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common bullet for reloading

fastcarsgofastfastcarsgofast Member Posts: 7,179
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
All of my personal guns for carry are now .38 cal or 9mm. .357 magnum, .380 ACP, 9x18 Makarov, and .38 special to be exact. I've never reloaded before and was considering doing it for my plinking ammo only nothing for carry or personal defense. I understand that the bullets are slightly different diameters, but is there one that I could use to reload all my cartridges with? I like to keep things simple and probably won't even try to reload if I have to keep up with several different bullets. Thanks for any info yall can provide.
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Comments

  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    I would think that if you got about a 125 gr cast bullet in .357, round nose, it would work in all. It might be a bit tight in the 9mm and 380, you could get a cheap swager from lee that would take it down to .355 and all would be fine.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello IMHO If you are going to reload you should get off on the right foot and use components that are best for the cartridge you are loading You are correct that the bullet size is CLOSE but close in reloading is a recipe for trouble If you used a jacketed bullet that was correct size for your MAKAROV and then tried this bullet in a full tilt load in 357 MAG you could have very high and possible dangerous over loads. My suggestion is get a good reloading manual and stick to known components for each load You can buy bullets suitable for reloading in 100 item boxes.
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    38Spl & 357Mag can use the same bullet, but the other 2 need their own slugs (the 9x17/380ACP is NOT the same diameter as the 9x18 Makarov).

    IMHO, start with the 38/357 as they can also use the same set of dies. Later expand your die set to one of the other 2 and purchase bullets for that one, and finaly get the dies and bullets for the 3rd. Spread the 3 purchases out over your first year of reloading and it won't seem so bad.
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  • nards444nards444 Member Posts: 3,994 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    remember when you reload you have to ask your self how much do I shoot, then see if you are reloading for fun or for savings. Because it takes an awful lot of rounds to start saving money. But if you just want to do as a hobby a lot of guys do. A good place to start is a gun show
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  • Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
    edited November -1
    Someone will be along to correct me soon, I'm sure, but I think the Makarov is a bigger enough diameter to make a difference. But I'm working from memory here. I haven't reloaded any of the 9mm family except .357 for years. I have all of the dies for the .380, 9mm Luger, 9mm Mak, 38spl and 357.
    The only one I have never loaded is the Mak. Because the bullet diameter was too big, as I recall, and availability was less than stellar. And because ammo is cheaper than components.
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  • Old FoolOld Fool Member Posts: 1,502 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here are th bullet diameters that you are looking at:

    .357 Mag .358
    .38 Spl .358
    .380 ACP .356
    9mm .356
    9X18 Makarov .364

    Good Luck
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    CLOSE only counts with horseshoes, handgrenades, and nuclear weapons. Use the right bullet for the round you are reloading. Your FIRST reloading investment should be in a good manual. Seriously, not meant as a slam- I get as much use out of my references as I do dies, scales, tumbler, etc.
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  • ZinderblocZinderbloc Member Posts: 925 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    How about 3 out of 5 ?

    I have loaded the same 125 gr. 9mm cast lead bullets (.355") in 9x19, .38 Spl and (light) .357 magnum cases. Accuracy was better than I expected. The revolver cases needed a good crimp, but they worked OK.

    This bullet won't work in .380 (too heavy) and definitely is wrong for 9x18 Makarov (which is really a 9.1mm)
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  • dtknowlesdtknowles Member Posts: 810 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    129 gr. cast lead round nose sized to .355 works fine in my .380 FIE Titan II in WIN, FC and R-P cases with starting loads meant for 121 gr. It is my practice round. Function is good, no feed or extract issues. These same bullets keyholed when shot out of my .357 but they work great in my 9 mm and .38 super. These are cast from a Lee mold. They are not too heavy for .380 for practice as long as they don't bulge the cases or interfere with feeding. Works for me.

    Tim
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  • fastcarsgofastfastcarsgofast Member Posts: 7,179
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the input guys. I'm a firm believer in the KISS rule and thought I might be able to apply it here. I knew reloading was one of the finer sciences, but wanted to play around just for fun. I don't shoot near as much as I used to or would like to (wife and 3 kids now) and it definitely would take a long time to see a return on any investment made into the equipment. Guess I will just keep buying factory loads and donating my brass to the department.
    I probably don't say it enough so again thanks a lot for the information and input.
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