Issue with 9mm resizing die

[RickV]

I have a Lee Pro 1000. Been loading 40S&W with no problems have done over 800 rounds. I decided to load 9mm also. I ordered the 9mm carbide die set and a 3 hole turret from Lee. Today I set the loader up for the 9mm and started loading after 3 rounds the shell hung up in the de-prime/re-size die. I set it up per Lee's video instructions "screw in die until it touches shell plate then lower shell plate and turn in 1/4 additional turn". After the shell gets stuck in the die the main shaft of the loader pulls out of the shell plate carrier and the only way to get the shell plate carrier to go down is to back the die out with a wrench. I never had this problem with the 40S&W dies. Any advice out there.

 

[RickV]

I have a Lee Pro 1000. Been loading 40S&W with no problems have done over 800 rounds. I decided to load 9mm also. I ordered the 9mm carbide die set and a 3 hole turret from Lee. Today I set the loader up for the 9mm and started loading after 3 rounds the shell hung up in the de-prime/re-size die. I set it up per Lee's video instructions "screw in die until it touches shell plate then lower shell plate and turn in 1/4 additional turn". After the shell gets stuck in the die the main shaft of the loader pulls out of the shell plate carrier and the only way to get the shell plate carrier to go down is to back the die out with a wrench. I never had this problem with the 40S&W dies. Any advice out there.

 

[czakjm]

Is this range brass you're reloading ?... you might've got a berdan or blazer case in the mix...that'll usually bend the decapping pin into
a fish-hook and make removal a ROYAL PAIN...but your problem could be something else...please follow up with more info...Jack

 

[RickV]

It is range brass but is mostly Winchester. I just put my 40S&W dies back in and they are doing the same thing now.

 

[scattershot]

I just had that very problem. After I got the stuck case out of the die, I noticed a buildup of a whitish material inside the die itself. I believe this came from a batch of once fired brass that I recently bought that had been "cleaned" with some chemical that left a residue.

I have loaded thousands of rounds over many years with no problems like that until recently.

I cleaned the die with acetone and elbow grease, and lubed the next several cases, and have had no further problems. You might want to tumble your cases to remove this residue, if that turns out to be your problem.

 

[shovelwrench]

Its because 9mm is not a straightwall cartridge, but tapered. The carbide insert is larger to resize it full length like a rifle.

Don't know where I read it, but it was suggested to use a small amount of case lube on the 9s.

Lee makes a lube paste (comes in a toothpaste type tube) that I use on my new Starline 45s cause the expander always sticks. I put just a little on the die and not the brass just to ease the stickieness.

 

[RickV]

The 9mm dies were brand new fresh outta the box. Like I posted above now the same thing is happening with the 40S&W. Could temperature change have anything to do with it? My garage is pretty cool right now last week when I was last loading it was a lot warmer.

 

[RickV]

Originally posted by MOONDAWG:
Are your sure it's a carbide die?

That's what I ordered and thats what the invoice says. I am not sure but the inside of the die is the darker color like my 40SW is. I ordered a tumbler but it is backordered everyone is stocking up I guess. So yesterday I used the kool-aid cleaning method to clean the 9mm range brass I had collected. Maybe I need to wait until I can polish the brass in the tumbler or use case lube. I thought that with the carbide dies that I would not need to do a whole lot with the brass. I also used the same method to clean some of the 40SW brass I got at the range and that was what was causing the issues with it. I used some once fired 40SW brass that I picked up on the internet that had been cleaned and polished that brass worked fine as it is what I had been using before.

 

[Jeffs_Dad]

RickV,
It's Sunday afternoon (football playoffs, etc.) I might sound like I'm stupid - it won't be the first time.

Did you screw the die "in 1/4 turn" or "out 1/4 turn"; After the ram was at fully extended?

jp

 

[BruceM]

Yep, carbide sizing dies I've used were supposed to be set by turning the die out (up) after it touches the shell holder. This is done to protect the carbide insert from cracking.

B.

 

[RickV]

I turned it in 1/4 turn after contact as shown in this video from Lee's website

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/videos/Sizi...e%20Adjustment-1.wmv

 

[RickV]

Called Lee this am. The tech I spoke to told me there is a hex bolt on the front of the shell plate holder. He said to loosen that bolt and push the ram in hard and hold it there while retightening the bolt. Prolem solved loaded 50+ rounds no problems. He did say the 9mm is a pain to resize. He said I could but it was not necessary to put a little lube on every 10th shell. At least now I can get out to the range today.

 

[MrPhil]

An easy way to lube pistol brass is to spray a little Hornady One Shot case lube into a plastic bag, add a few hundred clean cases, then shake and mash them around. Very light lube, does not contaminate case interior, reduces sizing effort. 1 or 2 second squirt is all that's needed.

 

[RickV]

Is that the powdery stuff I have read about on other sites? No need to wipe it off?

 

[MrPhil]

Hornady One Shot is a spray, available in pump or aerosol. After the "shake and mash" step, dump the cases into whatever and let them dry for a minute. The lube is very light. I don't notice any residue and do not clean finished cartridges.

 

[shovelwrench]

You can lube the die with any case lube.
When it gets tough to resize you wet a Q-tip, and lube the die again.

 

[DJINCO]

Originally posted by RickV:
Called Lee this am. He did say the 9mm is a pain to resize.

Hmmm really?

Maybe because I use Redding dies. The only Lee die I use is the Factory Crimp.

JMHO.