Loading 9mm round nose

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petrey10

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Ok on my hornady die when I load 9mm 115gr played I am getting a ring around the bullet. No the crimp isn’t too tight. The coal is 1.1. Spot on. So I got tired of this and switch the hornady die to the flat nose insert. This obviously eliminates the ring. But it does slightly flatten the nose of the bullet.

what’s the lesser of the two evils here?

my one worry is when I slightly flatten the nose of the bullet that technically shortens the coal.


I know both will most likely shoot but I’m kinda a perfectionist so if I can get it right I want to.
 
The ring just cosmetic, does not affect accuracy or function. Depending on how much the nose is "flattened" by a flat seating stem it is doubtful if there would be any difference there either. Lots of methods to eliminate a "seating ring/mark" and some above, but the only method I've used is rounding/polishing any sharp edge on the stem...
 
You could use a tiny piece of hot glue or jb weld to fit the die to your bullet. Put a little dab in the seating stem, oil or wax your bullet, press it in for a few minutes, and voila. Custom made for that bullet.
 
Cokeman said:
I put a tiny ball of foil in the round nose seating stem. The foil forms to the stem and the bullet for a perfect fit. Someone here taught me that.
Click to expand...
I forgot to say that you put a .223 case upside down in the shell holder and put the bullet on top of the case. That levels the bullet while shaping the foil.
 
You must be sizing the brass very well for the bullet to be flattened from the seating force.

A small bit of emery cloth will remove the sharp burr, or correct the approach angle, that is marking your bullets, even though it is not detrimental.

Seating round bullets crooked with the flat seating stem is detrimental to accuracy.
 
I'm wondering if flaring the case mouth a bit more would lessen the force required to seat the bullet and eliminate the ring. Not sure, i get that ring on 45acp 230g plated...doesn't bother me much. Especially after I opened a box of WWB and see the same ring on the factory rounds
 
The ring is, for the most part, cosmetic.:)

I enjoy very tight tension for my auto loaders(.221) and a full case of slow powder. This made my seating stem deform some of my rifle bullet tips, as they resisted compacting the powder.
Upon a thorough honing and increasing the total area the seating cup edge engages there are no more squishes.
I didn’t care about the ring mark, but some of these were extruded, resulting in failing to meet ogive measurements. Less critical and more difficult to screw up to that degree in most pistol cartridges, I think.
I like that my handloads are cleaner than factory, as well as looking nicer, too.:D
 
Demi-human said:
The ring is, for the most part, cosmetic.:)

I enjoy very tight tension for my auto loaders(.221) and a full case of slow powder. This made my seating stem deform some of my rifle bullet tips, as they resisted compacting the powder.
Upon a thorough honing and increasing the total area the seating cup edge engages there are no more squishes.
I didn’t care about the ring mark, but some of these were extruded, resulting in failing to meet ogive measurements. Less critical and more difficult to screw up to that degree in most pistol cartridges, I think.
I like that my handloads are cleaner than factory, as well as looking nicer, too.:D
Click to expand...
How times have changed...my wife said the ring was essential, binding, and better be at least two carats!
 
petrey10 said:
my one worry is when I slightly flatten the nose of the bullet that technically shortens the coal.
Click to expand...
You need to be concerned about the COL, AND the seating depth. If you are deforming the nose, consistently, while you might have a shorter COL it may be the same seating depth.
It sounds like you’re seating and crimping in the same step? That may be why you’re seeing a ring or flattening as the taper crimp may be providing enough counter force to the seater stem. As others have noted the ring shouldn’t be a problem unless you’re cutting through to the core of the bullet. I’ve never had bullets deform due to just neck tension resistance but maybe your sizer is really tight. Still, check set back on the finished rounds as well. Good luck.
 
bersaguy said:
I'm wondering if flaring the case mouth a bit more would lessen the force required to seat the bullet and eliminate the ring. Not sure, i get that ring on 45acp 230g plated...doesn't bother me much. Especially after I opened a box of WWB and see the same ring on the factory rounds
Click to expand...
That reminds me that a Lyman "M" expander/flaring die might make seating a tad easier to eliminate a ring...
 
Somewhere somebody talked about the fact that seating stems are cheap. I think he ordered several for his die and modified each for his needs using epoxy and even hot glue as previously mentioned. The article revolved around the new streamlined, long range rifle bullets like ELD for which there aren't any stem profiles.
 
Loadpaxman is correct. I have had your problem before. You need to re-calibrate your bullet seating depth BEFORE setting the crimping (top knob.) Your crimp is not too tight, its too deep. Hornady crimpers will push the bullet down a little and I believe you have gone beyond the range for your bullet weight. Call Hornady and they can walk you through the procedure. 1 800 338-3220 Mon to Thurs 8 a,m. to 5 p.m. and Fri to 4:30. And who knows, you may have a warranty issue and Hornady dies have a lifetime warranty.
 
The ring doesn't bother me too much. But modifying the die permanently would because if I were to try bullets from a different manufacturer the arch on the new bullets might fit perfectly. The foil approach might be best.
 
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