9mm after fired outline of bullet and lower case bulge Help!

[H Richard]

Once you resize the brass with a "properly" adjusted die, you should not have any bulge to deal with. Always size any brass before loading, regardless if it is new or fired. It is about certain the bulge is caused by the unsupported feed ramp of your barrel. I load 4.5 gr. 231 behind a 125 Coated seated to 1.070 and have no problems in my RIA or Shield.

 

[marathonrunner]

1. Always resize all brass; new, once-fired, or ancient.
2. No surprise that brass doesn't fit the case gage after firing. The case expands. The case gage is mostly to be used for measuring the completed round. (See 5 below)
3. A finished, complete, round is called a round or cartridge. The bullet is the projectile.
4. It's hard to tell what your "bulge" actually is without pics. But it is NOT unusual to see the outline of the bullet through the case on finished rounds. This is because you have sized the case slightly below the diameter of the bullet so there is a "friction fit" or case mouth tension that holds the bullet in place. So you actually have a slight narrowing or "wasp-waisting" of the case just below the bullet.
5. If there is actually a "bulge" down by the case head, it is fine if the sized case will fit the case gage. If it doesn't, try adjusting the sizing die slightly downward per manufacturer instructions.
6. It is very difficult if not impossible to "tell" or "feel" pressure within a cartridge without instrumentation. Just be confident that published data is safe. Also you cannot know what your velocity might be without a chronograph. All you can do is estimate. Ditto go with published data and don't speculate.
7. If the completed round will fit the case gage, and you are using published data, and you are using an OAL provided by Hornady for their bullet, you are good to go. Have no fear.

Thanks so much but let me ask this, I am not used to seeing any bulge after shooting my reloads, but I been reloading 115gr and using midrange load data. If I use same midrange on 124gr, I get same velocity of .45acp, thus there is no point in using 9mm right? It seems the only way 124gr makes sense is if you push it to velocities that are close or exceeds that of a 115gr bullet. The only standard velocity for 115gr bullet I see is Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot, but in 124gr self defense loads everything is Plus P. The one thing I like about Critical Defense is you can shoot a lot through you gun and not wear it out where a Plus P would increase wear and tear

 

[Nevada Ed]

I would put it on the Hodgdon/Hornady data.........
I think they seat that bullet way too deep and get high pressures, which might bulge cases.

I know you did not state OAL...........

1.06 oal is very short for a 124 gr bullet in my mind.............
I like 1.12" minimum...... did you use the short oal ??

Just my 2 cents.

 

[marathonrunner]

I would put it on the Hodgdon/Hornady data.........
I think they seat that bullet way too deep and get high pressures, which might bulge cases.

I know you did not state OAL...........

1.06 oal is very short for a 124 gr bullet in my mind.............
I like 1.12" minimum...... did you use the short oal ??

Just my 2 cents.

hornady told me to use 1060. they told me they worked out the exact proper seating for that bullet and that 1.120 was too generic. My case after firing was 394. but then I have seen Critical Defense at .390 so is that that much of a difference? I think all cases after fired will be bulged.

 

[moxie]

It is true that +P will wear your gun out quicker than non +P. But you will probably not live long enough to see either one happen.

Case diameter after firing is totally irrelevant. Fuggedaboutit!!

You are way over-thinking this, driving way ahead of your headlights. Like I said, use published data and you will be fine.

Velocity comparisons between .45 and 9mm are pointless. Too many other factors matter as well.

Speer Gold Dot and Fed. HST both offer 124 loadings in non +P form. Check the online vendors. Here's a great deal and example:
50 Round Box - 9mm Federal HST 124 Grain JHP Hollow Point LE Ammo P9HST1 | SGAmmo.com

The 1.06" is on the short side for a hollowpoint. For a round nose it's in the ball park. For example, Missouri Bullet recommends 1.08" for their 124 RNL. But if Hornady recommends it for their bullet I wouldn't worry about it.

What reloading books are you using? I like the Speer and the Lyman. I'd recommend you get them, read the front part word for word. Then get your dies out and read the instructions. Set up the dies exactly as they say. Now go reload. While you're doing all that, save up for a chronograph. It will help immensely.

 

[marathonrunner]

It is true that +P will wear your gun out quicker than non +P. But you will probably not live long enough to see either one happen.

Case diameter after firing is totally irrelevant. Fuggedaboutit!!

You are way over-thinking this, driving way ahead of your headlights. Like I said, use published data and you will be fine.

Velocity comparisons between .45 and 9mm are pointless. Too many other factors matter as well.


Moxie I am using Hornady but the reason I am concerned a
Speer Gold Dot and Fed. HST both offer 124 loadings in non +P form. Check the online vendors. Here's a great deal and example:
50 Round Box - 9mm Federal HST 124 Grain JHP Hollow Point LE Ammo P9HST1 | SGAmmo.com

The 1.06" is on the short side for a hollowpoint. For a round nose it's in the ball park. For example, Missouri Bullet recommends 1.08" for their 124 RNL. But if Hornady recommends it for their bullet I wouldn't worry about it.

What reloading books are you using? I like the Speer and the Lyman. I'd recommend you get them, read the front part word for word. Then get your dies out and read the instructions. Set up the dies exactly as they say. Now go reload. While you're doing all that, save up for a chronograph. It will help immensely.

i
I am using Hornady's manual but the reason I am concerned about case bulge is 115gr I have never seen case bulge until I started reloading 124gr. I think 124gr it is going to be much hotter round than 115gr because of the bigger bullet. I am just concerned with wear

 

[Alk8944]

Have you seen the oft used "This thread is useless without pictures!"? If you haven't discovered from reading the above responses unless we can see what you are talking about everyone is purely guessing! Pretty pictures, anecdotes, etc. notwithstanding, no one knows what you are seeing!

What I can tell you is this, and it is not guessing! Both chambers and cartridges are made to a fairly wide range of tolerance. A maximum cartridge in a minimum chamber will show very little expansion, where a minimum cartridge in a maximum chamber will show very obvious expansion that many will interpret as "bulging". Without photos and measurements no one can tell you if what only you are seeing are seeing is normal or not!

IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME THAT SO MANY CAN SUPPOSE TO GIVE ADVICE WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON EXCEPT A VERBAL DESCRIPTION! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS???? (Yes, yelling intended!!!!!)

 

[snakeye]

For those questioning Hornady's it is a fact...in their loading manual they do list 1.060 OAL for the 124gr XTP...I load these for my SD rounds with Power Pistol and have never had any issues. My 4 different carry guns handle them with no problems

 

[marathonrunner]

For those questioning Hornady's it is a fact...in their loading manual they do list 1.060 OAL for the 124gr XTP...I load these for my SD rounds with Power Pistol and have never had any issues. My 4 different carry guns handle them with no problems

Snakeeye I also have Power Pistol but BE86 you can get higher velocity because I guess it is a faster burning powder and at their recommendation at 5.9gr you can get 1175fps where Power Pistol the max velocity is 1100 using 5.7gr. How many grains are you loading with PP? I have read subsonic is like 1035fps which is not all that great and brings bullet closer to .38 special velocity. What I am seeing is practically every HP Self defense 124gr load is PLUS P or even if it is standard pressure is near 1177. What I like about 115gr self defense loads is critical defense uses standard practice ammo pressure.

@ALK8944 my camera is not good enough to take closeups. I am just not used to seeing case bulge that much and bullet outline after firing it. My 115gr reloads expand just a hair, barely noticable after shooting it.

 

[Bkreutz]

" I'm ignoring the first part of this post because without a chrono, any comments about velocity are just guesses."

@ALK8944 my camera is not good enough to take closeups. I am just not used to seeing case bulge that much and bullet outline after firing it. My 115gr reloads expand just a hair, barely noticable after shooting it.

You do realize that the difference between a 115 and a 124 grain bullet of the same profile is the length of the projectile? So when loaded to the same overall length, the 124 will sit deeper into the case.

 

[Rule3]

These threads remind me of a very specific Seinfeld episode.

The show about...............

Everyone can guess what it is,

 

[marathonrunner]

I found out what the problem was. I used the same load and shot it out of my G34 with a fully supported match barrel and no bulge at all. Yes there was a little over pressure signs from primer being a little flattened but not really. The Walther PPS M2 does not have a fully supported barrel and why the case gets bulged.

 

[alwslate]

I found out what the problem was. I used the same load and shot it out of my G34 with a fully supported match barrel and no bulge at all. Yes there was a little over pressure signs from primer being a little flattened but not really. The Walther PPS M2 does not have a fully supported barrel and why the case gets bulged.

Well amazingly once again you have managed to solve the
problem yourself and proved that your ideas trump all other
suggestions, brilliant! Oh by the way, over pressure signs
such as "primers being a little flattened but not really" ???
don't occur at handgun pressure levels. On to the next
time !!!

 

[Moe Mentum]

Post a picture, and we'll tell you what your problem is. Otherwise, its just guess work.