Learned a few new things today.

[sawzall]

I was going to do some reading up on barrel lapping as I'm not at all familiar with it. It does shoot plated just fine. I may sell and get into a CZ Shadow, had my eye one one for some time.

One thing I have not seen mentioned is what powder you're using. I have found when loading lead in 9mm, it works best to use powders on the slow end of the acceptable burn rate for the cartridge. My best results have been with 800x and Blue Dot. I even get a bit of leading with SR4756 with similar power level loads and it's fairly slow for 9mm. The slower powders have a gentler "push" with a longer pressure curve and don't act so violently on the bullets like the faster powders do.

 

[44Bore]

Water dropping them will harden them up a bit but the baking after powder coating will anneal them right back to base hardness. You can heat treat them after curing the powder coat however. An hour @ 450 and then dump them straight into ice water. Doesn't hurt the PX at all in my experience.

OOpps, forgot about the curing process!

 

[OverUnder725]

One thing I have not seen mentioned is what powder you're using. I have found when loading lead in 9mm, it works best to use powders on the slow end of the acceptable burn rate for the cartridge. My best results have been with 800x and Blue Dot. I even get a bit of leading with SR4756 with similar power level loads and it's fairly slow for 9mm. The slower powders have a gentler "push" with a longer pressure curve and don't act so violently on the bullets like the faster powders do.

I'm using Bullseye. 3.4gr.

 

[sawzall]

I'm using Bullseye. 3.4gr.

I would try a much slower powder. If you don't have anything, there are a few options available now from some site sponsors. Canada Ammo has both Longshot and Vihtavuori 3N38 in stock. Both are in the burn range I've found suitable for lead 9mm loads.