First time reloading question(s) 9mm Lee Pro1000

[mikez104]

So I am trying to reload for the firs time and have a few question. First off here is my setup -

Lee Pro 1000 -9mm
Rainier 124 grain RN TCJ (they look like regular FMJ to me)
Accurate #2 powder
Various cleaned brass
CCI Small Pistol Primers

First question is about powder. According to the instructions and chart that came with the powder charger, for 4.1 grains of Accurate #2, I'm supposed to use the disk with the .34 hole in it. I weighed the powder after it put it in the shell and it only weighed 3.4 grains. I calibrated my scale and repeated the process and got the same thing. I went to the next bigger size and it metered out 3.6 grains according to my scale. I went with that because I didn't want to much. I did about 25 of them and tested them today and they fired ok. Should I just take it up to 4.1 on the scale and find which disk hole will meter out that much?

Second question is about overall length of the cartridge. From the book I have, it says that with the bullet I'm using the shell should be 1.100". I adjusted the third die to seat the bullet to the correct length and put a very slight crimp on it. To me, it looks short. I measured some factory ammo with 115 grain bullets and it was longer. Should I just go with 1.100" I'm afraid that I'll squish the powder if I put more in and seat the bullet to the same depth. Is this something that could really happen? Sorry if this sounds stupid but I just don't want bad things to happen. (boom)

Thanks

 

[Mags]

Buy a caliper for measuring your case OAL DO NOT COMPARE THE LENGTH TO FACTORY AMMO.

For the powder situation use the suggested start load and work your way up to as close to max that you need. If the max is 4.1 grains reduce by 10 percent and start there. For example 10 percent of 4.1 is .41 so a good start load would be 3.6-3.7 grains.

You need to only load about 10 at your start load and see how your pistol likes them, they may be too weak to be accurate or cycle the slide reliably at which point you will increase your load by 10 percent.

Please buy a manual as well, Lyman 49th is my favorite. The Lee manual will list the recommended disk size for your powder though.

While on the subject of the Lee powder measure I just use the recommended disk size as a place to start, you really need to weigh the charges to see what your meter is throwing. You should also check the measure every dozen rounds or so to make sure it is still charging in your ballpark.

 

[Walkalong]

I load 115 or 124 Gr RN (FMJ) at 1.130 to 1.135 O.A.L.. Works for me. 1.100 is pretty ssort for RN bullets in 9MM, unless they are real blunt.

Go by your scale. Powders vary in weight to volume ratio between lots somewhat. My latest AA #2 is denser than my last batch. The chart for the weights for the Lee disks is sometimes very close, and sometimes not close at all.

A slightly compressed load in 9MM will not hurt a thing.

Welcome to THR

 

[mikez104]

Thanks, I think I am going to try 1.130. That seems a bit more reasonable. Your right about the chart I think, I'll go off of the scale and check it periodically. Thanks for the help!

 

[Hondo 60]

The disks are approximate.
I've never been able to go strictly off of a Lee chart.
It's always less powder than what Lee says it will be.

To be safe you need to stay within the min -> max on the powder charge.
They've been testing this for over a hundred years!

Buy a caliper for measuring your case OAL DO NOT COMPARE THE LENGTH TO FACTORY AMMO.

I agree with mags! You can't compare to another bullet design.

 

[CatsEye]

Like Hondo said, the Lee charts are not very accurate. I have loaded several different powders through my Lee Pro 1000 and none matched the chart.

I load a lot of the 124gr Rainiers and while I don't do your exact load, I have loaded several different powders all around 1.125 to 1.130.

 

[mikez104]

Thanks, I do have a caliper, that's how I set the seating depth to 1.1 but I get your point about not comparing to factory loads. I was just looking at it and it seemed small.

So I reset everything and now I'm getting 4.1 grains out and the bullets are seating at 1.134. I ran off around 20 and failed to notice the primer tray was empty and 2 shells got through before I noticed powder dumping down in the guts of the thing. I thought it felt weird. I've been trying to make sure I feel the primer seat. Can I just blow that out with compressed air or do I have to rip the thing apart now?

 

[Rico567]

I don't know if compressed air will work or not, but from loading on two Pro 1000s for many years, I know that it's very important to keep it clean.

In case the previous advice on the disk powder measure isn't clear: the Lee disk powder measure is a great tool, and it works fine. But: you should never, ever rely on volume alone to measure smokeless powder (except for low-pressure applications like loading shotgun shells....and even then, I weigh a charge to check). The Lee manual may say that the .61 aperture in the disk will throw 'X' grains of powder, but you need to put that charge on a scale and check it.

 

[MarcoPolo]

I would just pull the bullet and start over. You don’t know how much powder you’ve lost out of those rounds. Scrapping less than .50 cents of ammo versus getting a bullet stuck in your barrel doesn’t seem like a fair trade in my book. When it comes to loading always be safe than sorry.

 

[mikez104]

Yes, I definitely scrapped any ammo in question. That leads me to another question, how do I dispose of test or screwed up ammo?

 

[tac_driver]

invest in a hammer type bullet puller you're going to need it eventually. I use the end of a 3' piece of 2X4 to smack it against. then recycle the componets if they are still good.

 

[Hondo 60]

An inertia bullet puller works great for taking apart ammo that isn't up to your standards. They're cheap, yet effective.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=215517

I take it out to the garage & one or two smacks with the hammer & they're apart. Then you can prime the case & reuse the powder & bullet.


As far as the powder raining down your machine, yes a few shots of compressed air will do fine. I too have a Lee Pro1000, & have done just that on more then one occasion.