9mm cases for reloading choice

[BJung]

I never weighed 9mm brass yet but have weighed my collection of range brass for 40cal. I didn't have Norma brass to weigh. Of the 50 pieces of Federal brass I weighed, 5 weighed 67gr and 45 weighed 69gr 10% to 90%. Of the 50 pieces of Winchester 40cal brass I sampled, 15 weighed 67gr and 35 weighed 69gr (30%/70%).

 

[reddog81]

Such a waste. Drill it out.

Spend time to drill out flash holes on 9mm? I have more 9mm brass than I have free time. It's much easier and less wasteful to toss and not worry about it.

 

[ericuda]

Some of us aren’t so fortunate. Good for you. I uniform/deburr all 45acp so I’m used to it

I apologize if you are in need of 9mm brass pick a headstamp and I'll pay it forward to ya in a srb.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I apologize if you are in need of 9mm brass pick a headstamp and I'll pay it forward to ya in a srb.

Decent of you chap. I’m good for now though.

 

[higgite]

Just a thought. If a primer pin will go through a Norma flash hole and push out the primer, it will do the same in Federal, Winchester, Remington, Blazer and, and, and…..
How much does a new pin cost?

 

[ericuda]

The pin will go through Norma. Usually will snap or on my Lee it goes through then stays in case. Wished I had a handful to send ya. Hard to believe without seeing.

 

[length_of_pull_1]

When I first started loading 9x19 I would sort my brass but I guess I got lazy and now days I only use the ones that read 9mm, they work great. If I was making SD loads I would use the same head stamp and develope a load specifically for that bras just to get it as hot as I could, but otherwise I'm not picky.

 

[9mmepiphany]

What is the better case between the two manufactures (if there is one)?

Between the two choices, I prefer the Federal...specifically the headstamp " * F C * "

I've seen Winchester cases fail during matches. It might have just been a bad batch of cases, but there's no need to take chances when I have so much 9mm brass. I also tend to save Blazer and Speer cases...I guess I'm just a Vista-boy.

The cases I discard are "FM", "IMT", and "Ammoland"

The nicest cases I've run across is marked "S3"...Shell Shock Technologies NAS ^3

 

[FLIGHT762]

Some dies are not set up to hold a smaller pin. A smaller pin will just fall out of the holder. If you happen to have a die that has a smaller pin, like my 1970's RCBS 38 Special dies, then you can push them all out. My Lee 9MM dies have a .070" pin. The way I found out the Norma cases had a .060" hole was the pin rod got pushed up and didn't break the pin. The way the Lee dies are designed that way. Had it been a different die MFG., the pin would have broke.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’ve got ~5,000 nickel Federal cases from Hydro shock I use for general loading, practice, plinking.
I’ve got 3-4,000 Starline I use for loading match grade competition ammo.

Starline is the best!

Sierra, Sig, Precision Delta, Atlanta Arms, Georgia Arms, all use custom head stamped Starline brass, as well as others.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Between the two choices, I prefer the Federal...specifically the headstamp " * F C * "

I've seen Winchester cases fail during matches. It might have just been a bad batch of cases, but there's no need to take chances when I have so much 9mm brass. I also tend to save Blazer and Speer cases...I guess I'm just a Vista-boy.

The cases I discard are "FM", "IMT", and "Ammoland"

The nicest cases I've run across is marked "S3"...Shell Shock Technologies NAS ^3

I have some MXT and Maxx set aside for cutting down because they don’t size properly. Lots of spring back. They’re okay for one-and-done but I need brass to cut and those are the most likely to get it. I really do understand the OP’s concern. It’s not something that bothers me but I can see where it just might make some brass a pain and if you got enough of other stuff, why not just use it? I do kinda think it’s better to PIF than toss - unless you’re getting paid for recycling. Then I guess it’s better to toss.

If anyone decides to PIF their undesirable brass, I would be interested.

 

[Hartkopf]

I like the FC brass for soft plated or cast bullets. The cases are so thin the bullets won’t get “squeezed.”

WIN brass is a little thicker and has more neck tension so I use them for jacketed bullets.

 

[BJung]

I like the FC brass for soft plated or cast bullets. The cases are so thin the bullets won’t get “squeezed.”

WIN brass is a little thicker and has more neck tension so I use them for jacketed bullets.

I though FC brass was Fiocci?

 

[GHinNH]

Fed/Win (or any) doesn't matter to me, as long as the pockets are tight enough I send em. Blazer is the only one I don't bother with.

 

[Bosn Ski]

Interesting. I’ve never seen that admonition on their website but have seen they say don’t use with some glocks or czs

I can’t remember if I seen in the RMR forums or on here. But I wrote it down in my 147 notes. I’ll look and post a link.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I can’t remember if I seen in the RMR forums or on here. But I wrote it down in my 147 notes. I’ll look and post a link.

Thanks

 

[CQB45ACP]

I though FC brass was Fiocci?

AFTE says it’s Federal Cartridge

https://afte.org/resources/headstamp-guide

 

[CQB45ACP]

Spend time to drill out flash holes on 9mm? I have more 9mm brass than I have free time. It's much easier and less wasteful to toss and not worry about it.

If you have any quantity—pay it forward. Not me but someone somewhere would appreciate it.

 

[Hartkopf]

I though FC brass was Fiocci?

FC is Federal. BTW, in my experience, FC acts just like the other Vista companies brass. Speer and Blazer are also thin wall.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Between this thread and two other fairly recent ones Re:9mm brass, seems like all headstamps are both immediately discarded as a matter of principle and at the same time kept because they are the only ones worth loading.

It’s amazing how personal preferences & biases screw up a simple inquiry. Good thing there’s general agreement on best powder, dies, powder drops, manufacturer.

 

[Slamfire]

You guys cleared up why I get the occasional stuck 9mm case on my progressive. I had no idea the primer holes were of different sizes.

I have ammunition cans of 9mm range pickups. Never made any attempt to sort the stuff. Back in the day, I used to find handfuls of 38 Special cases and the occasional 45 ACP. Now, 9mm cases are what shooters leave on the ground. I dance with joy if I find a 45 ACP or 45 LC. The 40 S&W had its period, still find onesies and twosies, so I can tell that round is fading in popularity.

I remember Jeff Cooper disparaging the 9mm time after time in print. His view was that the 45 ACP and the 1911 were the best that ever was and best that will ever be. He really created a strong cult of the 1911 and of the 45 ACP. I guess his influence on cartridge choice has also faded away. Even his shooting range, Gunsite, is selling a Gunsite 9mm. And claiming in print, that Jeff would have been OK with their new 9mm.

I wonder if Jeff is banging on the lid of his coffin.

 

[Palladan44]

I purchase 9mm brass for approximately scrap price. It comes from local indoor ranges....... and I tell myself to fire your 9mm reloads and just leave them lay.......
Then I'm compelled to clean up after myself as to not leave a slipping hazard to the next shooter.....so I sweep them up.
Then, I tell myself.....you've come this far, why not just scoop them and throw them in a ln empty box from the trash...so, I do just that..... and round and round I go.
I've since nearly filled a 5 Gallon bucket with my 9mm brass in approximately 3 years.....
Any guesses to the quantity that even is???
I'm going to say 7-8k at least....

 

[CoalTrain49]

I don't separate my brass unless it's 45 ACP small primer. I don't load those.

I never look at the range brass for a stamp. I do inspect it however. I decap before I clean my brass using a Lee universal decapper which has a heavier pin than most sizing dies. It's never broken like my RCBS pins. It's probably powered through some Norma brass, don't know.

My rule of thumb is use it until I can't. I've noticed some small primer pockets on some 9 mm brass. I use RCBS hand primer so I feel the resistance. If it's excessive I just chuck the brass. I don't even know which brands those are and I didn't know Norma had smaller flash holes. GTK.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I though FC brass was Fiocci?

The headstamp for Fiocchi is G.F.L.

 

[mdi]

Hmmm. I really don't have a dog in this fight, but have sized/deprimed thousands of mixed brass 9mms with my plain old Lee dies (and occasionally a Universal decapping die). I'm pretty sure some Norma brass has come across my bench, but I can't remember any problems (I did find some odd European brass in a batch of purchased once fired brass that would occasionally push the stem up in my Lee die. There was only 5 or 6 in the batch and I can't remember the headstamp and just tossed them in the scrap bucket).