918v]

.3585" will not bulge a 9mm case enough to prevent chambering. A more important question is whether such a large bullet will enter the freebore at a reasonable OAL. You can't seat these to 1.050" OAL.

 

[Steve Koski]

That's what I said, duh.

 

[918v]

You said something?

 

[Steve Koski]

Can't you interpolate my meanings?

 

[918v]

You left too wide of a gap between points.

 

[amlevin]

Run them through a sizer? Some pulled military bullets are processed this way.

 

[Steve Koski]

918,

I gave a practical test. You used fancy talk.

Game over.

Koski

 

[italy176]

Thank you folks for the responses. After I seat the bullets I use a Lee FCD, which sort of sizes the case. The cartridges fall into the chamber effortlessly and fully - even w/longer C.O.A.Ls.

Unfortunately, I do not have a bullet sizer (yet?). I will cook up some weaker loads this weekend and give it a "shot."

 

[918v]

918,

I gave a practical test. You used fancy talk.

Game over.

Koski

That's 918v to you, mister.

 

[Steve Koski]

Sounds good italy: Rock on.

918v, here's a few extra v's for your ego: v v v v v v v v

Koski

 

[918v]

Lego my ego.

 

[italy176]

Ok,
I tried some loads today and they worked like a low powered champ. Velocity out of a pistol was higher than that of a carbine but that is a post for another time. Thank you gents!

 

[floydster]

italy, where are you getting your load data for the 158gr? I would like to know.

 

[italy176]

Floydster,
My dad had a really old Lyman manual (1970s?) with some data for .357 in 9x19 so I got the idea from there.

After doing some research I ended up developing my own load. The load development was modeled after 147gr-150gr load data from Lee 2nd edition (started & worked my way up). The 158gr bullet length was in between various 147gr that I used so I didn't have any worries about pressure spikes due to long bullets. The gun chambers I load for also allowed me to have a longer C.O.A.L.

If you want the data PM me.