Which 9mm dies

What does your book say is a good start?

For a handgun I just buy plain old rcbs dies. Carbide for the added benefits (I don't believe they make them without carbide) and they do perfectly fine. I have a couple lee sets too. If you are on a progress then get whatever powder die (or powder through die) you need and don't worry.

I've loaded many tens of thousands of .40 and 9 and 45 and 10mm. Never felt I needed anything more.

I have more money in 223, 300 mag and 338 lapua dies than I have in all 15 or so different handgun cartidges and the other 15 or so rifle combined. Precision rifle is a different ballgame IMO

Hard to beat any you can find right now.

Make sure your 9mm dies are carbide.
I’ve used RCBS and Dillon, both work well.

Maybe this is the link:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...for-a-progressive-press.881695/#post-11786349
Good luck.

I started 9 mm with a Lee die set and used the through the die expander with a Auto disk powder, My bullets were not seated real straight. I found a used 9mm Redding competition seater die on Ebay. I worried about whether I was getting enough movement of the powder measure and the expanded cases dragged on the new seating die. Then I bought a Redding expander die. I get a lot nicer ammo with the Redding dies and I feel better dropping the powder charges with a hand operated powder measure. I wholeheartedly recommend the Redding dies if you can bring yourself to spending the money.

I have the LEE 4-die set for 9mm. The dies function just fine and make quality and consistent ammo.
With any die set you buy. Clean them before you first use them. Then clean them periodically to keep any dust/grit/lube buildup under control.

I really like Hornady dies, mainly for their seating die (and the free components rebate doesn't hurt any either). I always spring for the micrometer seating adjustment stem (I buy them as a separate add-on) - makes it child's play to adjust seating depth and return to known settings for different projectiles. Most match-grade dies come with that feature, but I'm not sure what other features a match-grade pistol seating die would have (I know rifle match-grade dies do neck sizing very differently as well).

I ended up with a mix.
Lee sizer (only thing left from a 'deluxe' 4 die set)
Dillon expander now, also used a Lyman M die with my old press
Redding comp seater (expensive but a great time saver in the long run)
Redding taper crimp.

Expanding just enough and seating straight seem to be the 2 biggest hurdles for newcomers to the 9mm.

WeekendReloader said:

I have the LEE 4-die set for 9mm. The dies function just fine and make quality and consistent ammo.
With any die set you buy. Clean them before you first use them. Then clean them periodically to keep any dust/grit/lube buildup under control.

Click to expand...

I got the 9mm Lee 4 carbide die set from Midway last week. They've been in and out of stock but if you're patient you can get one. Think it was $63.

Lee dies: The powder through the die expander die comes with the set. The factory crimp die is the 4 th die in the 4 die set. You can use the expander die with or without putting the powder measure on the die or putting the powder through the die.

Right now, what ever you can find.

I have both the Lee and RCBS sets both carbide. They both work well for me. The Lee set is in the press presently and it makes great ammo.

As others have stated......... I'd just like to find a set of 9mm dies. I've got all sorts of calibres, but I just bought my first 9mm pistol, and find that 9mm dies, of any kind are unobtanium, along with 9mm ammo.

Dave

Check eBay and gunbroker. They are widely available. Just not as cheap as they were a few months ago.

Another vote for RCBS if for nothing else than the excellent customer service. When I was feeling wealthy I bought a set of Redding Titanium 9mm and 223 dies.

There was a set of Hornady dies in the swap shop very recently... new in box for something like $100

in today’s market, that is a good price. I paid $135 for the same set a few weeks ago.

I'd vote for Hornady if it's an option in the current market. Very reasonably priced (normally) and the seating die has a sleeve that helps with alignment.

But in today's reality anything you can get your hands on will work fine.

WeekendReloader said:

I have the LEE 4-die set for 9mm. The dies function just fine and make quality and consistent ammo.
With any die set you buy. Clean them before you first use them. Then clean them periodically to keep any dust/grit/lube buildup under control.

Click to expand...

I have a Lee 3 die set. I'm curious about the 4th I assume it's a crimp die. Does that do a better job than the seater?

I use RCBS also but I always end up with a mix of dies that I finally settle on.
For 9mm I use on my LNL-AP:
RCBS sizing die
Lyman M-die for neck sizing
Hornady Control Panel powder check die
and RCBS seating/taper crimp die. I don't think I have a single caliber setup that is all one brand anymore.

But like others have said, Good luck finding any dies at all.

kell said:

I have a Lee 3 die set. I'm curious about the 4th I assume it's a crimp die. Does that do a better job than the seater?

Click to expand...

I believe the 4th is the "factory crimp die." I don't know that it necessarily crimps any better, but it's much easier to setup and adjust the seating depth when those 2 operations are being done with 2 separate dies. Even with my 3-die Hornady set I use a Lee FCD die to crimp for that reason.

I'm missing out on something here - I have been under the impression that 9mm cartridges didn't need any crimp or at most a very light taper. Same with most straight wall autos. Am I off base here?