chris in va
New member
My LGS only has 100ct bags of 357 125gr. Can they safely be used in a 9mm?
I use 358 LRN but I know those are much softer. My bore slugs at 356.
I use 358 LRN but I know those are much softer. My bore slugs at 356.
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.357 fmj in 9mm?
- Thread starter chris in va
- Start date
Just few minutes ago yet another post had me pull out my original experiment with .357 bullets in .357sig ( which is really 9mm - .355 diameter bullets)
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=405689
I do not know how tapered case in 9mm would take the .357 bullets or how tight is your chamber, but I don't thing it would be problem. As always, start with minimum powder charge and work the load up.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=405689
I do not know how tapered case in 9mm would take the .357 bullets or how tight is your chamber, but I don't thing it would be problem. As always, start with minimum powder charge and work the load up.
chris in va
New member
I'll just be using these for our matches every two weeks. My plinkers are still homebrew lead 125's.
marklyftogt
New member
Don't do it unless you want to buy a new gun and/or new hands.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
It's unlikely to cause any harm if approached correctly. It has been done before (as shown on the above link).
On the other hand, it is obviously far outside standard practice and as such cannot be recommended. It is, at the very least, a practice which should be left to those with considerable experience.
On the other hand, it is obviously far outside standard practice and as such cannot be recommended. It is, at the very least, a practice which should be left to those with considerable experience.
Adamantium
New member
I've shot hundreds of .357 jacketed bullets through my 9mm guns, all the way up to max published load with multiple powders and never once saw a sign of over pressure. It is my opinion that the biggest problem you face is the possibility that they aren't going to feed correctly. I've used 110/125 Remington SJHP and 125 Hornady XTP's and only had feeding problems with one gun out of three. Of course I don't blame the gun or the bullet, it's just not a one size fits all kind of thing.
If there is any laboratory pressure testing available comparing .355 bullets to .357 when shot in a 9mm barrel I'd love to see it. It seems like most (possibly all) people I've seen recommend against it are doing it out of their own unwillingness to experiment and not some documented safety problem. Years before I started reloading 45acp I bought a Ruger P90 with a barrel I would later slug at .450. So to me saying that you shouldn't shoot a .357 bullet down a .356 barrel is saying everyone should slug their bore to ensure that factory ammunition is safe to shoot in their gun.
If there is any laboratory pressure testing available comparing .355 bullets to .357 when shot in a 9mm barrel I'd love to see it. It seems like most (possibly all) people I've seen recommend against it are doing it out of their own unwillingness to experiment and not some documented safety problem. Years before I started reloading 45acp I bought a Ruger P90 with a barrel I would later slug at .450. So to me saying that you shouldn't shoot a .357 bullet down a .356 barrel is saying everyone should slug their bore to ensure that factory ammunition is safe to shoot in their gun.
Jim Watson
New member
C.E. Harris did an American Rifleman article years ago about .38 bullets in 9mm guns. There were no problems in numerous loads. (It was not as simple to get 9mm bullets to run in .38 revolvers.)
The only real requirement is that the loaded rounds chamber freely to avoid what Clark calls "bullet pinch." If the case neck can't expand to release the bullet, that will raise pressure much more than a slightly oversize bullet will.
And it may not even be oversize, there are a lot of 9mm barrels with groove diameters over .355", up to .359" in some cases. Which is why it can be difficult to get .356" cast bullets to shoot well.
The only real requirement is that the loaded rounds chamber freely to avoid what Clark calls "bullet pinch." If the case neck can't expand to release the bullet, that will raise pressure much more than a slightly oversize bullet will.
And it may not even be oversize, there are a lot of 9mm barrels with groove diameters over .355", up to .359" in some cases. Which is why it can be difficult to get .356" cast bullets to shoot well.