SWThomas
Member
I just got my first batch of plated bullets from the UPS man. They're Berry's 9MM 115g RN. Naturally, I went straight to the press to load a few and see how they compare to FMJs. I left all my dies set the way they are to load FMJs and created a few dummy rounds. I didn't have to adjust the flare at all as it is set to give me a 0.01 flare on the mouth and that was just right. Seating was fine and none of the plating was shaved off. Then I crimped it. Let me give you the measurements.
After sizing, the case measures 0.375 near the mouth.
After flaring, the mouth is expanded to 0.385.
After crimping, the mouth measures 0.378-0.379.
I pulled the bullets to inspect them and noticed a slight indentation on the plating. It was definitely created from the crimping, as I pulled one after seating and it wasn't there. It's not deep enough to cut through the plating, just enough to leave a slight ring around the bullet.
Is this fine or do I need to back off the crimp die some?
After sizing, the case measures 0.375 near the mouth.
After flaring, the mouth is expanded to 0.385.
After crimping, the mouth measures 0.378-0.379.
I pulled the bullets to inspect them and noticed a slight indentation on the plating. It was definitely created from the crimping, as I pulled one after seating and it wasn't there. It's not deep enough to cut through the plating, just enough to leave a slight ring around the bullet.
Is this fine or do I need to back off the crimp die some?