Problem? flaring 9mm cases

[max503]

lee dies aren't made for cast bullets. the lee expanders are extremely short with a wide taper. That wide taper means there isn't much adjustment in them. They go from flaring for the .355" jacketed bullets to sticking in a hurry when expanding for the .356"/.357" cast bullets.

A lee factory expander next to a lyman m-die.

If you look at the lee expander you can see a high water mark/brass ring where the mouth of the cases reached when flaring. The m-die is made for cast bullets and has a step in the top of it that makes a small shelf that the bullet sits on and starts strait when seated.

The custom expander pictured above next to the unused lee factory expander I made. It also has a step built into it.

You'd be better of using a lee expander made for the 38s&w or buying a expander ball from neo bullet molds. NEO expanders are excellent quality, extremely cheap and use the lee universal expanding tool as a die body. Hence buy the lee tool and the expanders can easily be changed out for any and every caliber you reload cast bullets for.
.357 x .353 (P) Exp. Plug Auto Pistol, NOE Bullet Moulds

Thank you so much. I size 9mm to .358" for my gun, making the matter worse. I will definitely look into one of those NOE expander buttons.

 

[trapper9260]

If you load for 357 /38spl and do cast for them the die for them will work for the size you looking to get .That is what I use when I need to load cast that size for 9mm.

 

[AtomHeartMother]

If you load for 357 /38spl and do cast for them the die for them will work for the size you looking to get .That is what I use when I need to load cast that size for 9mm.

Yup, and the 38s&w expander is pretty handy as well for 9mm cast. I've found case wall thickness to be all over the place from brand to brand also. This can give one fits trying to avoid case swaging with 9mm lead.

 

[trapper9260]

I use the 357/38spl seating die to finish load the 9mm that way the boolit will work the way I want.Make a dummy round to make sure you able to change and cycle by hand in the gun.One of my 9mm is one that I do it with.If you use the 9mm seat die it will put it back to the spec for 9mm and not the over size boolit you looking to use.

 

[Fishslayer]

9mm is a tapered case and I noticed right away I had to really lean on the lever.

I lay my cases out on the bench & give 'em a VERY light spritz of One Shot. Worked so well I now do it with all my pistol brass.

I don't mind putting them in the tumbler for awhile after. Not really sure it's necessary but I like shiny ammo.

 

[max503]

Thanks again everyone. I'm going to try the sizes from my 38/357 dies before I buy anything.

 

[Struckat]

I use Lee dies and yes, opening the case mouths you can feel the expander sticking in the case. I find it to be no big deal, certainly nothing to use lube on.
The 44 mags will shake stuff off my bench.
I do not drop power through mine.

 

[trapper9260]

Thanks again everyone. I'm going to try the sizes from my 38/357 dies before I buy anything.

Just to let you know I do use the 9mm die to deprime and size the case from the start

 

[max503]

I use Lee dies and yes, opening the case mouths you can feel the expander sticking in the case. I find it to be no big deal, certainly nothing to use lube on.
The 44 mags will shake stuff off my bench.
I do not drop power through mine.

That's why I'm thinking maybe I could polish that 9mm expander button. Operating characteristics could very well vary from die-to-die, depending on how they were produced at the factory on any given day.