Beef15

Three grains light in cast bullets just means they used a different alloy than what the mold was spec'ed with. The metals that make the alloy fill a mold better and the end product harder are all lighter than lead. Commercial casters often cast harder than necessary and customers won't be happy poor fill out, and also most want shiny bullets. If it's +/- 1.5gr that's the result of two or more different pots of alloy or big variations in mold cavities. Not really significant for safe loading, might not want to shoot them unsorted in a bullseye comp. Are they PC or Hi-Tek coated lead? Comparing 115gr data to 120gr data and finding the 120 a half grain lighter is not surprising. For COAL seat long, plunk test and reseat until it passes then go another 0.005 or so to account for the variable ogive of cast. Not every cavity in a mold is cut truly identical and not every cavity will run at the same heat all the time. As long as you end up longer than the book data you can safely use their min and probably anything up to and including max powder charge. DO check for barrel leading while testing. If they are not coated, minor changes in powder charge or crimp can make a difference in leading, or you may have to switch powders, how pressure builds matters. If they're coated as long as the coating remains intact you should be good to go.

I like the Lee 356120TC, drops about 122/3. My recent Lee molds have dropped dead on marked diameter with COWW alloy, not the best for most 9mms as they tend to slug .3555 or larger. NOE 358155TC is showing some promise at 25yds, haven't stretched it to 50.

Have you pulled any to check if you're damaging the coating while seating? IME coated bullets are not as sensitive to fit in the bore as plain lead, but they will lead badly if the coating is damaged, being undersized would exacerbate. Don't use chemicals to remove heavy leading, too slow, get all copper chore boy and wrap an old brush or jag until it fits real tight, will peal the lead right out of the bore. Make absolutely certain it is an all copper scrubber not copper washed steel.

I use 3.2 gr with coated 147s, it is pretty anemic. Another shooter with worse form had almost constant malfunctions using it in my G17, worst I've had is a rare failure to lock on empty. That leads me to believe that it is right on the edge of not generating enough slide momentum, as such not difficult to imagine having some issues in a new gun that's a little stiff. 3.0 would be even more marginal.

More than one local PD teaches canting when shooting one handed. Claim is recoil control.My personal experience is it doesn't make much difference in control, but I am more accurate closer to plumb with less effort. But I've never claimed any great skill, I just use what works for me, YMMV.

I've had three pairs of HL Impact Sports and two pairs of Peltor Tac 100s. I don't think either are very good, but slightly prefer the HLs. I have warrantied a pair of each, Peltors dead out of the box, HLs that wouldn't turn off and killed batteries. Kinda lame warranty process from both return to vendor. 1st pair of HLs was lost before I had a chance to fall out of love. HLs have much better amplification, and seamless noise suppression. The Peltors have much softer cups and more adjustment, but they're shallower and my ears get smashed into the foam. The Peltors cancelling is triggered by any sharp noise loud or not (slide racking, car door closing, tapping somehing on a bench), they recover very slow and the compression sound dampening is distracting. All three HLs have suffered from interference/static more than the Peltors. I double up with both, NRRs are too low. Next time I'll either spend more or ditch amplification.

Never had an issue with TC or flat point in 9mm or 45acp. Die setting will almost certainly be different. They do cut a slightly cleaner hole in cardboard.

1lb ingots? I dunno, Lee. I think most of the ingot molds are around that. Muffin tins, the cheap ones are borderline too flimsy, but the coating doesn't hurt anything. The ingots don't really fit all that well in a Lee bottom pour, they aren't a real space effecient shape.

If you're still looking NOE has a 155TC. Got mine today, the lighter HP version drops heavy, guessing the FP will as well.

Guess I need to check my G3 17, it started doing this 500 rounds ago, probably right around the same count. FWIW the slide has never been dropped on a chambered round.

Bearing surface length, the area of the bullet that is full diameter. If it is longer you could either be seating long and jamming the lands, or less likely seating short and getting too far into the tapered portion of the caseaking the outer diameter too large.

Sarge got it. Mine do the same.

Hi-Power, pistols mostly, 9mm and 45acp mainly, just a non-sanctioned action pistol and occasional 2-gun matches right now, but I'd like to try USPSA and IDPA, maybe 3-gun someday, but I kinda doubt it. Been reloading a few years, 9mm, 45C and ACP, 38Spl, 357Sig, .223Rem, 308Win, 30-06. Reshoot, North Central North Carolina.

Been reading here a while off and on, some great info on this forum, though it doesn't seem to pop up on searches as much as others, perhaps by design. Stumbled on a couple topics I thought I could contribute on so went ahead and signed up. I've been shooting and reloading for a while, but only started to mess with competition in the past couple years, still haven't made it to anything sanctioned, hoping to this year. In the mean time I'll be reading up and practicing as much as I can manage.

Have Warrens on a G17, have shot a lot of 147 coated bullets no problem.3.2 of Titegroup did 905fps 1.14 COAL.

Have heard of this being done. Couple locals actually brag of it making life unpleasant for other reloaders.380 has a different rim diameter and is straight walled, trimmed 9mm cases may work, but wouldn't bet on it.

Never seen chunks. Have seen the coating look like orange peel and have some small spots of lead show through, didn't hurt anything. Your report is definitely not their normal quality. Call them. Nice folks.