converting from lead to JHP

[shane8168]

I've got my Hornady LnL AP press set up where it is cranking out 125 gr LRN 9mm bullets that I'm satisfied with. They feed, eject, shoot well, etc... Loading them to 1.127" using 0.357" Dardas cast bullets, very slight taper crimp using W231 powder.

I had a problem with neck tension, then figured out that I wasn't getting the cases sizes properly, lowered my decapping die and the problem went away.

I've got 600 Hornady XTP 115 gr JHP that I got free for buying the press and dies.

What things am I going to have to change (I've never loaded Jacketed bullets before) to get these dialed in? What do I need to look for.

Neck tension worries me since it took some messing with to get that right with a 0.357" bullet as opposed to a 0.355" bullet.

Any tips for me before I go to messing with thing to use up these bullets, as you all know they are worth their weight in gold right now so I'm going to use them!

 

[rsrocket1]

1. Make sure your resizing die touches the shell plate at the end of the stroke with a case inserted. 9mm is tapered and if the die does not go all the way down, it is not sizing the top enough.

2. Flare the case just enough so that the bullet can be seated straight in. There shouldn't be more than a few hundredth's of an inch depth of the flare. Better to have to hand guide the bullet into the seating die than to over flare.

3. Taper crimp should only be enough to close that few hundredth's flare back to vertical or just slightly in.

4. It's worth it to practice with a bullet or two than to mess up a whole batch.

 

[jjjitters]

I believe only a few dies are actually tapered for the 9(Redding is one) so not going down to the shellplate isn't necessary but it is what your technically supposed to do(or a coin width up from hitting). I just go to maybe 1/8-3/16" up, making sure the case is sized below the bullet debth. This way there is less of that bulge. If you have one of the tapered dies you do need to go deeper,9mm is the only one like that. If you don't have enough tension, then check your die. Jacketed is the same as lead loading wise.

 

[Hard_Cast]

Obviously, seating depth will have to be looked at and maybe adjusted. I find you need much more flare with cast to prevent lead shaving upon seating, so you may can back off the flaring die some. Go slow at first and load only a handful until you are sure settings are right!

The Lee Factory Crimp Die has helped me TREMENDOUSLY in .45 ACP and .380 ACP, it rolls out the bulges from bullet base and crimps to perfect neck tension. Have found it unnecessary in 9 so far, but you might consider it for the collection!

 

[FROGO207]

I would make a couple dummy rounds without primers to reset your seating dies with for when you decide to revert back to lead bullets. Then go for it and see what you get with the same settings and a Hornaday bullet in a couple dummy rounds. Check for function and then work up a load if they fit. If not fiddle with seating settings till they do. I would also screw the expander out a bit and only bell the mouth as much as needed to save wear and tear on the brass.