9mm brass hard to resize

[rcmodel]

I can't even imagine a 9mm case being so hard to resize it pulls the head off!!

But I've only been reloading them for about 50 years in Herters steel dies first, and RCBS carbide dies since about 1970.

rc

 

[vongh]

I had that happen to a 30-06 case that was dirty and was using steel rcbs dies. Since than I always made sure I tumbled my cases and lubed the bottle neck cases. I use a lee carbide die for 9mm and have not had to use any lube. I also like to clean my casings because I once scratched the insides of my steel .357 dies and I had to buy a new sizing die because I didn't like the way the reloaded shells looked although they were perfectly functional plinkers.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, it is perfectly normal to pull the rim off a bottle-neck rifle case if you don't lube it properly.

Pistol cases?
Never heard of it before if the shell holder fits properly.
There is not enough surface area on a pistol case to create that kind of friction to tear a case rim off.

And then?
You did not 'scratch' your steel sizing die with a speck of dirt on a case.

Steel dies are heat treated and harder then Woodpecker Lips.

You can't scratch one on a bet.

What you had was galled brass stuck inside the die, and that was scratching your cases.

It could have easily been polished out with 400 grit paper, or removed with copper solvent bore cleaner.

rc

 

[inline4]

the whole head isn't shearing off, just the rim where the shellholder was holding on to.

so i went home and resized a handful of wcc cases without tumbling, i just wiped them with a towel, and so far haven't had a stuck case yet

maybe you guys are on to something about wet tumbled brass being too clean

now i'm curious if others who wet tumble 9mm are having the same problem.

again, i did a batch of about 500 45acp rounds without issue, wet tumbled, no lube, same hornady dies.

 

[JohnM]

Have you lubed any? You should; the difference is night and day.

 

[RussellC]

Using Lee deluxe carbide dies, I resize after wet clean with no problems. Being carbide, no lube required. Maybe you do have a funky die?

Russellc

 

[inline4]

Have you lubed any? You should; the difference is night and day.

i have tried lubing some and it is a ton easier

but i was just curious if its normal for 9mm to take more effort to resize than 45acp, if maybe if i have a faulty die or something?

also, the hornady titanium nitride dies are not supposed to need lube.
i was wondering if these hornady dies are just crappy or what?

also the new question that has come up is, are wet tumbled brass too squeaky clean and thus needs lube now?

 

[JohnM]

Reread what RC and a few others have tried to tell you.
The cases are tapered, it takes more force to size than a straight sided case.
Your dies aren't carbide, they don't work the same.
Quit fooling around with sticking cases!
Use lube.
Even a few drops of RCBS #2 on your fingers so some gets on the case walls as you handle them will be enough. After a few cases a thin film of lube gets spread through the die and all is well.

 

[zxcvbob]

9mm is harder to size than most pistol brass. Use a little lube, it will make the job much easier. Do you have some silicone spray? That will work (just use a little) but make sure it is completely dry before you load the cases, otherwise it can kill some of your primers. Or use any brand of case lube you might have already for doing rifle cases.

 

[inline4]

Reread what RC and a few others have tried to tell you.
The cases are tapered, it takes more force to size than a straight sided case.
Your dies aren't carbide, they don't work the same.
Quit fooling around with sticking cases!
Use lube.
Even a few drops of RCBS #2 on your fingers so some gets on the case walls as you handle them will be enough. After a few cases a thin film of lube gets spread through the die and all is well.

i did read the whole thread, i was just kinda summarizing the thread there
so it sounds like hornady dies are crap? are you saying real carbide dies won't need lube though?

i am still curious if others are wet tumbling and using hornady dies are having the same issues?

 

[JohnM]

Doesn't sound to me like you're getting all you read.
Your Hornady dies are not crap, they're excellent dies and even with regular carbide dies the TAPERED 9mm cases will size better with LUBE.

 

[inline4]

Doesn't sound to me like you're getting all you read.
Your Hornady dies are not crap, they're excellent dies and even with regular carbide dies the TAPERED 9mm cases will size better with LUBE.

i understand size better with lube, but i'm getting some cases stuck so hard that the shellholder shears the rim off when trying to lower the ram, and i have to knock them out with punch and hammer.

i understand needing more effort to resize tapered cases and whatnot, but getting stuck hard like that seems excessive, no?

or am i still not getting it? its ok to yell at me if i'm too slow lol

 

[JohnM]

Simple answer. Yeah, they can get stuck that hard without the help of some lube.

 

[dickttx]

Nothing wrong with your Hornady dies. No one makes bad dies. That is how they stay in business.
As stated several times, a little lube will help a lot with 9mm. I puff a little graphite (because that is what I have) on my bench by the press. Every few cases I touch the mouth of the case to it, or roll the case through it.
I did not like loading 9mm, so I bought a 38 Super barrel. Much, much easier to load and uses the same components as 9mm.

 

[inline4]

ok thanks for all the help guys

 

[Uniquedot]

so it sounds like hornady dies are crap? are you saying real carbide dies won't need lube though?

Actually TINI coated rings makes resizing EASIER than carbide rings, but the coating can wear off whether by defect in application or other... I don't know. The coating being slicker than even the best carbide rings also can cause problems as the brass will wear off onto the ring especially if it's new or polished brass. The only way I found to clean the ring in a hornady die was to use 0000 steel wool and polish it clean. Check your ring. If it's black instead of gold it's time to clean it.

 

[Miata Mike]

I only noticed one reply with crimped primers. I has some WCC cases were the primers were crimped so tight the deprimer pin bulged the primer maybe 2mm out without depriming. A sight to behold but I think I threw them in the scrap pail. Might have a picture here somewhere.

I take a plastic Walmart bag or something of the sort with a bunch of handgun brass, and give a small shot or two of spray furniture wax. Shake the bag and stir the brass around a bit. Works great for me with clean tumbled brass.

 

[the count]

If the die is the right die and in good condition 9mm does not need any kind of lubricating.i use Lee and Hornady 9mm dies. The Hornady is just a little bit smoother.

 

[Miata Mike]

If the die is the right die and in good condition 9mm does not need any kind of lubricating.i use Lee and Hornady 9mm dies. The Hornady is just a little bit smoother.

I agree lube is not essential, but makes things so much smoother especially in my Lee Pro1000 when I do 1000's at a time.

 

[IMtheNRA]

While it is true that lubing the cases makes them easier to resize, you don't HAVE to lube them. That is the whole point of carbide and titanium nitride dies.

If you're tearing the rims off, something is very wrong, and it is not lack of lubrication. I'd try another sizing die to see if yours is bad.

 

[GLOOB]

maybe you guys are on to something about wet tumbled brass being too clean

Squeaky clean wet tumbled brass galled up two of my pistol expander dies.