Cast boolets for 9mm

I designed a bullet to fit the needs of my 9mm and had Lee cut them via a special order.

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/Firearms/JANine/Images/Ammopileofbullets01.jpg

I wanted a “heavy” bullet that fit the step and throat of my pistol well, used micro-bands for tumble lubing, and had a large meplat. What I have is a http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/Ranch_Dog_Molds/Semi-Auto%20Pistols/TLC356-135-RF/index.html>TL356-135-RF. The pistol in the image isn't my Glock, I wanted an aftermarket non-poylgonal barrel but after the 18 months of waiting through the BHO inspired surge in the shooting industry, I gave up and bought the cheapest 9mm I could find on my gun store's counter. The pistol in the picture is a Jimenez Arms JA-Nine. This topic is about bullets but the pistol has been probably one of the best purchases I've made in a firearm. It had the barrel I wanted, shoots cast bullets very well, and it cost less than a new barrel for my Glock.

This pistol spurred my interest in this line of firearms and I wanted to work with a heavy bullet for a 380 Auto. I purchase both the JA-380 (pocket pistol) and the JA-LC380 and worked on a bullet for them. I came up with a http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/Ranch_Dog_Molds/Semi-Auto%20Pistols/TLC358-125-RF/index.html>TL358-125-RF, a 125-grain bullet that shoots extremely well from both of these 380 Autos.

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/TL358125RF/Images/380AutoFatBoy.jpg

  The cartridges on each end have the same bullet, the TL358-125-RF, but the cartridge on the right is seated deeper to meet the confines of the the pocket pistols magazine (JA-380). This brings up another point if you work on a special order mold. Be sure to look at the dimensions and angles experienced as the cartridge travels from magazine, up the ramp, to the chamber. It would not be good to pay the cost of the special order to find out that your bullet cannot make it to the chamber! The JA-LC380 is actually sized .357” (die from a Lee L&S Kit) to meet the requirements of that firearm. The JAs are what they are but they do an excellent job of punching holes and flipping steel.

Last September, I actually used the little JA-380 to defend myself while walking a Hahn (census) line (I'm a wildlife manager). The week prior I had had some problems toward the end of the line with a group of very large boar hogs. It was hot and I didn't want to carry a rifle so I just holstered the JA-380. Sure enough, at the end of the, I surprised a very large boar (surprised myself too!). He just spun and came at me so I drew and shot him in the head with the 125-grain bullet. In a self defense role, you will be surprised how quite the 380 Auto sounds especially when you are figuring you need something more! The bullet struck him on the side of the face and traveled down his neck giving him full impact to the chest. He stopped in his tracks, turned and walked away on shaky legs. I kept walking because it was getting dark and my ride was waiting at the end of the line. A couple of days later I noticed the buzzards working the spot where I shot him so I guess he had succumbed to the 380 Auto. I'm sure not many hogs have done that!

I don't use published load data to work with these bullets, I use QuickLOAD.