9mm Loading What am I doing wrong?

[rcmodel]

AND 9mm can indeed be roll crimped

Sure it can be.

But, It's not supposed to be!

It wasn't designed to be.
And no factory loads ever have been.

So, my conclusion is?
You are doing something you shouldn't be doing!

rc

 

[Walkalong]

You didnt say what gun you have. I have seen comments online that folks with Walther PPQs have had problems as the PPQs require a shorter OAL of 1.08.

AND 9mm can indeed be roll crimped. My RCBS 9mm luger dies only came with a roll crimp. I use that roll crimp with my carbide set for all my loads as they are +P to prevent set back. A taper crimp will not cut it. I have had to roll crimp factory loads that setback.

You need to fix your neck tension. That is what holds the bullet. No factory ammo, +P+ or whatever, is roll crimped. either your sizer is too big, or your expander is too small, or a little bit of both.

Fix the neck tension problem and you will be fine with a light taper crimp to remove the bell.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You need to fix your neck tension. That is what holds the bullet. No factory ammo, +P+ or whatever, is roll crimped. either your sizer is too big, or your expander is too small, or a little bit of both.

Fix the neck tension problem and you will be fine with a light taper crimp to remove the bell.

I agree completely. Without a doubt it's proper neck tension which holds the bullet in place, not a crimp. In semi-auto ammo the crimp, in reality isn't a crimp, it's actually ironing out the flare or bell placed on the neck to facilitate proper bullet seating.

 

[JWH321]

Kinda off topic, but isn't 1.095 pretty short for OAL in 9mm?

Most of the stuff I've messed with ran around 1.125. Could it be that you are seating too deeply and bulging the case a bit?

Just a guess, but, do many of you other folks seat 9mm this short?

 

[Cheetos]

My XD prefers 1.090. Some chambers are tighter than others. This is why the plunk test is so important when loading ammo!

 

[NineBear]

I finally had some time to try the ideas from this thread. I did some reading on how to set the Hornady taper crimp die and tightened up the crimp. To my delight this seems to have resolved my problem !!!
It did not seem to matter what I used for an OAL, all my no-powder rounds fit the PPQ M2 barrel just fine. I went out to 1.155 which is plenty for all the loads I work up.
So the bottom line was that I wasn't crimping enough, even though it appeared I was taking the bell out, I guess that just wasn't the case....

I am not super impressed with how the Hornady crimp and OAL die functions, but I guess its better than a 4th die for us Single Stage Press folks.

Thanks everyone for the great information.

 

[hartcreek]

Walkalong...if that was the case then there would not be such a thing as a roll crimp for 9mm. Fact is my RCBS dies came with a roll crimp not a taper crimp. Neck tension can only do so much. With +P loads it aint goinna hold without a roll crimp.

My loads are shot in Berettas, Glocks, Kimbers and a Walther PPQ

 

[Walkalong]

No factory 9MM, +P, +P+ or whatever, are roll crimped.

Got a pick of one of your roll crimped rounds?

 

[RussellC]

I have 9mm info that is lower than that. Hornady shows 1.06 for their 124 gr XTP, and that hollow point is as long as many 124 gr RN. I also have some loads that show 1.03 for 9mm! I have some I loaded with Hodgdon info for HS-6 that has RN seated at 1.08 that just look so funky short I havent fired them! In fact, it is the load shown on the 1 lbs bottle "recipe" but not the max load shown. Hodgdon has some other data in the same collection that has me wondering about this load, I intend to photo these rounds and post a question or two in regard.

Russellc

 

[greyghost01]

Its either you're bulging the case to much to seat bullet, or its in your crimp and are you sure you need to crimp, If you do it does not take much, Maybe you're over crimping.

 

[1SOW]

AND 9mm can indeed be roll crimped. My RCBS 9mm luger dies only came with a roll crimp. I use that roll crimp with my carbide set for all my loads as they are +P to prevent set back. A taper crimp will not cut it. I have had to roll crimp factory loads that setback.

First, a proper taper crimp has very little to nothing to do with rention, case sizing does. The taper crimp has to do with the cartridge being able to "feed". A properly sized cartridge in a serviceable case takes multiple blows with a hammer bullet puller to break it loose---ask me how I know.



Straightwall pistol ammo "Seats on the Case Mouth" which has to be larger than the bullet diameter to be able to seat. A roll crimp "could" prevent it from seating and allow the case to bypass the seat and have ZERO headspace---a dangerous condition--- especially with +P loads.
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