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Offline Jal5

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9MM problems
« on: October 13, 2009, 04:54:11 PM »
Just started loading for this caliber, and I am finding it a pain.
Using Lee dies, I deprime and expand with one die but sometimes the case mouth gets too expanded and I have trouble keeping the bullet from sliding down into the case.  This only happens occasionally, maybe 2 rounds out of 25 I did tonite for load development the rest are fine. This is mixed headstamp brass.  What is the cause of this and what can I do to prevent it?

Joe
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Offline Casull

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2009, 05:09:23 PM »
I'm not sure, as my Lee 9mm dies deprime and SIZE with one die, and expanding is done with a different die.  It sounds like either you are not sizing the cases (which I don't know how you can do while depriming), or you are over expanding the case mouths (I also find that hard to believe, since it only "bells" them for about an eigth of an inch or so).  So, long story short, I'm puzzled, but not sure I can offer any solutions.  I'm sure others on here will be able to help though.
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Offline Jal5

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2009, 05:18:21 PM »
Casull-
My mistake, the dies are Pacific-Durachrome. 1 Seater, 1 Expander/Decapper, and one marked No. 1 D not sure what that one is for and it does not have any plug in it although the top looks like it can take a plug of some kind. I would think the No. 1 D must be the sizer die?

Joe
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Offline securitysix

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2009, 10:56:13 PM »
A couple of things can cause this.  One would be that some of your brass is longer than the rest.  Any that are longer will go farther up the expander, and thus expand more, causing the problem your having.  The next thing would be if the brass is thicker than the others, in which case it would, again, be moved more by the expander.

Check your brass.  Anything headstamped A-Merc is junk and should be thrown away anyway.  After that, trim your cases (Lee makes an inexpensive and easy tool to do this with).  If you still have a problem, sort your cases by headstamp and readjust your expander die each time you change headstamps (which you probably won't have to do if you pitch all the A-Merc garbage and trim the rest).

There might be some other things that can cause this, but those are the two I would check first.
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Offline Mikey

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2009, 01:24:37 AM »
Jal5:  It's your brass.  There is so much variation in 9mm brass it will boggle your mind. 

I would take all your current 9mm brass and either sort it by manufacturer which will help make your reloading more consistent or, sort it by manufacturer and set it aside and purchase 1,000 new primed or unprimed cases from one manufacturer and use them.  Using mixed brass in a 9mm can be a headache.  jmtcw.
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Offline Jal5

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2009, 01:30:48 AM »
I think you guys are correct, the different brass manufactures are the problem. I will try the sorting and trimming first and see if that helps. I have a Lyman accutrimmer that I use for other calibers, doing the 9mm will be time consuming but won't have to be done often. What is new 9mm brass going for these days?

My other question is about the die marked No.1 D with no insert. That must be the sizer die in the 3 die set right?

Thanks

Joe
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Offline sgtt

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2009, 01:48:22 AM »
I think you are correct in that you need to resize the brass.  Run a couple into the 1-D die and see what happens.  If it doesn't work my guess is that you will be purchasing a new set of dies or, at least a new sizer.  I would also doubt that the current set is carbide so, I would recommed lubing the cases to avoid them sticking. 
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Offline Jal5

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2009, 05:30:10 PM »
I already lube the brass so no problem there. I will resize the brass with that No. 1-D and see how it goes. Unfortunately I have 25 made up for load development without resizing the brass so I guess I have a bunch of rounds to pull.
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Offline Casull

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #8 on: October 15, 2009, 06:39:36 AM »
Quote
I already lube the brass so no problem there. I will resize the brass with that No. 1-D and see how it goes. Unfortunately I have 25 made up for load development without resizing the brass so I guess I have a bunch of rounds to pull.


Ah, that explains it.  Yeah, if you didn't resize the brass, I'm surprised that most or all them didn't slide down into the case.  Good luck.
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Offline Savage

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2009, 12:48:00 PM »
Quote from: Casull on October 15, 2009, 06:39:36 AM
Quote
I already lube the brass so no problem there. I will resize the brass with that No. 1-D and see how it goes. Unfortunately I have 25 made up for load development without resizing the brass so I guess I have a bunch of rounds to pull.


Ah, that explains it.  Yeah, if you didn't resize the brass, I'm surprised that most or all them didn't slide down into the case.  Good luck.

Exactlly! +++
As Casull pointed out, if you're not resizing as your first operation you are sure to have this problem. Although the Pacific dies will do a fine job for you, for 20-25 bucks or so, you can have a set of Lee Carbide Dies that will eliminate the lube operation on the 9mm cases. That alone is worth the money!
Mixed brass is fine for loading range ammo. In 45+ years of reloading, I have never trimmed a straight wall pistol case. It's just not necessary.
Savage
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Offline Jal5

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Re: 9MM problems
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2009, 05:14:58 PM »
I resized some brass all WIN this time and reloaded those rounds. No problems this time worked like a charm. Now if it stops raining this weekend I can try them out at the club. Thanks for all the help!
Joe
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