Casting bullet molds-Advice

[wlkjr]

For those who haven't tried the Hi-Tek coating, I highly recommend it. It's easier to apply than powder coating, and you can coat in different colors to distinguish different loadings. I coat bullets in black for my loads and red for my wife's in 9mm. For .45acp, I use black for my G30s and red for my G21. The bigger gun needs about .2 more powder to operate. The colors keep me from getting them mixed up.

 

[kcofohio]

For those who haven't tried the Hi-Tek coating, I highly recommend it. It's easier to apply than powder coating, and you can coat in different colors to distinguish different loadings. I coat bullets in black for my loads and red for my wife's in 9mm. For .45acp, I use black for my G30s and red for my G21. The bigger gun needs about .2 more powder to operate. The colors keep me from getting them mixed up.

I chose the Hi-Tek over other methods, mainly because it doesn't seem to matter how they lay in the oven for a thorough coating. It doesn't clob where it lays. And 2-3 proper coatings even out and work well.

 

[Engineer1911]

In the last century when Bowling Pin shoots were popular, I bought the Lee 245 grain 0.452" mold and shot those big wadcutters in a Colt Gold Cup 45 ACP. Recoil was brisk with a hot powder charge, heavy bullet, and a 24# recoil spring. When I hit the pins, they flew off the tables. The gun never jammed, even firing 5 rounds in 3 seconds. Those big SWC bullets fed flawlessly. I used a 'round' nose punch in my Lyman sizer, improved that "flat" nose profile.

 

[doubleh]

I find the Lee aluminum moulds work well although they heat up to the point that the bullets take a long time to set.

That has become an advantage for me. I'm so slow now that they would cool off too much between fills if they didn't get that hot.

 

[reddog81]

For those who haven't tried the Hi-Tek coating, I highly recommend it. It's easier to apply than powder coating, and you can coat in different colors to distinguish different loadings.

I’ve never seen Hi-Tek instructions be any easier than powder coating. For PC you shake bullets and powder in the right container and that’s it. Hi-Tek requires determining how much of the mix you need, mixing of various components, tumbling, drying, and multiple coats might be needed.

You don’t need to stand up PC bullets any more than you need to stand up Hi-Tek bullets. PC is available in multiple colors also.

 

[Strat Rider]

For 9mm, 38s, the Lee 358-125-RF is what I would try first. . Lee molds are regulated with 10 to 1 alloy. Lead-Tin.

Adding antimony makes bullets larger in diameter. It will be hard to get to .360" with a 358 mold, but shootable. Sizing brass to hold a bullet in 38 S&W, may require "neck sizing" with a 38/357 die.

The crimp groove can be below the case mouth of a 9mm.

If this mold doesn't work, buy the correct molds for the cartridges.
View attachment 958533

I bought one of those myself and a .357 sizing die but also Lee has a 358-150-1R which would be only 2 grains over the 148 gr. bullets I shot for years - so I bought one of those also.
I would not get the 158 gr. mold as I am remembering a few years ago someone was selling 165 gr 9mm bullets and a friend tried them out hoping to get a shot with less recoil. They worked but they are huge and he didn't like them at all. Good Luck.