Bulge Busting 9mm and 10mm

[Palladan44]

After years of avoiding the issue in one way or another.... I've decided to embark on a bulge- busting journey.

I'm primarily concerned in Bulge busting 9mm at this time.

I have one press, the Dillon 550B.
I see that the Lee press has its own "bulge buster" die im not sure is compatible on the Dillon.

Thoughts?
Can I run loaded ammunition through it as a final phase?

Thanks for any input.

 

[jmorris]

9mm is a tapered case, so the only part you are going to touch is the rim, with a push through sizer.

A roll sizer is a better tool for tapered cases.

 

[LiveLife]

concerned in Bulge busting 9mm at this time.

What kind of "bulge" are we talking about?

Lee ... "bulge buster" die im not sure is compatible on the Dillon.

The die threads are the same and compatible. Bulge Buster is a kit that uses Factory Crimp Die to "push through resize" brass.

Can I run loaded ammunition through it as a final phase?

Since 9mm is a tapered case, Bulge Buster kit is not available for 9mm.

However, Factory Crimp Die is available for 9mm to post-size finished rounds to use as a "finishing die".

 

[25-20 WCF]

There is a reason Lee doesn’t offer that kit in 9mm…

 

[gudaki]

Can I run loaded ammunition through it as a final phase?

I never run loaded rounds through a push through bulge buster however others may.

 

[Palladan44]

What kind of "bulge" are we talking about

Assmetric bulges in brass near case head from being fired in Glocks or other chambers with Generous chamber tolerances
Lee factory crimp die, thats intriguing!

 

[CQB45ACP]

I don’t recall the specifics right now but can’t one use the 9mm Makarov die for bulge busting the standard 9mm or do I have that completely screwed up?

 

[gudaki]

That's what I've heard and done.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I never run loaded rounds through a push through bulge buster however others may.

I don’t do it all the time but have done it plenty of times as per Lee’s instructions.

 

[Otto]

I don’t recall the specifics right now but can’t one use the 9mm Makarov die for bulge busting the standard 9mm or do I have that completely screwed up?

You can but you'll eventually crack the carbide ring. This is why Lee no longer recommends it . They were having to replace too many dies under warranty.
My approach to bulged brass is to deposit it in the dumpster and that's waaaay cheaper than buying a $900 Case Pro.

 

[Palladan44]

What kind of "bulge" are we talking about?


The die threads are the same and compatible. Bulge Buster is a kit that uses Factory Crimp Die to "push through resize" brass.

However, Factory Crimp Die is available for 9mm to post-size finished rounds to use as a "finishing die".

Does a Lee factory crimp die go all the way down to the case head, and eliminate any assymetrical bulging the 9mm may have? Would this work on a Dillon 550B with the shell-plate design? Again, I'm having a problem with full length resizing 9's using a specific 147gr. bullet because extreme neck tension is causing some to seat crooked. Ive been partially resizing the cases, which solved problem A, and then the bulge from previous chamber fire-forming becomes the new issue, problem B, towards the bottom of the case, which didn't get properly resized.

 

[LiveLife]

What kind of "bulge" are we talking about?

Assmetric bulges in brass near case head from being fired in Glocks or other chambers with Generous chamber tolerances

I currently use Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro and Dillon 550C presses. Lee resizing die uses tapered carbide sizer ring (Instead of straight) and will reduce brass down to case base to smaller OD further down than some other brand resizing dies. It is essentially an undersize die some use to address their resizing die not fully reducing brass down towards case head.

While you can post-size finished rounds with the Factory Crimp Die, instead replacing your resizing die with Lee resizing die could address the bulged brass issue before you start reloading.

This is my thought. With increasing prevalence of 9mm Major brass shot by USPSA match shooters with possibly overly expanded case base left after matches (These brass are often used only once), when I now encounter greater resizing effort with my Lee resizing die, I will check the resized brass in my tightest chamber barrel. If brass fails, I will resize second time but if resized brass fails again, I deem the brass too "thinned/weakened" and will toss for recycling.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I currently use Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro and Dillon 550C presses. Lee resizing die uses tapered carbide sizer ring (Instead of straight) and will reduce brass down to case base to smaller OD further down than some other brand resizing dies. It is essentially an undersize die some use to address their resizing die not fully reducing brass down towards case head.

While you can post-size finished rounds with the Factory Crimp Die, instead replacing your resizing die with Lee resizing die could address the bulged brass issue before you start reloading.

This is my thought. With increasing prevalence of 9mm Major brass shot by USPSA match shooters with possibly overly expanded case base left after matches (These brass are often used only once), when I now encounter greater resizing effort with my Lee resizing die, I will check the resized brass in my tightest chamber barrel. If brass fails, I will resize second time but if resized brass fails again, I deem the brass too "thinned/weakened" and will toss for recycling.

All very wise but for me and some others, when you must purchase all your brass used or new, trashing some of it doesn’t make a lot of sense. I have nothing to correct and no way to correct it anyway since it’s happening in some one else’s firearm. So, I use it all until it’s unusable.

 

[CQB45ACP]

You can but you'll eventually crack the carbide ring. This is why Lee no longer recommends it . They were having to replace too many dies under warranty.
My approach to bulged brass is to deposit it in the dumpster and that's waaaay cheaper than buying a $900 Case Pro.

Good to know thanks. Since it’s happening in someone else's gun, I only have to fix it once fortunately.

 

[LiveLife]

All very wise but for me and some others, when you must purchase all your brass used or new, trashing some of it doesn’t make a lot of sense. I have nothing to correct and no way to correct it anyway since it’s happening in some one else’s firearm. So, I use it all until it’s unusable.

Consider this, especially if you load near max/max loads and particularly shoot blowback action carbines.

In recent years on THR, there have been threads discussing case wall failure/rupture at case base where chamber mouth support is less in many barrels.

You can certainly push-through resize overly bulged brass (Think "thinned" brass), but once brass has thinned, you cannot make it thicker again even though outer dimensions are within SAAMI specs. Keep in mind that published load data were tested using new brass and repeated reloading will work harden the brass to make it more brittle and less malleable. With 115 gr FMJ/RN bullets, I use near max load data particularly for my blowback action PCCs and if I have any concern about brass condition, I will toss the brass.

Of course, YMMV.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Consider this, especially if you load near max/max loads and particularly shoot blowback action carbines.

In recent years on THR, there have been threads discussing case wall failure/rupture at case base where chamber mouth support is less in many barrels.

You can certainly push-through resize overly bulged brass (Think "thinned" brass), but once brass has thinned, you cannot make it thicker again even though outer dimensions are within SAAMI specs. Keep in mind that published load data were tested using new brass and repeated reloading will work harden the brass to make it more brittle and less malleable. With 115 gr FMJ/RN bullets, I use near max load data particularly for my blowback action PCCs and if I have any concern about brass condition, I will toss the brass.

Of course, YMMV.

Yes indeed, if I had concerns I’d toss em too.

 

[packetloss]

You can but you'll eventually crack the carbide ring. This is why Lee no longer recommends it . They were having to replace too many dies under warranty.
My approach to bulged brass is to deposit it in the dumpster and that's waaaay cheaper than buying a $900 Case Pro.

I use a Makarov die and haven't had any issues using a Lee Bulge buster to fix 9mm cases (I've probably run about 1000 - 2000 and never cracked the carbide ring). I will say though, that the brass I fix is barely bulged. If I had guppy or smile bulges I would just toss it. I gauge all my 9mm cases in a shockbottle which is SAAMI minimum spec and some of them are just slightly off. Most will gauge just fine in my Dillon gauge and these are the ones I fix. If it won't gauge in my Dillon gauge I just pull the bullet and toss the case. Typically I will bulge bust about 20 cases out of 1000 that I load (i.e. 20 out of 1000 tend to not be SAAMI minimum). Most of my tossed cases are CBC or PAC which slipped through my vetting and aren't actually bulged, just the brass is too thick and they won't gauge in my Dillon gauge and typically wouldn't plunk in any of my barrels.

 

[Master Blaster]

The bulge gets removed when you resize the case.
If you are introducing a bulge when seating or crimping you need to follow directions for your dies and set them correctly. I have two Dillon 550s and I have been reloading thousands of 9mm rounds on them over 20+ years.

My 9mm rounds have been shot out of glocks, sigs, and cz pistols. Never had a problem with bulge, and they all drop into a Wilson case gage.

There is no reason to post loading resize ammo if you have your dies set correctly.

 

[markr6754]

I don’t recall the specifics right now but can’t one use the 9mm Makarov die for bulge busting the standard 9mm or do I have that completely screwed up?

I figure every tool that exists for a specific purpose will eventually make its way into my reloading room. So despite having a mere handful (less than full) of 9mm cases that wouldn't fit my Shooter's Box case gauge, I bought the kit and Makarov die. The 9mm cases weren't bulged, per se, they just didn't pass the gauge after resizing multiple times. They do now. As a plus, should I ever need to resize Makarov cases I'm all set.

 

[Zendude]

Lee also makes an “undersize” sizing die for 9mm and a couple of other cartridges.