Crooked bullets, Please Help!

[vanbuzen9]

Hi all,

I am currently loading for the 9mm, and have a bullet seating question.  When I put the bullet on a charged case, it ussually sits in the belled case very nicely, but sometimes it goes up into the seating die a little awkward.  Does this affect accuracy, or does the die straighten it out?

thanks,
vanbuzen9

[victorcharlie]

For the most part, the die will straighten it out....to a point.   I doubt that this is affecting accuracy at the ranges most pistols are used at.  You can check bullet run out with a v block and a dial indicator.

For pistol shooting, while I'd try to get them straight, I don't think I'd worry about it much......now a rifle is a whole different thing..........

[Duffy]

Just guide it straight into the die with your fingers or buy a Lyman M-die to flair the mouths. Most dies with straighten them out while seating but then there's always the chance of a "crunch" one.

[Ragn-Cajn]

seat the bullet in a standard seating die. It will be out of alignment, as are most semi auto rounds. Then in a seperate operation, get a taper crimp die. Run them through a taper crimp. All alignment problem will be solved. Never seat and crimp in the same operation. you are defying  physics when you do so.

[Patriot_1776]

vanbuzen9,

The die usually does straighten it out, but be sure not to seat the bullet too fast/hard.  You need to give the case time to expand around the bullet.  If you seat it too fast/hard the case could buckle, you could get a misaligned bullet, or both.  I learned a little trick that helps prevent a crooked case while loading either rifle or pistol rounds.  It does take a little more time, so do it only if you really want to.  

Seat the bullet half-way; back the round out, and turn it approx. 180 degrees and seat the rest of the way.  In my experience, I believe it does help ensure a straight and true round.

The tidbit about not seating and crimping in the same operation is also rock solid.  I've ruined a few bullets that way; the case had cut into the jacket.  

One more thing, I use a single stage press, so I don't really know if that tip I mentioned is applicable if used on a multiple stage press (A.K.A. "progressive reloader").

Hope this helps you out some.


 
-Patriot

[stimpylu32]

Just my 2 cents worth , i load about 1000 to 1500 9mm a month and always seat and crimp in the same operation .

The key is not to over crimp , it does not take much crimp for the 9mm and for the range that it is shot at the accuracy is fine

AS for my hunting handgun and rifle i always crimp in a different step