9mm .356 dia Lead Cast Bullit in 38 Special

[Zekest Crowe]

I have given up hand loading of the 9mm format.
I have a thousand or so 115 grain lead round nose sized at .356 I would rather use in my .38 special for Cowboy Action Shooting.
Will a difference of .002 diameter cause serious problems?
I understand neck tention and bullet pull will be different, and accuracy will deminish, and some leading could result, but is there anything else I need worry about?

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've tried it and accuracy was only marginally satisfactory.

Another problem is thinner 38 cases allow the bullet to freely drop into the case even after resizing.

I'm looking to buy some 9mm cast bullets though ...hint..hint




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complains about

 

[rsrocket1]

I'm also looking in to cast for 9mm just because.
Why did you give up on these bullets?
Do you get leading in the 9? Have you slugged your barrel?
Unfortunately, 9mm barrels are all over the map in terms of what each like. Some want .356, some aren't happy until you feed them .359 and must expand the cases with the Lyman M or Lee 38 SW expander plug in the Lee 9mm PTX die to avoid swaging the bullet down.
Anyway, you run the risk of lousy accuracy and lots of silvery streaks in your 38 gun if these bullets are too small and you run them with low pressure loads.
Do you want to trade for some .357 158g cast bullets?
You can always remelt your .356 bullets.

 

[greyling22]

My mold dropped my 9mm .356 bullets at .357, but I loaded a jillion of them in my 38 before I knew better. accuracy and leading we less than optimal, but it my microgroove marlin would put 10 rounds inside 4 inches at 25yds offhand all day long without leading becoming much of an issue.

 

[dragon813gt]

Lead bullets should be .001 over groove diameter. Not .001 under. If you're able to get proper neck tension then you'll most likely end up with leading issues. Fit is king and the main source of leading. I don't even shoot .356 bullets in my 9mm let alone my 38s/357s.


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[greyling22]

bah! if you're just trying to use them up as blasting cowboy ammo they're be fine. just crimp them a tad more so they don't compress in a tube magazine.

 

[918v]

Smack them on the nose with hammer and they will bump up in diameter.