9mm reloading, what am I doing wrong.

[il Padrino]

I reloaded a batch of 115gr FMJ 9mm rounds, about half of them the cases bulged out on one side as if the bullets were not seating straight. The last batch I loaded using the same bullets seated nice and even/straight. I don't load 9mm very often, and don't recall if I did something different last time.
Non of the components changed, the brass is a mix of used different head stamps, same as last time, and the bullets out of the same bulk lot of 1000 I have been using. Same and only set of dies... I can't seem to figure out how I got them to load so nice and even last time without bulging the cases.

 

[il Padrino]

I reloaded a batch of 115gr FMJ 9mm rounds, about half of them the cases bulged out on one side as if the bullets were not seating straight. The last batch I loaded using the same bullets seated nice and even/straight. I don't load 9mm very often, and don't recall if I did something different last time.
Non of the components changed, the brass is a mix of used different head stamps, same as last time, and the bullets out of the same bulk lot of 1000 I have been using. Same and only set of dies... I can't seem to figure out how I got them to load so nice and even last time without bulging the cases.

 

[Bruce51]

I have noticed the same problem with my 9MM cases. This appears to happen after the cases have been loaded several times. When my loads start to show a bulge on one side only that is the last time I load that case. 9mm cases do not last as long as .38's or .45's. The primer pockets get loose or the cases load and look just how you have described. I usually toss them after about five reloads. Bruce

 

[mstuhr]

Hi I.P.
I reload a lot on progressive machines and at a rate that gives me quite a few rounds like you mention.
I run everything through a Lee factory crimp die and it takes care of most of this problem for me.
It adds another step but makes for better ammo.
My stuff drops from the progressives seated and then I Lee fac. crimp in a seperate step.
Good luck
Mike

 

[MrPhil]

Two things come to mind:
1. Expander set deep enough? Are you getting enough flare?
2. Are you seating and crimping in the same step? If so, check your taper crimp.

 

[45cal]

What comes to my mind is you need to sort your brass,there are different thickness in the cases,also you may have the sizing die set too low.

 

[MrPhil]

Originally posted by 45cal:
What comes to my mind is you need to sort your brass,there are different thickness in the cases,also you may have the sizing die set too low.

I've reloaded 10's of thousands of 9mm in used brass. I have never sorted my brass and have not had the problem the OP is having. If mixed brass is the problem I'll eat mackerel.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I'll eat mackerel.

With or without tarter sauce?

I'm with you. There is something we are not seeing. If you had some pictures it would help us help you.

We could speculate on what the reason is but, there are so many possibilities it would be strictly summation.

Throw some pictures up there and we will do our dead level best to give you a hand!

 

[RickV]

Originally posted by MrPhil:
Two things come to mind:
1. Expander set deep enough? Are you getting enough flare?
2. Are you seating and crimping in the same step? If so, check your taper crimp.

I agree with MrPhil. I have not loaded the 1000s of rounds he has but have done at least 1000 and at first was having the same issue once I adjusted the Expander die to add a little more flare the problem went away.

 

[Littledragon777]

I get the same type of bulge on almost all the 9mm I load but my bulge is all the way around where the base of the bullet is in the case. I use a Dillon 550b and have always had them look this way. I check all my rounds in a case gage and they all still drop right in so I guess and I have shot thousands like this in my M&P with no cycle problems. By the way I use just the smallest amount of flare snd was always told thats the way it should be. Also that to much flare was worse than to little as long as your bullet case had just enough flare to seat the bullet.

 

[gboling]

I had the same problem using Lee speed dies, but there is no adjustment possible with that expander. I believe my problem was too little expansion and an imprecise bullet seating die not seating the bullets straight in the undersized case mouth. The Lee FCD solved my problem.

 

[il Padrino]

I do not seat and crimp at the same time, I will try increasing the flare on the next batch to see if it helps. Once I get it right, I'll mkae sure to make a note of it.
My old memory bank is not what it used to be.

 

[rundownfid]

I had what I believe to be the same problem the first time I reloaded 9mm. At the time I thought it was Glock brass, all of my brass was picked up off the range. However, the next time I set up to load the problem disapeared, I can only assume that I adjusted the dies slightly differently, probably the expander set slightly further in as I was loading lead bullets???
Those 9mm cases sure are small when one is used to loading .38-.357s and .45acp!!

 

[jjones33]

It could also be that your seating die is not screwed in deep enough letting the bullet wobble as it enters the case.

 

[fredj338]

Check your seating stem, make sure it is for RN & expand/bell the case enough to allow the bullet to sit into it slightly. BTW, I never sort cases either, just inspect & toss the bad ones & unloadable like wolf, Amerc, etc.