9 mm resistance in resizing die (RCBS carbide)

[au_prospector]

Hey everyone! Would you guys say this is true of your 9mm brass?

Working on my first 9mm cases and I immediately noticed something different. There is high resistance in the resizing die. All different head stamps they all seem very tight and some are really tight. I believe I have all once fired brass.

On my .38 specials they vary in resistance from none on RP brass, to just a push PMC brass. I also have loaded 44 mag, 45-70, .45 acp, 45 COLT. None require the force I have to place on the 9mm brass. My shoulder is feeling it!

There is also an audible loud creaking sound when working the 9mm, however there are no marks at all on the worked brass that would tell me something is wrong.

Oh I noticed something else. My BLAZER brass 9mm came out of the tumbler EXCEPTIONALLY clean! I mean golden chalice wine goblet clean. Not a stain inside. Other head stamps are clean as well of course, but the Blazer look never fired clean on the inside.

Strange eh?

 

[nix4me]

9mm is a little harder to resize than 38 special. 9mm is a tapered case and 38 is straight walled. I believe that it why but not 100% sure.

 

[gamestalker]

That really seems odd? I've never felt excessive resistance with any handgun cartridge with carbide dies. The only strange event, which I recently experienced, was when I was running brass through my RCBS belling die it was screeching and dragging as it came out of the die. But that only presented with brand new brass, don't remember off the top of my head which head stamp though.

GS

 

[zxcvbob]

Try using a little case lube. If you don't have any, give them a light shot of silicone spray -- I use it sometimes when resizing .30 Carbine cases with a carbide die. Make sure it is completely dry before you load them because it can kill primers.

 

[rcmodel]

I spritz everything I load with a light shot of case lube spray.

Not all of them mind you.

100 cases in a mixing bowl, a spritz of case lube, then stir them around with your hand.
If every few cases has a little case lube on it, it will carry over to the ones that don't.

It makes resizing any pistol caliber so much easier you might hurt yourself the first few times.

rc

 

[rodregier]

The Brian Enos forums mention using case lube. It makes an enormous difference. I apply the lube as a spray to the side of the cases and shake in a container. After I have completed to a loaded cartridge, I run thru corn-cob to remove the lube. Took me years to learn that trick, what an incredible improvement.

 

[Shinbone]

What lube do you guys use for spraying?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I use Hornady One Shot lube even with carbide dies. The force needed to size is greatly reduced.

 

[1SOW]

I load over 1K/month 9mm. As others have said, a small amount/spritz of case lube cures the friction, and with heavy WCC brass, stuck case problems with 9mm. It cuts the force required in half or less.

I use LEE's water based case sizing lube diluted in rubbing alcohol out of a plant mister. One little phhhhttt on 100 cases laying flat, does the job well. I don't mix, stir or anyhing, just size them. A little on one side of the case randomly gets distributed througout the die.

 

[dagger dog]

It really shouldn't make a difference because you are using carbide dies, but make sure to read the instructions on the One Shot case lube, make sure you let it dry, then they should slide through effortlessly.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

9mm and even .45 Auto brass does fell different than long straight cases like the .38 Special when I resize them but I wouldn't call them "tough". Like the others I also add a little spray of One Shot especially when loading 9mm cases.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

What lube do you guys use for spraying?

Frankford Arsenal in a pump sprayer. Doesn't gat gummy and dries quick.

 

[walkg]

Had same problem today sizing and belling nickel *_* .45C with RCBS dies. Tried lube as stated above. Helped some. Believe it was combo nickel & new.

 

[BYJO4]

I use RCBS dies and load a lot of 9MM and have not had any problems or felt any unusual resistance when sizing. Your sizing die could be out of spec. There is no reason to use lubricant when using a carbide sizer.

 

[rcmodel]

There is no reason to use lubricant when using a carbide sizer.

Yes there is.

It's so much easier!!

Don't knock it until you are nearly 70 years old and have arthritis in your hands so bad you can notice the remarkable difference after sizing a gallon can of handgun cases!!!!

Probably if I had started doing it in 1970 my hands wouldn't be so worn out now!!

Or not?

rc

 

[1SOW]

Yes there is.

It's so much easier!!

Don't knock it until you are nearly 70 years old and have arthritis in your hands so bad you can notice the remarkable difference after sizing a gallon can of handgun cases!!!!

I qualify to knock it, but sure won't.
Having a carbide die means it won't damage the die to size cases dry.
The lube is for the reloader not the dern die..

 

[bonez]

Mix my own, 1 part liquid lanolin, 8 parts 99% Isopropol alcohol. Warm both with hot water from the tap, mix, let cool. $12.00 for 36 oz. Works better than anything else I have used for large lots in the last 15 years.

 

[bdejong11129]

Light spray of one shot and it all goes away. Amazing the difference it makes when loading large numbers in on sitting. I dont load 9mm with it...

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 4

 

[moxie]

I use a RCBS carbide sizer die for 9mm with no extra effort and no lube. That's with a Partner press which is a tiny little thing.

I would call RCBS customer service and explain. They will take care of you.

Recently finished a run of 800 rounds. Range brass of every description. No effort at all.

 

[918v]

If you are trying to resize cases subjected to crazy pressures, you will feel more resistance in the press. If you try to resize cases having thick case walls, like WCC, you will feel more resistance in the press. 9mm case construction varies to a large degree between manufacturers and warrants sorting by case head stamp. If you weigh them you'll find WW comes in at a paltry 50grs and some WCC+P coming in at 65grs. That's a huge difference in case wall thickness, 30%!

 

[Steve in PA]

23 years of reloading with RCBS dies, never once had an issue with 9mm cases. Something doesn't sound right.

 

[moxie]

Agree with Steve. 25 years here.

 

[Hondo 60]

I've lubed 357s & 9mms no, I know I don't "have to".
But the difference is over-whelming.

It's almost like having no brass in the resizing station.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I use the Frankford Arsenal pump spray lube. The only thing I use it for is handgun stuff. I fill a gallon ziploc bag about 1/4 of the way full, give it a spray or two and shake em around. That is all that is needed. It does make your life easier.

 

[greyling22]

hostjunkies got it right off. tapered cases want some lube. it can be done without, but it is so much easier with. I use 1 shot, but most any spray will work. I just hit the cases a little with it when they go from the tumbler to the 9mm bucket. gives them plenty of time to dry before I toss them in the press to load.