i was wondering if u can use 38 spl bullets to cure leading, if an 9mm barrel that is over spec? i mean if the .355-.356 bullet is to small a .357-.358 might just work to stop leading. Would it change the way the gun shoots and handles? thanks u any insight
using 38 spl lead in a 9mm
- Thread starter trusm0ka
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Do not assume you are getting leading from too small of a bullet diameter. Why do you think the standard bullet size for your 9mm are too small?
If you're absolutely positive the barrel is .357 and you want to use lead then .358 lead bullets should work fine. It's not so simple though because the way your barrel may be designed which could cause dangerously high pressures.
There are a number of reasons you can get leading and if you do a search on this forum you'll find plenty of information on how to avoid leading or at least keep it minimal. You should probably list the make and model of your gun so people who know it may have some good information to add.
Some people do use lead bullets for the .357 in their 9mm pistols. I'm sure you need to lower the powder charge to be safe. That's all I know though. There are guys here that will hopefully chime in.
If you're absolutely positive the barrel is .357 and you want to use lead then .358 lead bullets should work fine. It's not so simple though because the way your barrel may be designed which could cause dangerously high pressures.
There are a number of reasons you can get leading and if you do a search on this forum you'll find plenty of information on how to avoid leading or at least keep it minimal. You should probably list the make and model of your gun so people who know it may have some good information to add.
Some people do use lead bullets for the .357 in their 9mm pistols. I'm sure you need to lower the powder charge to be safe. That's all I know though. There are guys here that will hopefully chime in.
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
When you get a lot of leading in your barrel the most likely cause is using bullets that are either too soft or too hard. You need to match the bullet hardness to the application. The 9mm is a fairly high pressure round and usually need a fairly hard bullet but if you go too hard you will get just as much or more leading than if the bullet is too soft.
More information would be helpful. (like how hard the bullets you are no using are, what powder you are using, what velocities you are generating and stuff like that...)
More information would be helpful. (like how hard the bullets you are no using are, what powder you are using, what velocities you are generating and stuff like that...)
NuJudge
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My Beretta 92FS has a very large groove diameter, and I usually use .359" bullets in it. Not every 9mm pistol I own will chamber a cartridge made with bullets that large. Using much bigger bullets did fix Leading, and it shoots better too.
loadedround
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Slug your barrel and then make your decision.
It's perfectly fine as long as your chamber allows it. Some chambers have short throats and require bullets to be seated deep causing issues with 158gr bullets. They tend to bulge 9mm cases at standard 9mm OAL's. I used 125gr TC .358/.359" bullets at 1.050" OAL. At this OAL the case mouth would line-up with the crimp groove, the round woud feed and chamber just fine, and the gun did not lead. I taper crimped into the crimp groove. The accuracy was spectacular by Beretta standards (@ .75" at 50 feet) using 3.7 to 4.2 grs of 231.
EMC45
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I had a Beretta 92 that shot patterns...not groups! I believe it was due to groove size. I did not cast bullets at the time, so I couldn't get any other bullets to try other than store bought. It leaded horribly, and shot poorly. I tried slow, fast, jacketed, plated, hard cast, Speer swaged lead bullets......to no avail......I now have a Browning Hi Power which slugs at .357 and I run all my 9MM bullets at .358. They shoot wonderfully!
sonier
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no info needed slug it, then measure then add .001 for lead
Runningman
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The SAAMI specification for 9mm barrels is, groove diameter .356-.358, bore diameter .346-.348. I do not know what CIP specification is for 9mm groove and bore diameter. It sure would be interesting to know.
At work I can check barrel groove and bore diameter near the muzzle and have checked a few 9mm barrels over the years. Most recent was a Ruger SR9c it had a groove diameter of .3556.
I found NuJudge comments intresting.... I've checked two made in Italy Beretta 92s and they had a groove diameter or .3585 and .3588. Beretta seems to like big bores for some reason.
At work I can check barrel groove and bore diameter near the muzzle and have checked a few 9mm barrels over the years. Most recent was a Ruger SR9c it had a groove diameter of .3556.
I found NuJudge comments intresting.... I've checked two made in Italy Beretta 92s and they had a groove diameter or .3585 and .3588. Beretta seems to like big bores for some reason.
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